Should Haye have fought Wlad or Vitali 1st?

I would still pick Vitali, and I would still be impressed by a Haye win. However, I wouldn't be shocked at this stage.

 

Haye has a better chance against Wlad because of his fast hand-speed, and Wlad's suspect chin. Haye would try to steam-roller him like he did with Maccaranelli.

Vitali fairs much better when toe-to-toe, and is also good at keeping a fighter at distance.

 

People have been talking about this "suspect chin" forever. I think that we can lay it to rest now. Everyone has had this "chance" to knock him out due to his "suspect chin"... but people keep getting a reality check come fight night. The only time that Wlad was really dropped and stopped by punches alone were by Corrie Sanders. It didn't have a damn thing to do with Wlad's chin. Sanders rocked Vitali with one punch as well... Wlad was pasted with several hard shots before he went down the first time. He had no idea what to do when buzzed at that point in his career. Being knocked down, and eventually stopped after being hit so many flush times by a fast, power puncher like Sanders isn't going to tell you anything about someone's chin. What it tells you, is that the person had a serious flaw in their game that allowed them to be tagged over and over again, and showed that they had no ability to deal with what was coming at them, and weather the storm. Wlad could have simply held Sanders for a few seconds after the first time that Sanders lunged off of the ropes and buzzed him with that huge left that turned Wlad's head around. Now, Wlad didn't drop or buckle from that shot.. but that was the shot that buzzed him, and started it all. Rather than playing some defense and weathering the storm... Wlad stood with him and started trying to trade punches. Obviously a horrible idea. Then, after being hit so many times, and finally going in for the clinch, he was caught with a big shot moving in, then hit with a huge hook from underneathe while he was head to head with Sanders, which actually caused Wlad's head to also smash off of Sander's head... causing that brutal cut over Wlad's left eye in the process. Which is why, if you never noticed that Wlad got hit with a left hook on his right cheek, went down, and got up with a big cut over his left eye.

That was simply a big lesson learned for Wlad, and honestly... he wouldn't be as great as he is now if it never happened to him. He finally left the trainers that didn't know how to mold his talents, and look where he is today.

 

Monte Barrett must've been considered a top ten opponent especially as he'd just starched unbeaten Tye Fields.

Would you really rather see someone like Ibraginov/Chagaev/Ruiz/Valuev fight the Klits, or David Haye? :huhatsch

 

Get in line behind who, exactly

He's the undisputed champion from the weight below. It's not uncommon for people to go STRAIGHT to a title shot as in Spinks/Holmes, Jones/Ruiz etc. Haye has had two fights at the weight and made mincemeat out of both of his opponents.
If there was half a dozen hungry, super tough contenders that were better than Haye than maybe I'd complain but ummm there isn't.