Id have said Rahman, but he is now taken up by Wlad so...Arreola, McCline, Meehan or Maskaev would be likely choices i reckon.
Thomson assuming he wins. I would like to see Haye against a really really big heavy before he takes on the klits.
I hope McCline. He's a big guy, and that's what Haye should consider when picking his next pre-Klitschko opponent. I don't think he should go for Wlad yet. Let Wlad destroy Rahman and Povetkin, and let Haye have a match or two as well. Hopefully then they can meet up at the during fall of 09. If he wins a bit more, Michael Grant could also be considered.
Haye's handlers shouldn't rush him. Davaryll Williamson is a tomato journeyman Haye should fight next.
Haye passed the first test with flying colors. Now he should be further tested against a more dangerous and bigger opponent before he goes for the Klitschkos. My pick was Arreola, but Thompson, Peter and even Maskaev should be very good tests as well (I don't know about McCline, and I don't think a win over Austin would be much bigger than the win over Barrett).
To be honest i think Sam Peter would be a good choice. Although he sucked bad against Vitali he was still a top heavyweight and he would be a good test for Haye. Barrett pushes Haye around fairly easily and someone rugged and dirty like Peter would be the true test for him i think.
Thompson if he beats Toney would be good. Big guy, durable, took Wlad pretty deep into the fight. That is the sort of test he needs, he needs to face someone he knows he cannot just blast out of there, so that he uses his jab and does not just throw bombs. Both Klit brothers KO him, but if he gets to fight one, then he would be wise to go for Wlad who he could at least have a hope of hurting and dropping. Don't fight old titanium chin, broke back, because he wont even have the punchers chance.
Haye is already set for a mega money shot at one of the K brothers, so why risk it by fighting someone else who may pose a threat and blow his big fight? He's not gonna get that much benefit from one mere fight when he can do his best to improve his game in the gym. If he's planning to fight at all before his big showdown, it should be against a safe opponent in order to stay sharp. But then again, he waited 8 months for this fight, so. I say either wait, or fight someone who posses only a slight threat. I think before the fight last night, he said if he beat Barrett, he'd go directly to the fight with one of the K Brothers, though. That's probably the best plan, if you ask me.