WBA Heavyweight Champion David "Hayemaker" Haye (24-1, 22 KO) should be resting after his domination of former champion John Ruiz (44-9-1, 30 KO). Instead, he came out swinging at the Klitschko brothers, saying that he could beat both of them. Haye seems to have taken more of an issue with Vitali Klitschko, the elder brother and WBC Heavyweight champion. "The Klitschkos, all their careers, have fought guys who are clearly overweight, out of shape, happy to keep getting a payday. This Albert Sosnowski guy, Audley (Harrison) was favorite to beat him, then he gets a title shot (against Vitali). You can understand him. He's in it for the business, but Vitali was talking about Valuev, then that never materialized. Now he's fighting this Sosnowski guy," Haye recently told The Telegraph.
IBF and WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko has yet to sign for his next opponent, but is considering Alexander Povetkin, his long-waiting IBF mandatory, as well as David Haye. Despite Wladimir's dominance over smaller heavyweights, Haye doesn't see a problem in defeating the younger Klitschko either. "Corrie Sanders was the same size as me. He knocked Wladimir out," said Haye. "Ross Purrity knocked Wladimir out. Lamon Brewster knocked out Wladimir. So the guys who have beat them have been small heavyweights. They're both very beatable."
As someone that saw early potential in Haye's move to the Heavyweight division, I think he may be rushing himself along a little faster than he should. Haye was there to be hit against the very slow John Ruiz. He was unable to keep himself out of Ruiz's reach, despite his massive advantage in foot speed. He was able to get away with it because of the decline in Ruiz's skill and punching power. Couple that flaw with Haye's habit of carrying his hands very low and that could pose a problem against either of the Klitschkos. That being said, Haye's faster hands and head movement give him the chance of getting inside Wladimir's long jab and taking a crack at his questionable chin. But if too many straight right hands from the younger brother connect, it could be lights out for Haye.
I'm not as optimistic of Haye's chances against Vitali Klitschko, an opinion that seems to be popular amongst people I have spoken to. The elder Klitschko has shown the ability to take big punches. In his fight against Lennox Lewis, he walked through three straight uppercuts, as he bulled Lewis into the ropes. I don't see Haye's punches making much of a dent in Vitali's armor.
In the ideal scenario, Haye will fight the winner of Tomasz Adamek-Chris Arreola next. The next best deal would be to swim in the deep waters with Wladimir Klitschko and hope that he can replicate Corrie Sanders' game plan.