Sport review.

 

 

Former lineal cruiserweight king David Haye continues to appear at several boxing shows throughout the world, yet the burning question – for those still interested in his career – seems to be when he will step inside the ring rather than view from the crowd.

The abridged answer from the outspoken Brit: soon.

“At the moment, I’m focused on getting back in the ring,” Haye told commentators prior to the start of the cruiserweight doubleheader in Moscow. The evening saw Denis Lebedev zap previously unbeaten Pawel Kolodziej of Poland in two rounds to defend a cruiserweight belt, and Grigory Drozd complete the Russian sweep with a wide points win over Krzysztof Wlodarczyk to win a cruiserweight title of his own in the main event.

It’s been more than six years since Haye last shrunk his frame into a cruiserweight uniform. His world title reign began with an off-the-canvas 7th round knockout win over Jean-Marc Mormeck way back in Nov. ’07, making exactly one defense – a 2nd round stoppage of Enzo Maccarinelli five months later before abandoning the division in pursuit of heavyweight glory, and dollars.

A Nov. ’09 points win over Nicolay Valuev earned Haye an alphabet title at heavyweight, though Wladimir Klitschko had already established himself as the division’s true lineal champ.

The two eventually had their say in a July ’11 clash, though with most of the talking done in the pre-fight buildup, with very little action coming of their head-on collision. Haye offered the worst performance of his career, repeatedly flopping to the canvas en route to a wide points loss which he later attributed to an alleged toe injury, become an industry-wide punch line as a joke that has long ago been run to the ground.

Only one fight has followed – at least inside the ring. Haye made major headlines for his role in a wild brawl with Dereck Chisora following his countryman’s 12-round loss to Vitali Klitschko in Feb. ’12. Their antics earned both a suspension from the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC), though an outside governing body – the Luxemburg Boxing Federation – agreed to oversee their July ’12 bout, won by Haye via 5th round knockout.

A series of injuries have plagued Haye’s career, to where he pledged retirement following the embarrassment of having to withdraw from planned showdowns with then-champ Vitali Klitschko and  unbeaten Tyson Fury over the course of the past two years.

More than two years after his last prizefight, though, Haye still has the itch to fight on and pursue a second heavyweight title reign.

With Klitschko still well in possession of the lineal crown as well as most of the relevant hardware to be found in the division, it’s doubtful Haye can find opportunity there. A rematch has often been discussed, but nearly impossible to sell given the dreadful nature of their one and only clash.

Bermane Stiverne is set to defend his portion of the title versus unbeaten Deontay Wilder, with the bout tentatively slated for late December.

Given his present location, Haye was approached with the hypothetical scenario of a showdown with Russia’s Alexander Povetkin. The former champ is due to return to the ring next month, as he faces Carlos Takam in Moscow. The winner will be in the running for a shot at last man standing between Stiverne and Wilder, although waiting in a line that also includes unbeaten American heavyweight contender Bryant Jennings.

Haye didn’t rule out facing Povetkin at some point, although dismissing the possibility of it taking place in his comeback fight, whenever that occurs.

“It won’t be straight away with Povetkin, but I can envision that fight down the road once I get a fight in,” Haye said of such a fight. “I want to be heavyweight champion again, and will face anyone that’s in my way.”