Haye Replacement Rumors
Wladimir Klitschko's management has told the world that the show will go on with or without David Haye, and that they will find another top heavyweight to take his place. Their attitude is that Wlad is the main attraction anyway, which may be true, but doesn't make me much less disappointed. There are only so many fighters who would be willing to take on such a dangerous opponent on such short notice, and chances are that it will need to be someone already in training camp or who just finished a training camp.
- According to Sportone (link in Polish), Wlad's camp approached Tomasz Adamek as the replacement. This apparently happened just before the Gunn fight was officially announced, so his camp has probably known that Haye was going to pull out for a few days now, at least. Adamek's a smallish cruiserweight, and would make little sense to take on any heavyweight, much less a huge one, on short notice.
- Wladimir has called out Cristobal Arreola. This seems like a ploy more than anything. While you could make the argument that Cris is always out of shape, he still does take off a fair amount of weight before fights, and it's pretty obvious that he doesn't train full-time like some guys do. Dan Goossen says he isn't ready...
- ...but that James Toney is. I'm not sure how good Goossen's information is, since he and Toney split up not too long ago, but he says that Toney would be ready to go. Sadly, I could see the networks approving this one, although it would go from being the most exciting heavyweight fight in years to the most boring. A fight between those two, and probably not more than 10 punches land a round.
- Kevin Johnson wants his shot. Uh, that would be the step up we're looking for Kingpin. There's a big difference between Devin Vargas and Wladimir Klitschko. I guess that's one way to cash out, but KJ hasn't fought a top 100 heavyweight yet, and couldn't possibly be close to prepared for Wlad. But frankly, STILL nobody knows who the hell you are.
- Odlanier Solis also says he's ready and willing. I'm not sure Solis could go a hard 12 if he wanted to. Right now he has a 10 rounder scheduled with Fres Oquendo coming up. Seems more like a ploy to me than anything. If K2 called him up and made a legitimate offer, I doubt Solis would take it up.
- According to news reports on German television, Nicolai Valuev is officially out. On one hand, it's hard to blame him because he'd get his ass kicked, and as long as he can hold onto a belt, he can probably negotiate a big fight later on for which he would have full time to prepare. On the other hand, it's just a wimpy move. He just seems to have very little desire to prove that he's the best, probably because he knows he's not even close to being the best.
- No actual rumors here, but my speculation says that the other candidates who make sense include Ruslan Chagaev (he just finished camp, and has been medically cleared in Germany before), Kali Meehan (already trained for a fight on the Chagaev undercard), Lamon Brewster (we don't need a trilogy), Oliver McCall (just had a relatively easy fight), Taras Bidenko (has a 12-rounder this weekend, if his promoters want to cancel it), and if worse really comes to worse, Tye Fields (who's training for a fight the same night, but who probably wouldn't last a round). Eddie Chambers and Alexander Dimitrenko are also possibilities, but I really doubt that's in the cards - neither one is far enough into training camp to cut it short, and the winner's going to get a title shot anyway, so why push it to try before you're in shape?
- Haye himself hopes the card just gets cancelled, since he thinks he could reschedule for July.
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I’m not sure how good Goosen’s information is, since he and Toney split up not too long ago, but he says that Toney would be ready to go. Sadly, I could see the networks approving this one, although it would go from being the most exciting heavyweight fight in years to the most boring.
Jeez, I hadn’t even thought of this possibility. What a nightmare that would be.
I suppose he could also fight Briggs. Shannon seems to spend most of his time these days as a forum troll, describing various homosexual fantasies involving Wlad and Vitali. It would at least give him a chance to get out of the house for once…. some fresh air might do him good.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
by jrok on Jun 4, 2009 9:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If i was to bet the house on it..
I would say they looking at Chagaev.
For the love of God dont stick JT in there. I would rather sit through a third fight with Brewster. Least he has a dig on him…
When you dream ,anything is possible. People can fly. Theres a moment when you wake and you are still dreaming. You may think you can fly but you better not try...
by dinkman on Jun 4, 2009 10:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I wish Arreola was in shape. That would be awesome.
by ryanwk628 on Jun 4, 2009 11:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
According to Setanta
If Wlad-Chagaev happens, it would be for the Ring title. Not the lineal championship, since Vitali is still around, but a step in the right direction.
Another name being tossed around is Brian Minto. He might not be a bad one – while he’s not well known here, he has a following in Germany, and at least he makes action fights.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Jun 4, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Does Vitali really still hold the lineal championship? I mean his retirement took years to end. That was a legit retirement.
by SC on Jun 4, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think he was Ring’s “Emeritus” champion.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
by jrok on Jun 4, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, of course not
Just like Floyd isn’t the lineal welterweight champ anymore.
But for the lineal championship, #1 needs to fight #2, and #2 is Vitali. The Ring awards its belt in #1 vs #3 fights in special circumstances (like how they did with Roy Jones), but that doesn’t make it a lineal championship.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Jun 4, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I dunno, Floyd might as well be the lineal welter champ. His retirement lasted less than a year. I guess that difference is what I was thinking of more than Ring v. proper lineal.
by SC on Jun 4, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Floyd hasn't fought a welterweight in 3 years now
There’s an argument that he’s still lineal, but not a great one. When someone retires, they lose the title, period. Otherwise, there’s no way to establish a new lineage (or if a new lineage does establish in the meantime, then you get a huge mess with two real champs).
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Jun 4, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Valuev is a lot of things...
But I never figured him for a coward. He’s about a week removed from his “championship” fight that was cancelled, and he can’t be bothered to try to become the unified champion of the world? What the hell is the point of your career? What, you didn’t train for a bigger guy? Well Wlad didn’t train for a 7 foot 350 lb. behemoth either, get it on! I’m assuming as a belt holder coming to a unification match that he would probably get Haye’s entire purse…. This makes me so angry.
It's not the size of the dog... It's whats in the fight of Bernard Hopkins! -BHOP
by blackpage on Jun 4, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I like on the link where Goosen calls Arreola "an elite athlete."
That’s rich.
Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion
by The Kittitas Kid on Jun 4, 2009 12:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Can anyone confirm or independently verify that Valuev is officially “out” for the 20th? I would think someone would have issued some sort of press release, claiming for the second time in the last two weeks that Big Nick is not a “coward.”
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
by jrok on Jun 4, 2009 1:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not out yet as far as I know
But I’ve heard that his representatives were on German news saying they weren’t interested.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
by Brickhaus on Jun 4, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Where did you hear it, though? I can’t find anything on it.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
by jrok on Jun 4, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So many heavyweights, so little desire to see ANY of them in the ring.
Sigh.
by schraubd on Jun 4, 2009 2:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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