Vitali Klitschko vs David Haye: Contract Is Offered For March 3 Fight

by Scott Christ on Nov 30, 2011 6:06 PM EST in Boxing News Analysis

Vitali Klitschko could get his wish on March 3: A chance to knock out David Haye. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Bongarts/Getty Images)

A contract is officially on the table and being reviewed by David Haye's team for a March 3 fight with Vitali Klitschko, The Sun reports today.

Haye's manager Adam Booth said: "We have received a contract to fight Vitali Klitschko and our lawyers are looking at the details of what has been offered."

Haye (25-2, 23 KO) bombed in his chance against Wladimir Klitschko on July 3 in Hamburg, before an enormous live crowd and a huge worldwide audience. Since then, demand for Haye to return to the ring has been limited, but Vitali (43-2, 40 KO) has made clear that he wants to finish what his younger brother started, and knock out the family rival.

[ Related: Booth Not High on Haye's Recent Fitness ]

I know some are wondering if there's interest in this fight, with the idea that there isn't, but yes, there is. It will do another big live gate in Germany, will generate plenty of money, and will have at least a little intrigue. Haye seems almost ashamed of himself since July, and did announce an iffy retirement in October, as promised.

The question is open, though: Will Haye fight Vitali simply for another paycheck to pad his retirement, or is he going to come to win this time? He's going to have to take risks, because you can't beat either Klitschko playing it safe.

It looks like this fight is going to happen. Negotiations have been ongoing and if a contract is on the table, we're talking a real possibility.

Klitschko is reportedly booked for March 3 at ESPIRIT Arena in Düsseldorf regardless of opponent.

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i dont get it

If he wins? Is he going to stick around or what?

I just dont get the point in it tbh…

by Shitali Klitschko on Nov 30, 2011 6:08 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I imagine if he won he’d rematch Wladimir. It’s not like the Klitschkos are beating off interesting opponents with a stick. Tony Thompson is going to get a rematch with Wladimir, and as much as everyone talks up his effort, it wasn’t really that great. He lost 8 or 9 of 10 rounds and got knocked out.

Haye remains a better and more profitable opponent than…frankly anyone else. Or do you need to see Vitali vs Bermane Stiverne?

I’ll roll the dice on David Haye showing up over that any time.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Nov 30, 2011 6:16 PM EST up reply actions

I honestly would rather see an unknown quantity (never watched a Stiverne fight) than someone whos bound to disappoint.

We wont even have any trash talk from Haye (the only enjoyable thing about his fights) b/c he’ll look stupid after the huge Wlad hype and letdown.

by Shitali Klitschko on Nov 30, 2011 6:26 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

never watched a Stiverne fight

Stiverne vs Ray Austin, Part 1

“Enjoy.”

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Nov 30, 2011 6:27 PM EST up reply actions

eesh

I take it back

by Shitali Klitschko on Nov 30, 2011 7:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

We wont even have any trash talk from Haye

Don’t undersetimate Haye on that….

by Sweet science on Nov 30, 2011 6:39 PM EST up reply actions

That is a certainty.

Where there’s a Haye, there’s a way…..to talk shit. Endlessly.

Wear something sexy to my funeral.

by Pops Daniels on Nov 30, 2011 10:32 PM EST up reply actions

And honestly,

I’m kinda OK with it. Without the immediate maturation of Hellenious, Fury, or Wilder, there aren’t many other options that would get me to tune in. And, despite his miserable failure against Wladimir, Haye can still draw interest because he’s mildly entertaining, at least to me, because the shit he talks is so….. outlandish. Downright funny sometimes. Sure, as long as it’s not PPV, I’ll watch.

Wear something sexy to my funeral.

by Pops Daniels on Nov 30, 2011 10:38 PM EST up reply actions

I’m guessing it winds up on HBO over here. The thing is the Klitschkos pull fine ratings, plus you can air them live in the afternoon and then pair the replay with a live fight that night.

If not, it’ll be on ESPN3 like Wlad-Mormeck

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Nov 30, 2011 11:22 PM EST up reply actions

By the time he sits around for 6 more months

Tyson Fury might be a viable candidate, at least in the UK.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Dec 1, 2011 1:34 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

And if he wins

I suspect e’ll try to milk it as long as possible.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Dec 1, 2011 1:34 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

It will make a shitload of money

And still… the number two against the number 3/4 in the Divison

by Sweet science on Nov 30, 2011 6:16 PM EST up reply actions

I just cant get my head around it…..it seems the only thing it has going for it is “can Vitali KO Haye?”

Im not gonna lie and say I wont watch it (inevitably will) but theres like, no reason to ‘get into’ this fight. Sounds dumb but I need to be given a reason to watch. “See David Haye get paid £millions to lose a wide UD” isnt cutting it tbh..

by Shitali Klitschko on Nov 30, 2011 6:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Haye has to be up there for Shortest Retirement in History

I could be wrong but i think Danny Green held the previous record when he had a “message from God” to retire and then came back about six months later.

by Matt Mosley on Nov 30, 2011 6:37 PM EST reply actions

Floyd retired between Oscar (May 2007) and Hatton (December 2007), too. That’s up there.

But Haye’s effectively lasted about a month if this fight is signed this week.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Nov 30, 2011 6:41 PM EST up reply actions

Zsolt Erdei retired for like a month not long ago

Although at this point it’s clear that was to get out of his Universum contract.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Dec 1, 2011 1:48 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Oh Haye...

For shame..

by HeartbreakShot on Nov 30, 2011 6:50 PM EST reply actions

paycheck

by DPlainview on Nov 30, 2011 7:23 PM EST reply actions

Only thing that would make this worthwhile is if Haye got KTFO. I understand Haye is miles better than Stiverne and others of his caliber, but if a Stiverne or similar guy came in, gave 100% effort, & went down swinging, well then I’d rather see that. Cuz I have no faith in Haye giving any more effort than he did vs. Wlad, and this time he’s fighting the bro who actually tries to finish fights by KO.

by KidSleez on Nov 30, 2011 9:03 PM EST reply actions

My take is that Haye’s HW resume is nonexistent, especially as compared with the intensity of the 15 minutes of fame he got after Valuev, and I can’t imagine that even British fans would wake up from an afternoon nap to watch him again.

But, as I think I said somewhere, probably to my bathroom mirror while severely hammered, Vitali would want him just to complete the entirely personal obliteration of Haye begun by his brother, almost purely (giving due consideration to money) for reasons of payback.

by DrRck on Nov 30, 2011 9:37 PM EST reply actions