Why not Haye vs. Ibragimov?

July 14th, 2008

By Scoop Malinowski

David Haye has made it clear he thinks he is the best heavyweight in the world, with just one fight in the big division, the KO 1 win over Jeremy Bates, excuse me, Tomasz Bonin. David Haye has made it clear he is on a collision course with Wladimir Klitschko and that heavyweight super fight happening soon seems a foregone conclusion, by the way David Haye is hyping it.

David Haye is talking now about fighting his next fight later this year against a top-10 world-rated heavyweight contender. Some names that have been bandied about include Monte Barrett and Hasim Rahman which really would not prove anything. One year ago Barrett, now 38, was in my gym here in New Jersey (The Training Grounds in Teaneck, N.J.) and he told me he was considering dropping down to cruiserweight after the loss to Cliff Couser. But he won the rematch with Couser and is on a bit of a roll again at heavyweight. But a Haye win over Barrett – no matter how spectacular – would prove nothing, because Klitschko destroyed Two Gunz with violent and bloody ease eight years ago.

Hasim Rahman is also in his late thirties now and a Haye win over Rahman is pretty much meaningless. If David Haye really wants to show the boxing world he is more than just a motor mouth and that he deserves a shot at IBF/WBO kingpin Wladimir Klitschko ASAP I believe he should fight and beat Sultan Ibragimov.

If Haye can devastate Ibragimov, which Klitschko was unable to do, the boxing public would instantly crave to see David Haye vs. Klitschko next summer or spring.

I contacted Ibragimov’s manager Boris Grinberg in Florida and asked him for an update on the former WBO champion from Russia and for his thoughts on a Haye vs. Ibragimov matchup. “He’s still on vacation. We’re not rushing him. I saw David Haye five years ago (training in Florida). He still good, he still young. But he’s still not a super heavyweight fighter. He’s still not so big for heavyweight. He needs experience. I think Jirov was much better than David Haye (at cruiserweight), he had all the titles. Then be became a super heavyweight and he lost a lot. There’s not so many people like Toney or Holyfield.”

“David Haye is an exciting fight for Sultan. They are the same size, both very fast, both very good. That would be a very nice fight,” says Grinberg. “I agree with you. Good idea. I think it’s interesting.”

David Haye has been talking a lot and practically condemning Klitschko. David Haye says Klitschko is “a disgrace” for how he boxes and how he won his fight against Sultan Ibragimov. So David Haye basically called Sultan Ibragimov even worse than a disgrace.

So will David Haye be willing to really show true heavyweight fearlessness and take a fight with former champ Sultan Ibragimov? Or will David Haye try to dredge up the very faded Hasim Rahman, Klitschko KO victim Monte Barrett aged 38? Or will David Haye call out 40-year-old, slow as molasses Oleg Maskaev? Brock, Brewster, Austin, Toney?

None of these match-ups would really prove anything or provide any physical evidence that David Haye deserves to fight Klitschko ASAP.

Right now, David Haye is talking a lot and telling the world he will beat Klitschko. With words he is doing a very good job of it. But actions are always more convincing and authoritative and if David Haye can dominate and destroy Sultan Ibragimov more impressively than Dr. Steelhammer did, I believe David Haye would put himself in undeniable position to fight Klitschko in early 2009. Which is ASAP like he says he wants.

Haye vs. Ibragimov would sell in London too, as David Haye is the ticket seller. Sultan Ibragimov seems to be the best, most logical and sensible choice of opponent for David Haye’s next heavyweight fight.

The question is, is David Haye up to the task? Or will he handpick a slow, old and faded former heavyweight title threat?

Contact Scoop: mrbiofile@aol.com