So who is Haye fighting next?

[ICB]

I want to see Audley Harrison vs David Haye.

[BubbleBox]

He says that 'if he told us who they have lined up at Heavy, you wouldn't believe it'.

He is keeping his cards close to his chest.

Ray Austin

[killersheep]

Haye should fight John Ruiz. I'd love to see Ruiz get battered again.

[leftylee]

Jameel McCline would be a good choice.

[Mikkel_K]

Caught an interview with him this week. He says his next fight is lined up at heavyweight against a very highly top ten ranked opponent who when we hear the name we will think he's crazy for taking the fight?

The only person I can think of whose remotely scary in the heavyweight ranks aside from Kltschko is Sam Peter but he's got Maskaev so obviously not him.

So who is it? He won't reveal but I'm presuming he's going to be a big puncher.

My guesses are.

Lamon Brewster
Chris Areola
Alexander Dimitrenko
Oldanier Solis (rematch possibilites)
Shannon Briggs
Sergio Lyakhovich
Jameel McCline
Hasim Rahman

Anyone else think of any possibilites? It's obviously not a current world champ and those are the big punchers and dangerous men who I can think of.

Other guys (Tony Thompson for example) arn't well enough known for us to think 'Ahh can't believe he's fighting him' so guessing one of the names above.

But who is it? I really want to know. :P

When reading your opening paragraph, I was immediately thinking of Thompson. He is both good enough to be considered "a crazy career move", and unknown enough to be an actual possibility. I dont understand your concern about him 'not being known enough' - the Haye camp should easily be able to sell a 31-1 opponent, unbeaten for 8 years and WBO mandatory as a hell of an opponent. And anyone in the know will agree to this an talk up this fight, even if Thompson is not exactly a ppv-star yet.

Besides Thompson, you have basically listed every top 10-ranked opponent out there. Exceptions are Virchis (who would make for a good opponent) and McCall as already mentioned in this thread. Why have no-one mentioned Juan Carlos Gomez? He would be tough, is easily more prominent than Solis and furthermore he is both hungry and likely to travel.

Other names (see here http://www.fightnews.com/rankings2.htm)

Kali Meehan & Taras Bidenko - ranked WBA 4 and 5 respectively, and could therefore be sold as credible opponents. Haye would hardly be crazy to take these fights, but a fighter hyping his fights is not exactly new.

Michael Moorer (!) - WBA nr. 6 (!). Why not? He's still a name, isn't he? Former linear Heavyweight Champion of the World and all that. And perhaps in it for one last big pay day.

Andrew Golota (!) - WBC 10. If ever there was opponent where the word 'crazy' was sure to be mentioned in the build up to the fight...

And (as mentioned by killersheep): John Ruiz. I simply cannot by any means fathom this as a likely fight to pursue seen from Haye's perspective. As stupid a career move as they come... So it must be him then

[Bomp]

From the tone of the article I get the feeling the guy will be reasonably well known to regular boxing fans, if their's a poll I'm going with Mccall. But he might be bluffing, could be Sprott, the casual fan might think him a dangerous opponent after his KO of Audrey.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Maccarenelli has allegedly accepted a direct challenge from Haye.

[Dark Lord Al]

id like to see him fight Rahman

[Tam Seddon]

Id love to see him fight Enzo to be honest. But wouldnt likely happen now. So i think he should fight a guy like Rahman or Brewster who were on top and can up the doors to America support.

[Kev]

Caught an interview with him this week. He says his next fight is lined up at heavyweight against a very highly top ten ranked opponent who when we hear the name we will think he's crazy for taking the fight?

The only person I can think of whose remotely scary in the heavyweight ranks aside from Kltschko is Sam Peter but he's got Maskaev so obviously not him.

So who is it? He won't reveal but I'm presuming he's going to be a big puncher.

My guesses are.

Lamon Brewster
Chris Areola
Alexander Dimitrenko
Oldanier Solis (rematch possibilites)
Shannon Briggs
Sergio Lyakhovich
Jameel McCline
Hasim Rahman

Anyone else think of any possibilites? It's obviously not a current world champ and those are the big punchers and dangerous men who I can think of.

Other guys (Tony Thompson for example) arn't well enough known for us to think 'Ahh can't believe he's fighting him' so guessing one of the names above.

But who is it? I really want to know. :P

When reading your opening paragraph, I was immediately thinking of Thompson. He is both good enough to be considered "a crazy career move", and unknown enough to be an actual possibility. I dont understand your concern about him 'not being known enough' - the Haye camp should easily be able to sell a 31-1 opponent, unbeaten for 8 years and WBO mandatory as a hell of an opponent. And anyone in the know will agree to this an talk up this fight, even if Thompson is not exactly a ppv-star yet.

Besides Thompson, you have basically listed every top 10-ranked opponent out there. Exceptions are Virchis (who would make for a good opponent) and McCall as already mentioned in this thread. Why have no-one mentioned Juan Carlos Gomez? He would be tough, is easily more prominent than Solis and furthermore he is both hungry and likely to travel.

Other names (see here http://www.fightnews.com/rankings2.htm)

Kali Meehan & Taras Bidenko - ranked WBA 4 and 5 respectively, and could therefore be sold as credible opponents. Haye would hardly be crazy to take these fights, but a fighter hyping his fights is not exactly new.

Michael Moorer (!) - WBA nr. 6 (!). Why not? He's still a name, isn't he? Former linear Heavyweight Champion of the World and all that. And perhaps in it for one last big pay day.

Andrew Golota (!) - WBC 10. If ever there was opponent where the word 'crazy' was sure to be mentioned in the build up to the fight...

And (as mentioned by killersheep): John Ruiz. I simply cannot by any means fathom this as a likely fight to pursue seen from Haye's perspective. As stupid a career move as they come... So it must be him then

The only reason I discounted Thompson is because he's not known at all the British public. He said it would invoke a crazy reaction when it was known who he was fighting and Thompson, despite imo being one of the best heavies out there isn't nearly well known enough to do that.

My immediate thoughts were well known former champs like Rahman, Brewster, Lyakhovich or Briggs.

I guess it could even be Nikolay Valuev that WOULD invoke a huge load of interest!

My money though if this 'crazy' fight takes place is that it will be either Dimitrenko, Rahman, Brewster, Lyakhovich or Briggs. Yup I'm narrowing it down :P

[headson]

i'll like him against chris byrd

[Mikkel_K]

The only reason I discounted Thompson is because he's not known at all the British public. He said it would invoke a crazy reaction when it was known who he was fighting and Thompson, despite imo being one of the best heavies out there isn't nearly well known enough to do that.

My immediate thoughts were well known former champs like Rahman, Brewster, Lyakhovich or Briggs.

I guess it could even be Nikolay Valuev that WOULD invoke a huge load of interest!

My money though if this 'crazy' fight takes place is that it will be either Dimitrenko, Rahman, Brewster, Lyakhovich or Briggs. Yup I'm narrowing it down :P

You have indeed appealed to the detective in me...

And I like your reasoning, as well, although I do think you trust Haye a bit too much. I mean, it wouldnt be unheard of in the boxing world to first make those statements, then unveil, say, Ross Purrity. "The Man who Beat the (current) Man" - Frank Warren would have a field day!

Anyway - I was going to post that Lyakhovich seems out of the picture, as he has an upcoming eliminator with Valuev (for the WBA belt), but while just checking boxrec for the actual date before posting, I noticed they have taken the fight off. I am sure to have seen it on there before, as well as reading about Sauerland winning the purse offer. Anybody know what happened/is happening?

Dimitrenko, Rahman, Brewster, Briggs all sound like good picks though. Big names, yet Haye would be starting favorite against all of them imo.

[JohnnyKickAss]

The only reason I discounted Thompson is because he's not known at all the British public. He said it would invoke a crazy reaction when it was known who he was fighting and Thompson, despite imo being one of the best heavies out there isn't nearly well known enough to do that.

My immediate thoughts were well known former champs like Rahman, Brewster, Lyakhovich or Briggs.

I guess it could even be Nikolay Valuev that WOULD invoke a huge load of interest!

My money though if this 'crazy' fight takes place is that it will be either Dimitrenko, Rahman, Brewster, Lyakhovich or Briggs. Yup I'm narrowing it down :P

Lets narrow it some more...

Dimitrenko will probably fight Krasniqi next...and even if not Dimi won't risk a loss against Haye...he is
looking for easy fights till he somehow gets a title shot(which he will loose )...

Lyakhovich should have fought Valuev,but it seems it got canceled or only postponed...

Briggs is history...

So Rahman and Brewster it will be ...

[Mikkel_K]

Anyway - I was going to post that Lyakhovich seems out of the picture, as he has an upcoming eliminator with Valuev (for the WBA belt), but while just checking boxrec for the actual date before posting, I noticed they have taken the fight off. I am sure to have seen it on there before, as well as reading about Sauerland winning the purse offer. Anybody know what happened/is happening?

It's back on. February 16th in Nuremberg. And confirmed according to figthnews and boxen.com (who are already selling tickets).

[yoitsdan]

He says that 'if he told us who they have lined up at Heavy, you wouldn't believe it'.

He is keeping his cards close to his chest.

Ray Austin

Holyfield?