Desired David Haye opponents
5. Bermane Stiverne
Stiverne’s main selling point is that he is a former WBC world champion, and his reign didn’t end years and years ago. He may not have been the most formidable champion – he won the vacant title by beating Chris Arreola and lost it in his first defence against Deontay Wilder in January 2015 – but his championship run makes him a marketable name.
It also means he can mix it at world level, and would be a credible opponent for Haye – who desperately needs a competitive fight. Stiverne is ranked No 2 by the WBC, and could be elevated to No 1 should drugs cheat Alexander Povetkin be jettisoned from the rankings (and he really, really should).
He may also just be enough of a soft target for Haye to go for. He looked poor in outpointing Derric Rossy last November, and he was soundly beaten by Wilder.
4. Luis Ortiz
There’s a big caveat to this entry – Ortiz is arguably the most dangerous, and avoided, heavyweight in the world. The Cuban southpaw carries thunderous power and smooth skills, and in recent outings has dispatched Bryant Jennings and Tony Thompson with relative ease.
That makes him a big risk for Haye’s plans to secure a massive payday against Anthony Joshua.
However Haye – also a big threat to the heavyweight world champions – should take risks if he’s serious about getting the big fights. No 1 with the WBA, Ortiz does reportedly have some absurd mandatory obligations given the spurios title he holds.
Regardless, he is widely considered one of the best heavyweights around, and is the sort of challenge Haye should seek out.
3. Kubrat Pulev
The brooding Bulgarian is coming off a dominant decision win over former Haye victim Dereck Chisora, which earned him a lofty ranking with the IBF – whose title Joshua holds. That instantly makes the 35-year-old an attractive opponent for Haye.
Pulev is also a well-respected operator and holds some impressive wins, though was hammered in five rounds by Wladimir Klitschko in 2014. He has his limitations, and Haye is the sort of fighter who could exploit them.
Of course Pulev may not wish to risk is high rating and European title against someone like Haye who, at this stage, has no bargaining power besides the decent purse he could offer Kubrat.
2. Dillian Whyte
Whyte pushed Joshua harder than anyone has in December when he shook the future champion to his boots in the second before being brutally knocked out in the seventh.
The fraught build-up and exciting fight raised Whyte’s profile, and he returns from injury on June 25. He hopes for a couple of warm-up fights before jumping into a big showdown later in the year – and why not against Haye?
They are both decent talkers and more than likely to grab a few headlines were they to start trading insults. They would both also come to win and a meeting between them would be explosive – similar to Haye’s demolition of Chisora in 2012.
Indeed if Haye were to win – and beat Whyte in more emphatic fashion than Joshua – he would hold bragging rights over the Olympic champion.
1. Deontay Wilder
Aside from a fight with Joshua, Haye wants world titles. Wilder holds the WBC strap, and finds himself in limbo after mandatory challenger Povetkin failed a drugs test a week before their scheduled meeting at the weekend.
Both are hugely marketable and the fight would sell very well – however Wilder would demand a huge purse, and Haye may struggle to drum up the funds needed. It would be a voluntary defence for Wilder, and the American may feel he has better options elsewhere.
In the UK, it would be huge.
The pair are former sparring partners and if the stories (which don’t come from Haye himself) are to be believed, the Londoner gave Wilder a hiding. He would be confident going in.
