Former two division world champion David Haye (26-2, 24 KOs) says his surgically repaired right shoulder is strong and he’s punching harder than ever. Haye, now 34, says he’ll be returning to the ring in 2015 to start his comeback to try and get a title shot against IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Haye lost his WBA title to Wladimir three years ago in 2011 in a one-sided fight. Haye looked too small for the 6’6”, 245 pound Wladimir, and the fight ended up being totally one-sided. At 6’3”, 210 pounds, Haye is more of a cruiserweight sized heavyweight than an actual heavyweight.
His lack of size was a problem against the much bigger Wladimir, and it would likely hurt if he faces some of the other large heavyweight contenders like Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.
“The shoulder is fixed. I’m punching harder than before because of the rehab,” Haye said via the Dailystar.co.uk. “Trust me, 2015 is the return of ‘The Hayemaker’. I will be starting from the bottom. I’m not even in the rankings after being out for over a year, so I want to work my way up the rankings.”
Haye will likely be pushed up the rankings quickly by the sanctioning bodies even if he faces nothing but stiffs. Haye has already said that he’s going to take it easy when he comes back by facing lower level opposition for a while. Haye’s got to take it easy because the last time he fought was two years ago when he beat Dereck Chisora by a 5th round knockout in July of 2012. If Haye drags out his comeback, it might be three years out of the ring by the time he fights again.
As it is, Haye will be turning 35 in October, and that’s a ripe age for a guy who has been out of the ring for as long as him. His lack of size is a problem that will continue to plague him in the future. Even some of the smaller heavyweights like Alexander Povetkin would likely be a step too far for Haye. It’s not likely that he’d be willing to face a guy as good as Povetkin, but if he does he’d have to use constant movement in order to keep from getting hit by one of Povetkin’s big shots.
“He took my WBA title and I want it back,” Haye said about Wladimir Klitschko.
Wladimir likely won’t bother giving Haye a rematch until he becomes his mandatory challenger. He’s probably not going to give Haye a title shot without him having earned it. But knowing the sanctioning bodies, Haye probably won’t have to beat anyone good for him to get a No.1 ranking. The sanctioning bodies will likely give Haye a numbers one ranking even if he faces nothing but stiffs. With his popularity, Haye probably won’t need to face a Povetkin, Bryant Jennings, Kubrat Pulev or Tyson Fury in order to get ranked No.1.
Haye had better hope that he regains the punching power in his right hand, because if the power is gone then he’ll be a one-armed fighter and totally dependent on his left hook.
