Tuesday 9 August 2016 23:15, UK
The next fight is likely to tell us all we need to know about the legitimacy of David Haye's comeback, so who will he face?
The former two-weight world champion returned to the ring in January - ending three-and-a-half years away from the sport by knocking out Australia's Mark de Mori inside a round.
Haye, now 35 and boxing under up-and-coming trainer Shane McGuigan, met similarly flimsy resistance in May when he blasted aside previously-unbeaten Arnold Gjergjaj in two. After that facile success, Haye verbally agreed to face another former champion - Shannon Briggs, who enjoyed a first-round stoppage win on the same night.
The clash was due to take place in September but with the summer already past its highest height, the American's hopes of a lucrative pay-day may be fading and several other options are emerging...
Everything can change quickly in boxing. The shifting of the tectonic plates that make up the rankings of governing bodies mean that nothing is confirmed until pen is put to paper. This seems to be evident in the case of Haye v Briggs; a bout that seemed certain after the pair followed quick-fire stoppage wins on the same card by trading verbal blows for the umpteenth time.
Some have questioned the 'point' in Haye facing Briggs. Yes, 'The Cannon' brings with him a PR circus that attracts fans wherever he goes but when the entourage has melted away and the lights are trained solely on the ring, does he possess enough at the age of 44 to provide Haye with the chance to earn much credit? Briggs showed sharpness that belied his years last time out. It just remains to be seen whether his drum-banging efforts will be rewarded.
Browne became Australia's first world heavyweight champion when he climbed up from a sixth-round knockdown to shock Ruslan Chagaev round with a 10th-round stoppage in March. The dream turned sour quickly, though, as the former nightclub bouncer tested positive and was stripped of the WBA title and banned for six months.
From September 5, Browne, who protested his innocence after the positive test, will be eligible to return to the rankings and Chagaev, after regaining the title, has been stripped himself after failing to pay sanctioning fees. A clash with Haye, who held the WBA crown for a year between 2009 and 2010, would provide the governing body with one of the glitzier regular title match-ups in recent years. Whether Haye or Browne can force their ways to the front of queue is uncertain but they remain two of the biggest names in the WBA mix.
Not long after Bellew threw the punch that completed a fairytale at Goodison Park, his thoughts turned to fighting former sparring partner Haye. In the post-fight interview, Bellew began the verbal assault on the Londoner, who he claims he and fellow Liverpudlian David Price treated dismissively in behind-closed-doors sessions.
The issue, quite clearly, with this fight is the weight. Bellew initially claimed he would be unfazed at the prospect of Haye weighing in as heavily as he liked, but promoter Eddie Hearn subsequently hinted a catchweight contest of around 210-215lbs was more likely. Haye held the WBC cruiserweight crown now worn by Bellew along with the WBO and WBA straps before he stepped up and may find there is a tempting amount of money on the table to face 'Bomber.'
If Haye wants to plot another route to a world title shot then he could do worse than take on former WBC champion Bermane Stiverne, who's still ranked highly by that governing body. The Haitian has not been particularly active recently (his last bout was in November 2015), but he is still making noises about a rematch with Deontay WIlder, who relieved him of the belt the previous January.
Interestingly, Haye scoffed at Stiverne's inclusion in the top 10 and clearly feels that the 37-year-old is fortunate to still be in the mix for top honours. It's tough to gauge whether that means 'Hayemaker' is more likely to face him or less. Haye v Stiverne would not be the bout to make the most noise, but it may clear a path to Wilder's doorstep.
Puerto Rican heavyweight Oquendo could be a fly in the WBA ointment for just about everyone. Interim champion Luis Ortiz recently failed to agree terms to fight Alexander Ustinov and authorities may now opt to strip the intimidating Cuban in favour of allowing others to fight for a vacant belt. They may turn to Oquendo. They may turn to Haye. Who knows...
Those who want to beat 'The Big O' to the chance will find encouragement in his recent lack of action. Now 43, Oquendo has not stepped into a professional boxing ring since losing a majority decision to Chagaev in July 2014 with the vacant WBA title on the line. Some serious shoulder surgery later, he is surely towards the end of his career and Haye may therefore relish the chance to face him for any kind of title.
Nothing can be ruled out in the current climate. The sudden announcement of Gennady Golovkin v Kell Brook is testament to that.
We have heard it said time and time again that Anthony Joshua v David Haye is inevitably the biggest heavyweight fight of 2017... but we have also heard it said by Haye himself that the sooner he gets Joshua, the better. After the IBF world heavyweight champion dealt with Americans Charles Martin and Dominic Breazeale with ease, British boxing fans are hopeful to see him presented with a more dangerous threat soon. That could be Haye and it could even be soon.
