Haye out to emulate Ali

WBA champion wants to fight all over the world

Last updated: 27th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Haye out to emulate Ali

Haye: Big year ahead

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WBA heavyweight champion David Haye wants to follow in the footsteps of Muhammad Ali and fight all over the world.

Haye is set for a big 2010, with a mandatory defence against John Ruiz set to be followed by a showdown with WBC champion Vitali Klitschko.

WBO and IBF titlist Wladimer Klitschko also remains on the 29-year-old Londoner's radar for the 12 months ahead.

Britain and Las Vegas are high on Haye's list on possible venues for the bouts but he is also keen on emulating his hero Ali by recreating the Rumble in the Jungle and the Thriller in Manila.

Haye told the News of the World: "Of course I want to defend my title in Britain and also fight in Las Vegas, but as heavyweight champion of the world I also want to fight all over the world.

Hero

"Muhammad Ali is best remembered for his 'Rumble in the Jungle' fight. There was also his 'Thriller in Manila' fight with Joe Frazier.

"I am going to Angola for the African Nations Cup next month and it's something we will continue talking about.

"Ali is a massive hero of mine and if I could do something like he did then I'd love it. Maybe we can stage the new Rumble in the Jungle.

"I am looking to leave a legacy and to be able to fight in every continent would be tremendous."

Comments (30)

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Abbaas Abd says...

David haye is a good boxer with a sound personaltiy, so whoever is putting him down, just stop. he may be in a bad era of boxing as in ali's time boxing used to be about pride, but now its about the pay. u cant blame haye for wanting to be like his idol, i mean comon, loads of people want to be like celebrities these days.

Posted 22:07 16th January 2010

Chris Fahy says...

If you read it ,David is saying he wants to take his fights to differet parts of the world to emulate what Ali did. He`s not in anyway saying he`s as good a fighter as Ali was.Whats the matter with you people?

Posted 20:36 3rd January 2010

Jon Hand says...

can you see haye fighting the likes of big george or smoking joe.he is a limited cruser weight and thats that.I notice he didnt hang around to fight adomek ,he didnt fight the best at that weight either.

Posted 10:03 1st January 2010

Lee Hills says...

I think that anyone who says Haye is rubbish dosen't know much about boxing. He's steadily improved all the time, just because you were all behind Hatton and it turned out he couldn¿t cope, that¿s your problem not Haye¿s, Haye¿s already proved his class and intelligence¿ Back the right guy for once¿ Haye all the way! Lee.

Posted 13:48 31st December 2009

Bermondsey Boy says...

I salute Haye for what he has done. A true Bermondsey boy showing the world how its done. Standards in British Heavyweight boxing has gone down over the last 5 years, but he is solely holding it up. He has everything needed to be a true champion: Power ,speed, strength, skill and ego. He is and will prove to be the best in the world and not even a couple of Russian bros can/ will get in his

Posted 13:48 31st December 2009

Liam Hughes says...

Is David Haye british because everyone else seem to hate him!!! i support anyone British and its a disgrace if you dont too!! He's unified the cruiser weight division, he's fast, he's tactical, he has a very powerful punch and last he's BRITISH. Get a life Haye haters.

Posted 10:47 31st December 2009

Harun Yahya says...

Come on David Haye, as much i like him as a boxer, you are no Ali & you are where on earth going to achieve even 10% of what he did! nice try but dont even think abotu brushing shoulders with the GODS of boxing! stick to your career plan, let your boxing do the talking & not your mouth!! Good luck

Posted 16:02 30th December 2009

Lee Hayes says...

Haye's never been knocked out. the referee stopped it against thompson. How is that chinny?

Posted 13:45 30th December 2009

The Don says...

Haye is okay until he gets hit hard, he was chinny at cruiser, and when either Klitschko connects a decent punch, i'm affraid it's over. I do admire Haye's courage but his corner better take a dust pan and brush to sweep up all the glass :)

Posted 01:33 30th December 2009

Tom Robinson says...

David Haye will become the next boxing legend. no doubt about it... he can make the beast of the east wobble with a broken hand after 11 rounds, that says something surely! big up Haye! ill be watching in ur corner

Posted 12:13 29th December 2009

Louis France says...

I really wish all these David Haye haters would back off. People go crazy for Amir Khan and yet hate David Haye, they also go crazy for Ricky Hatton who (as my favourite boxer who I have been to see live many times) I have to admit now is past it. David Haye is an unbelievably talented boxer and I cannot believe people are giving him no credit. Yes Valuev wasn't really the greatest fight, but did none of you ever see him at cruiser?? This guy can play a counter punch or an out and out brawler, he is class, very fast very strong and he has a good chin (more than can be said for Amir Khan). Also it shocks me how many people cannot actually or do not actually bother to read what he said, all David wants to do is follow in the footsteps of his idol, he didnt say he was better than Ali, or even that he would have as successful a career, all he wants to do is be like the man he used has looked up to in his life. If we were all to be so pessimistic we wouldnt have great English footballers, boxers hell any types of athletes because we would be a nation without hope. I know David goes to far sometimes with his press conferences and he comes acroos as offensive, but the Mr. Ali we all loved was not always so charismatic himself. I beg you all to give this guy a chance and actually judge David by his in ring abilities, because as you will see over the coming 12/18 months this guy is absolutely class!

Posted 01:53 29th December 2009

Gari Jones says...

David is in a key position here, 29 years old, a title holder and big fights lining up for him, he can certainly leave a legacy of some kind. He should defeat Ruiz comfortably enough I dont think Ruiz has the skills to trouble Haye, but needs to be careful as Ruiz has been a champion himself. It would be great if Haye's 2010 showed him defeating Ruiz, Vitali and Wladamir Klitschko and unifying the heavyweight division. Haye's dream of emulating someone like Ali though will never happen and this is not due to David Haye, its due to the fact theirs really no great Heavyweights out their for Haye to defeat. When Ali, Frazier, Holmes, Foreman, Tyson, Lennox and Holyfield were fighting - those men fought in a division that had some serious contenders, guys who would hit back and could surprise the world by defeating the reigning champion. Buster Douglas defeated Tyson, Oliver McCall and Rahman beating Lennox, Ken Norton beating Ali etc. What does Haye currently have - a bunch of non-hitting, overweight, slow and un-aggressive boxers that have been beating by two boring brothers from the Ukraine? Who knows though when Haye defeats Vitali may be the rest of the heavyweights will step their game up and excite a stale weight class up again.

Posted 00:13 29th December 2009

Paul Harman says...

david haye talks a great fight but i fear ruiz will destroy his dream.after all he is a pumped up cruiserweight.as for the klitchcos he has no chance .

Posted 21:56 28th December 2009

David Wilton says...

Haye is an exciting fighter and i think his best is still yet to come. I don't think you can blame him for the Era he is boxing in, let's all get behind him and look forward to him cleaning up in a lack luster division well in need of someone with his charisma and boxing ability. Good luck Haymaker, You just better hope Carl the Cat doesn't step up to Heavyweight . . . Still One of the best fights out there!!

Posted 17:21 28th December 2009

Richard Legg says...

haye will only be able to sell fights globally once he has unified the division. ive watched both klitschkos fight and havent seen anything that haye needs to worry about. haye is pure quality its just a shame the heavyweight division isnt as strong as years gone by. for those who are belittling haye and his chances of unifying the division, look at what hes achieved already. he unified the cruiserweight division which is in a better state than the heavyweight division and he would have won gold at the olympics if it wasnt for an injury. bottom line haye is quality and by far is the best boxer in the heavyweight division since lennox lewis and your just jealous of his success.

Posted 15:50 28th December 2009

Wayne Close says...

David will be one of the best heavyweight boxers of the current era. Can't mention him in the same vein as Ali, Frazier, Tyson, etc but he beat a lot of good Cruiserweights and I believe he could well dominate the heavies for the next couple of years as the quality just isnt there.

Posted 12:40 28th December 2009

James Newton says...

Right... I have watched alot of Ali fights and Haye fights and going off what Haye produce by beating the "beast from the East" i would say he have a great chance of following in Ali's footsteps! Most of the people who have commented on this story are clearly just jelous of what Haye has become and what he is about to do to the heavyweight division! He is clearly going to knock out the Klitschko's and go on to build a great legacy!

Posted 12:27 28th December 2009

B M says...

To all the people who cant read Haye hasnt said he is as good as Ali, just he wants to fight round the world like his hero.

Posted 11:29 28th December 2009

Andy Mclean says...

Haye only said he wanted to emulate Ali in the geographical sense! He didnt say he could beat Ali/is better than Ali etc etc. I say fair play to the ambition of the man, and good luck to him. I hope he gets the fights he wants, in the venues he wants and I hope his good fortune follows him. No-one gave him a chance against Valuev, but he upset the odds and now some British boxing "fans" seem a little too quick to put him down!

Posted 10:30 28th December 2009

Conor Golden says...

david haye..muhammed ali..thats an insult to be put in the same sentence..u struggled to beat the worst ever heavyweight champion...and even if u manage to beat the klitscho brothers ul still be miles off the standard of the golden oldies....ur like a mixture between a cocky prince naseem and that freak show u beat....get a life

Posted 08:37 28th December 2009
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