Despite redefining the term arrogance over the past few weeks David Haye could not use his fists to back up his mouth in Hamburg on Saturday.
Haye’s camp is trying to play up the fact that the Briton had a broken toe, claiming that it hampered his performance. But there is no getting away from the fact that the better boxer won. It may not have been the most entertaining fight but Wladimir Klitschko bossed proceedings from start to finish.
Now, Haye, with his tail between his legs, must consider his future and decide whether he will standby his promise that he would not box past his 31st birthday, or try to rebuild his reputation before retiring.
Wladimir Klitschko’s camp has said that they will not consider a rematch, but money talks and the possibility cannot be ruled out. However, a fight with older brother Vitali seems more likely.
“There’s no chance of a rematch,” Klitschko’s manager said following the fight.
“Wladimir will now move on. Vitali mentioned he would be interested in knocking Haye out.”
The bookmakers are offering odds of 1/3 that Haye makes a U-turn on his retirement decision and fights after his 31st birthday (October 13th 2011).
It is 5/1 that there is a rematch with Wladimir in 2011 and 3/1 that Haye fights Vitali before the year is out. His chances of winning any potential fight against the Klitschkos are much bigger with the bookies going 11/1 that he beats Vitali in 2011 and 12/1 that he beats Wladimir this year.
And if you think a career in Television will be Haye’s next move you can get 100/1 that he promotes Open Toe sandals in a TV advert.
Sport: Football