Sky Sports
David Haye has single-handedly saved boxing...
That is the view of his one-time promoter Frank Maloney, who guided Lennox Lewis to the top of the world some 17 years ago.
WBA boss Haye still has some way to go before emulating the last unified world heavyweight champion but fellow Londoner Maloney believes he has already dragged the sport - and its heavyweight division - out of the doldrums.
In the seven years since Lewis retired the four recognised belts have been passed around with only the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, establishing themselves as genuine forces.
But Maloney believes Haye has the talent and the charisma to eclipse the giant Ukrainians.
"Boxing is about heavyweight boxing. If you've got a heavyweight champion, boxing is here," he told skysports.com.
"People recognise David Haye; they don't recognise these Eastern European champions.
"A British or an American heavyweight champion is what boxing needs and I think David Haye has saved boxing in a way by winning the world title.
"Who knows the Beast From The East (Nikolai Valuev)? He's a nice fella, but he doesn't speak English - and you need a heavyweight that the British and American public can associate with."
History
Haye saw fights with both Klitschkos fall through before he toppled Valuev and has upset them with his infamous t-shirt, depicting him holding the severed heads of both siblings.
But between them the brothers have the rest of the heavyweight division tied up. Wladimir successfully defended his WBO and IBF titles against Eddie Chambers on Saturday night, while Vitali - who was Lewis' last opponent - holds the WBC version.
And Maloney says that if they can get past the bad blood, his former charge can build on his legacy by beating either.
"The fight that will cement David's place in history will be one of the Klitschko's," he said.
"Lennox had those fights: he became Britain's first heavyweight world champion for 100 years which made history; then he fought Frank Bruno, who was the darling of the British public; then he went on and beat Holyfield to become unified champion.
"If David can beat Vitali Klitschko he's established, because Vitali Klitschko is seen as the supreme heavyweight out there - even if half the world don't know who he is!"
Source: skysports.com
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