FORMER world heavyweight champion George Foreman believes Britainโs David Haye blew a golden opportunity the night he lost to Wladimir Klitschko in 2011. The two-time champion, who defeated Joe Frazier and Michael Moorer in title-winning bouts 21 years apart, does not believe Haye, now 34, will get a similar chance again.
โDavid Haye had his opportunity and I donโt know why he didnโt win that fight,โ Foreman said about Klitschkoโs wide decision win in Hamburg. โHe [Haye] got that close and started worrying about being hit by Klitschko. If he had sidelined his fear in the latter rounds, he could have been heavyweight champ of the world now. I think he lost his opportunity though, I donโt think heโll ever get one like that.โ
The Londoner, who announced his retirement after the contest, returned in 2012 to knock out Dereck Chisora in a high-profile domestic grudge match and is currently plotting another comeback. The former cruiser king and WBA heavyweight titlist earlier this year announced his plans to campaign for a rematch with Klitschko but Foreman does not believe he will get it. Instead โHayemakerโ could be left ruing that wet summerโs night in Germany.
โHeโll never get that good an opportunity again,โ George continued. โBut he could have beat Klitschko. For some reason, when he should have attacked, he started protecting himself. He was a good, fantastic little fast fighter, and he was given the opportunity, but heโs not going to sneak up on anyone and I donโt think any promoters are going to buy into him taking the title again.โ
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