Wladimir Klitschko Vs David Haye: High Stakes Heavyweight Boxing
By Donald Stewart
We now know when the circus will hit and where it will come to town: Hamburg, July 2nd. The Wladimir Klitschko, 55-3 49 KO’s, David Haye, 25-1 23 KO’s heavyweight title unification fight is ON.
Those of us sitting in the UK this is clearly the second fighter confirmed for the third time that Wlad the Bad could meet up with. Dereck Chisora, 14-0 9 KO’s, was on twice and then off. Haye has been on before but is now definitely on…
The only thing left for us all is to speculate on who is going to win and not wonder who is going to turn up or who is likely to withdraw due to injury…
Haye is convinced the key to this part of his legacy is his speed and his power. A former cruiserweight who was a super heavyweight when he was an amateur, Haye has bulked up and got past the likes of former WBA Heavyweight Champion Nikolay Valuev with style.
He can trash talk with the best of them BUT the reality is that Haye has the ability to take the power and the ring in July. Wladimir should be concerned because Haye has the ability to stay out of reach. There is a clear need for Haye to damage Wladimir early on, as the fight goes on he can get back in it and the stamina of this Klitschko could really pay dividends for him in latter rounds.
Haye’s contention that once he hits Wladimir, Wladimir will panic may be more trash talk as the evidence for Wladimir panicking against anyone is slight. Haye has noted that this has been the case when Wladimir fought against Corrie Sanders, Lamon Brewster and Ross Puritty. Big shots in the first few rounds would certainly bring him an advantage.
Haye believes that the chin is where he will find victory and if he can get to it fast enough then he could stop the fight before the arguments and excuses are made. But will Wladimir Klitschko wilt when he is faced with such an onslaught. Anyone who has watched either of the Klitschkos over the years finds such a notion hard to believe.
He does, however, have a point. When people think they are at the top of their game and untouchable it can be delusory. The brothers have sat at the top of the Heavyweight game for long enough to believe that anyone coming to knock at their door is likely to be an inferior fighter.
Haye may not be able to decapitate either as he has promised to do but he could detach their mind from the game in hand and end up winning because emotionally Wladimir is struggling with an opponent here to give fight rather than homage.
The question marks that have surrounded the bout have continued to be a focus for discussion including the possibility that Wladimir might not be fit. The news recently that he has been declared fit would certainly leave the promoters happy that they will have an event to promote.
The idea that Haye could have fought the brother if Wladimir was unfit so we know with Vitali to take on the Pole Tomasz Adamek this seems unlikely now – because Wlad is fit and Vitali is busy.
Haye’s assertions, all reported over in the UK in the press, like the counter arguments that people have thrown back all relate to fights that are older. Most of these fights are from about 6/7 years ago – around 2003/4. The idea that the past is going to tell us how the future will be may comfort a load of crusty historians but fight fans can tune in, in July, and see what the future of the heavyweight Division will hold.
With David Haye coming out and telling the world – or at least the UK audience – what he intends to do could be complete folly or it could be something more. Trash talk never won a belt but it does make the spectacle more interesting, it generates a bigger crowd and whilst Haye will never be an Ali I do think that come the 3rd of July he will be wearing a grin bigger than the belts he will be wearing.
Now what do I know. I’ve never trained a Heavyweight contender, in fact never stepped inside a ring. So let me quote Angelo Dundee… I hear he trained a few handy guys in his time… he thinks Haye will knock Wladimir out, now I wonder what the odds are now…