On July 2nd these two boxing powerhouses will stand toe to toe in Hamburg. The build up has been intense and the wait has been unbearable. David Haye has been talking a good game but has seemed slightly less animated than usual at the recent press conferences regarding this super-bout. During the customary 3 minute stare down, Wladimir looked ice cool and eerily calm while Haye looked just a little uneasy. The details of a press conference may seem trivial, but often the demeanour of fighters at these events can give us a glimpse of what to expect come fight night.
Klitschko has a large reach advantage and will look to dictate the fight at a safe distance. Haye has mentioned that the tall Russian has only won in the past because his competitors have been happy to fight at his slow, steady pace, a mistake the British Champion says he will not make. David Haye is an explosive fighter who enjoys a speed advantage over his foes in this weight division. In a glittering Cruiserweight career Haye developed quick hand speed and mesmerising movement, attributes that his opponent does not have. The fight could go two ways in my eyes. Haye could well win by K.O. in a relatively short contest by bamboozling his opponent with a barage of rapid combinations. Alternatively Klitschko could win on points by dragging the fight out, using the jab to punish his opponent, whilst evading attacks and sapping Haye's energy.
A lot is at stake for Haye who has made no secret of his intention to retire later this year. No fighter wants to end their career on a losing note and this is particularly true for Haye who is believed to hold the intention of making money off the back of film roles, books and the like. Retiring as a unified Heavyweight Champion will bolster his legacy to a greater degree than a loss to someone he has repeatedly derided.
Klitschko will look to avenge some of the disrespectful taunts from Haye. Who could forget the T-Shirt Haye wore depicting him holding aloft the heads of Wladimir and his brother Vitali in gladiatorial style.
Will it be the speed of Haye that triumphs or the robotic brutality of Klitschko? I'm going to go for Klitschko on the grounds that his reach advantage should prevent Haye getting inside his jab and unleashing his potent combinations. Hopefully this will be a fight that puts the Heavyweight division on the map once again.
