Two years after they were originally due to fight, WBA champion David Haye and IBF/WBO holder Wladimir Klitschko will finally square off today in the biggest heavyweight title fight of a decade and titanic battle.
The heavyweight division has long waited for this fight and you can be rest assured that the dearth of quality has served to enrich this clash as two talented, powerful and athletic punchers are set to sort it out between themselves.
After unifying the cruiserweight titles three years ago, the British born David Haye vowed to move up and save the heavyweight division. He told the Klitschko brothers Wladimir and Vitali to flip a coin over which of them faced him first and, after months of trash talking and tough negotiation, a date was set to meet Wladimir in June 2009. But just few weeks before the bout, Haye’s paymasters and British television backers, Setanta, went into administration, before a back injury to the challenger put paid to the contest altogether.
Talks were held severally to restore the scrap against any of the Klitschko brothers, only for Haye to abandon them altogether and take a shot at WBA holder Nikolay Valuev instead.
Haye won the belt that November night in Nuremberg and though he always guaranteed he would secure a defining night against one of the brothers before retiring this year, it looked destined never to happen. Until when they come face to face in the Imtech Arena tonight, before heavyweight followers will be absolutely certain the fight will go ahead. And when it does, it promises to get even the most world-weary boxing cynics tingling with excitement.
In the heavyweight division of old, it would have been a good enough fight, but now it represents an enthralling and rare opportunity to watch two evenly-matched, quality and heavy-handed fighters go at it. The fact that both men are liable to getting floored makes this fight so compelling.
Toe-to-toe analysis of the two:
Self-belief
Haye has a got strong mental strength that goes for him. He has always maintained that he has got the style to beat Klitschko.
Klitschko admits he was not a born fighter, and takes quieter approach to fights. He has been more animated ahead of this contest after Haye goaded him with severed head t-shirts. A 10-fight winning streak as champion has seen him grow mentally against a series of poor challengers, but may have papered over the cracks.
Jowl
Haye is greatest issue in this fight. If he gets caught flush by Klitschko, it could be over quickly. Haye has even been knocked out by a cruiserweight in the past.
Stopped three times, Klitschko also has vulnerability in this area, although he has managed to avoid being caught by opponents for six years, by utilising his height and reach advantages.
Punch
Haye has the speed advantages, and explosive power, but may have to dismantle Klitschko with combinations rather than one-punch KO power. Haye, a counter-puncher, has to let his combinations go when in range, especially his left and right hooks, but avoids the Ukrainian’s right hand.
Klitschko on the other hands has the advantage in power, reach and height, living off his ramrod jab and unleashing the right cross when he has lined opponents up. Occasionally, he throws the uppercut. His reach and punch give him advantages in this fight.
Heart
Haye has great heart and has shown he is at his most dangerous when hurt, as he showed in a world cruiserweight title against Jean Marc-Mormeck in Paris four years ago. He was down in the fourth round, but got back up to stop Mormeck in the seventh. Klitschko may be considered underdog here, but he has also been down and got up to win, against Nigerian Samuel Peter.
Mobility
Haye has clear advantages, moves well, and has clever footwork. He will need to use his movement to avoid Klitschko’s punch, but also use it to get inside and throw his trademark over the top of Klitschko’s extended jab. That timing, plus lateral movement and angles, will be crucial. Klitschko not a dynamic mover, is nonetheless strong, and hard to get hold of. Not good going backwards, or when he is not dictating rhythm of the fight.
Stamina
Haye has been criticised for having poor stamina in the past, but is coming into this fight very light and fleet-footed. He needs to move all night. The key is to stay out of the clinch with Klitschko as it will exhaust him. Klitschko other hand has never looked to have stamina issues, and is ultra-fit and moves efficiently and economically.