IBF/ WBO/ WBA/IBO Heavyweight Championship Boxing 12 rounds
Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer” Klitschko vs David “Hayemaker” Haye
Saturday, July 2, 2011, 5:00 pm Eastern, TV: HBO
Imtech Arena, Hamburg Germany
Betting Odds: (Courtesy of Bodog) Klitschko -250 / Haye +190
Rounds Prop: Over 7 1/2 rounds -140 / Under 7 1/2 rounds Even
In the past, a heavyweight championship boxing match would have been one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year. However, since Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis retired almost 10 years ago, the heavyweight division has lost a lot of its luster. The biggest stars in boxing are all in the lower divisions especially the star packed middleweight division with fighters such as Mayweather, Pacquiao, Moseley, and others. However, there is a huge heavyweight fight this weekend. Most Americans probably don’t even realize it as they are enjoying the Fourth of July weekend and the fight is in Hamburg, Germany and will air late in the afternoon on the East Coast. Champion Wladimir Klitschko takes on mouthy opponent David Haye for four of boxing’s many belts. This is arguably the most anticipated heavyweight fight since Wladimir’s brother Vitali took on an aging Lennox Lewis in 2003.
Sometimes boxers play up antagonism to sell tickets and build up anticipation, much like pro wrestling. However, these two really don’t like each other. The hatred is palpable between the two. Haye is a former cruiserweight champion who packed on 15 pounds to move up to the heavyweight division. He holds the one belt that Wladimir and Viltali Klitschko don’t hold. In press leading up to the fight, Haye has been making some very inflammatory comments about his opponent, such as blaming Klitschko for “solely responsible for killing the heavyweight division.” Haye also angered Klitschko by wearing a t-shirt depicting Haye holding up the decapitated heads of both Wladimir and Vitali. In an interview with Klitschko sitting less than 10 feet away, Haye was asked why he dislikes Klitschko so much. Haye calmly responded in his British accent, “because he is clearly a dickhead.”
Since 2 devastating knockout losses around 2004, Wladimir Klitscko has changed his style. He is very cautious and does everything he can to protect his weak chin. It works because he has won 15 fights in a row including 9 title defenses in a row. However, it makes for some boring fights. Klitschko has the power to knock out any opponent he faces but is sometimes content with a decision. His trainers beg and plead him to finish off inferior opponents but his fights usually last 2 or 3 rounds more than they have to. He will jab opponents to death, and if they get too close he will get into what some people the “clinch of death.” Klitschko is 36 from Ukraine. He is 6’6″ and weighs 245 pounds. He has a reach of 81 inches. He is 55-3 with 49 knockouts. Despite his size he is very quick and is excellent at defense. He will certainly have a size and reach advantage over the much smaller Haye. Klitschko hasn’t fought since last September when he beat Samuel Peter.
David Haye is 30 years old from England. He is 6’3″ and weighs 215 pounds. He has a reach of 78 inches. Haye is 25-1 in his career with 23 knockouts. He also hasn’t lost since 2004. Like Klitschko he has a pretty weak chin, but that is to be expected when he faces much larger opponents in the heavyweight division. He is very quick and is an excellent finisher. Haye is undefeated as a heavyweight including wins over John Ruiz and former Champion Nicolay Valuev who is almost 7 foot tall. Klitschko will be Haye’s toughest fight yet. Haye has said he will retire when he turns 31 in October. If he beats Wladimir, a fight against Vitali would logically be next. However that could be a problem as Vitali is scheduled to fight Tomasz Ademak in September. If Haye can’t talk Vitali into cancelling that fight this could be Haye’s last fight.
These two were originally scheduled to fight in 2009, but Haye pulled out with an injury. He was also scheduled to fight Vitali in 2010 but pulled out of that fight as well. The bad blood between the two Klitschko brothers and Haye has been brewing for two years or more. Wladimir wants to prove Haye is just a punk who runs his mouth too much. Some say Haye has gotten in the head of Klitschko with his trash talk, and will use that to his advantage. Neither of these guys can really take a punch, so whoever gets the first clean shot in might win. Haye can’t get into a slugfest with the much larger Klitschko so his best bet might be to borrow a page from Manny Pacquiao’s book. The Filipino routinely fights larger opponents and uses a stick and move style, one that Haye would be wise to copy. My prediction is Klitschko wins but it won’t be easy. He will win by split decision.
