David Haye vs Wladimir Klitschko

July 2
At Hamburg, Germany (HBO): Wladimir Klitschko vs. David Haye, 12 rounds, for Ring/IBF/WBO/WBA heavyweight unification.


On Saturday, at 4:45 pm/est, HBO will feature a fight that the boxing community recognizes as worthy of what was long considered the most prestigious title in all of sports – the heavyweight championship of the world. More, it features two men with claims to versions of the crown, in a unification bout that is absolutely a “grudge match.”

The titlist who is generally recognized the first actual Heavyweight Champion since the retirement of Lennox Lewis is Wladimir Klitschko – the younger brother of Vitali, who also holds a title. Wladimir was the top amateur heavyweight boxer in the world during the years 1993 to '96. His amateur record was 134 – 6, with 65 knockout victories.

Klitschko turned professional in November of 1996. He won his first 24 fights, and was recognized as the top heavyweight prospect in Europe. Then, in December of 1998, he fought journeyman Ross Puritty (24-13-1) for the WBC international heavyweight title. Klitschko was stopped in the 11th round.

Klitschko rebounded well after that first loss. He would travel to the United States, and kayo journeyman Phil Jackson in two rounds. In July of 2000, he stopped Monte Barrett in seven. Three months later, he decisioned cagey Chris Byrd – avenging a TKO loss suffered by his older brother – for the WBO title.

Klitschko continued to show improvement, and defeated an aging, but always dangerous Ray Mercer, as well as tough Jameel McCline. It appeared that Wladimir might dominate the division in the approaching post-Lewis era, when he lost a stunning two-round knockout to hard-punching Corrie Sanders in March, 2003. Klitschko would then be stopped in five rounds by Chris Byrd's cousin, Lamon Brewster, in April of 2004.

Six months after the Brewster loss, Klitschko again showed signs of distress in the ring, against DaVarryl Williamson. In a fight designed to re-build his shaken confidence, Wladimir would panic when Williamson unexpectedly began to attack him. Referee Jay Nady came to Klitschko's rescue, and sent the fight to the judges' scorecards after the end of the fifth round. Wladimir won a technical decision, in a bout where he appeared unable to last another round.

The addition of the legendary trainer Manny Steward saved Klitschko's career. Manny is the most gifted strategist for tall boxers. His genius would result in Klitschko's “second career” – his coming off the deck three times to decision the previously undefeated Samuel Peter in September of 2005 to win the IBF and WBO titles being the highlight.

Klitschko would wade through a series of defenses, including one-sided rematches against Byrd and Brewster; wins over Ray Austin, Tony Thompson, and Hassim Rahman; and knocking out Eddie Chambers. In these fights, Klitschko was efficient, but not explosive in the manner needed to win the admiration of the American boxing community.

Two fights illustrate why Klitschko is viewed as both boring and vulnerable. First, in February of 2008, he won a painfully boring decision over a much smaller, obviously over-matched Sultan Ibragimov. Both of the Klitschko brothers are “super heavyweights,” competing primarily against opponents who do not belong in the ring with them.

The second fight was his victory over Calvin Brock. For the first three rounds, the much smaller Brock was able to avoid Klitschko's jab. When the mechanical Wladimir does not land the jab, he doesn't have much of an offense. Brock was building a lead. Steward was able to get his fighter to double-up on the jab, and once Wladimir began landing the second one, it was simply a matter of time until he stopped Calvin.

Now, let's look at David Haye. In 2001, David was among the best amateur fighters in the world. He turned pro in 2002, and won his first ten bouts. In September of 2004, Haye was matched against veteran Carl Thompson (32-6) for an IBO cruiserweight title.Thompson won by TKO in the fifth round.

Some fighters are destroyed mentally by their first loss, especially if it is by knockout. David Haye came back determined to be better. Between 2005 and '06, he would rack up a series of impressive wins, and collect some minor titles. Then, in November of 2007, he fought tough Jean Marc Mormeck for the WBC and WBA cruiserweight titles. Mormeck, 33-3, would deck David in round 4. But David came back and stopped him three rounds later.

Haye unified the cruiserweight title in March, 2008, when he scored a stunning two-round knockout over the favored WBO champion, Enzo Maccarinelli (28-1). He then moved up to the heavyweight division, stopping Monte Barrett in five rounds.

Haye the won the WBA heavyweight title by decisioning the Nikolay Valuev (50-1). Last year, he defended the title twice, knocking out both John Ruiz and Audley Harrison.

The boxing community has been anticipating unification bouts between David Haye and Vitali and/or Wladimir Klitschko, since Haye entered the heavyweight division. There has been some controversy over who has been responsible for keeping these bouts from happening – and over why? In truth, David Haye did well to get more experience in the division, including against the enormous Valuev. More, by having one of the titles, he could negotiate both the ring gate and television rights on level ground – something he was not, despite erroneous reports, able to do in the past.

What will happen when the “HayeMaker” meets “Dr. Steel hammer” in the ring? Clearly, there are reasons why Klitschko is the betting favorite. One of the most important is that he has Manny Steward in his corner, while Haye has the capable Adam Booth. The second is simply Klitschko's size: he stands a little over 6' 6” tall, while Haye is 6' 3”; Wladimir enjoys an 81” reach, compared to David's 78”; and Klitschko comfortably weighs around 245 pounds, while David should be around 215 pounds on Saturday.

Klitschko's record is 55-3; he was won 49 inside the distance, while each loss is by knockout. He has fought 273 rounds, and enjoys an 84% knockout average.

Haye is 25-1; he has scored 23 knockouts, and was stopped in his single loss. He has 102 rounds of professional experience, with an 88% KO average.

Yet, what a fight appears to be “on paper” is frequently not what it ends up being inside that squared circle. When people like Freddie Roach and Teddy Atlas suggest that the betting odds may be a bit off-base, the boxing community listens. This fight has rekindled interest in the heavyweight division, not because of Wladimir Klitschko, but due to the intensity, drive, and skills of David Haye. The boxing community's elders know that the Great Sport runs in cycles, and there are certain dynamics that remind us of February, 1964.

In each case, a dominant champion from the previous decade had retired with the title; a lull followed, defined largely by a lack of excitement; and then a large, powerful champion emerged. Sonny Liston, even more so than Klitschko, seemed unbeatable. Sultan Ibragimov would not have gone twelve rounds against Liston.

A brash young contender began annoying Liston, not unlike the manner in which Haye has gotten under Wladimir's skin. Watching Max Kellerman's classic interview with Wladimir and David, one sees an aging champion who is annoyed, even angry, that the young lion disrespects him. Klitschko did his version of the baleful Liston stare; his anger is real. David's infamous t-shirt --- which will become a fashion statement for younger fans should David add more titles to his collection on Saturday – accomplished what Cassius Clay's late night bus stop in front of Liston's house did almost fifty years ago.

When Haye fought Valuev, it was apparent that he was preparing for the Klitschko brothers. It was not only his speed of hand and foot, but the angles he used to attack and retreat. Every fight in his career, both amateur and professional, have prepared him for this – the biggest challenge he has faced.

A win for David requires that he, like young Cassius, “hit and don't get hit.” Against Wladimir, this is obviously much easier said than done. Highly skilled defensive fighters such as Chris Byrd and Eddie Chambers knew this going into the ring; neither could execute the basic plan inside the ring. When Wladimir can land his jab, he will simply beat up a smaller opponent.

Hence, there are two keys: first, make him miss with the jab; and second, make him pay a price for throwing it. Wladimir's “Archille's heel” is not a brittle chin, as casual boxing fans suspect: it is his fragile mind. Ross Puritty, Corrie Sanders, and Lamon Brewster did not punch him harder than did Samuel Peter in their first fight. Rather, they caused Klitschko to doubt himself, and to panic in the ring. A fighter must stay relaxed, or he will become exhausted in thirty seconds.

What Manny Steward has done with Wladimir, more than anything else, is to build his confidence. That was evident each of the three times that he got off the canvas against Samuel Peter. Manny had, in effect, given Wladimir his “Dumbo's feather,” allowing him to soar to new heights. If David Haye snatches that feather from Klitschko inside the ring, it will not matter what Manny says in the corner between rounds.

Again, this is much easier said than done. But only the fool who attempts the ridiculous can be the hero who accomplishes the impossible. It's hard for the younger generations to appreciate what Cassius Clay did against Sonny Liston, because they only know Muhammad Ali. But he had to make a confident, powerful, and angry champion miss his jab; become frustrated; feel the surprising sting of that bee; and eventually begin to feel anxiety, then fear. The same Sonny Liston who took Cleveland “Big Cat” Williams' bombs found the much faster, sharper punches from Clay more painful – just as Klitschko, who endured Peter's punches, could find Haye's arsonal.

Klitschko is predicting a 12-round knockout; Haye predicts a 3rd round KO. Either one could be right. Those favoring Haye have said he needs to go to the body; that he needs to explode on Klitschko's chin early; and even that he can win with a single clean shot in any round.

I've had the opportunity to communicate with David during the past weeks and months. I've stressed the need to avoid the jab – Klitschko has an outstanding weapon there – just as Cassius did Sonny's. Do that, and everything will follow. It will not be an easy contest, for Klitschko is a capable fighter, who may very well fight the best fight of his career. But, if David fights his best fight, he will win. And that would be the best thing to happen in the heavyweight division in many years.

I've been waiting for this one for a year. Too bad I can't watch. Rooting for Haye myself.

Teddy Atlas's analysis last night on ESPN's FNF was about right: Klitschko is favored, but that David's foot speed gives him an opportunity to land shots that no opponent in recent years has had. And if David lands, he wins.

Also, as Teddy noted, Haye will do better to shift to land his right cross, rather than his left hook. Wladimir's size and stance allows him the ability to counter most left hooks -- this is one of the most important things Manny has taught him. Land the right cross, and the left hook follows; more, it is the proper sequence for maximum leverage, and Wladimir is more vulnerable as a result of the right cross. (In a proper combination, every punch becomes more powerful: left jab - right cross - left hook. And each sets up the next one: the jab does one of two things -- it either lifts the opponent's head, or pushes his torso back the necessary inches; the right cross lands as the opponent instinctively reacts, creating a shift of balance on his feet; the left hook is then the icing on that cake.)

I didn't get to see it, so if someone could check in and give a report.

also interested in report.