Replies

[Maxy]

Taken from The Guardian Unlimited.

Wladimir Klitschko has branded David Haye "embarrassing" after the Bermondsey fighter called him "Wladimir Bitchko" when continuing his declaration of war on the IBO and WBA heavyweight champion, and his elder brother, Vitaly.Haye fights Wladimir on 20 June in Germany at Schalke 04's stadium for the 33-year-old's titles in what promises to be one of the biggest events in the sport's history. More than 100 countries want to broadcast the fight live from Gelsenkirchen and 47,000 tickets have been sold. That figure could rise to a postwar European record of 70,000, comfortably beating the 57,000 crowd who witnessed Ricky Hatton defeat Juan Lazcano in Manchester in 2007.

After Haye again wore a T-shirt depicting him holding the bloodied, dismembered heads of the brothers, Wladimir said: "What an example David Haye is giving to the youth. It is embarrassing. My feelings are embarrassment that such a personality is involved in the sport. I cannot accept it. Boxing is international — it has one race, one language and this is performance.."

Haye countered that his opponent "is a fighter that doesn't like to fight, with slappy gloves who doesn't stand like a true heavyweight great and go to war. But at some stage in your career you have to throw bombs. I'm going to force him to do that,", before admitting a personal dislike for Klitchsko.

"Yeah. He sucks, he's crap, I don't like his style, I don't like what he represents. He can be charming but he doesn't entertain. You should judge someone on what they do once the bell rings. I want to show him I am the best heavyweight in the world."

Wladimir, who kept cool throughout and with his courteous manner showed he has a touch of class, told Haye, a former cruiserweight world champion, that he had "only done two fights in heavyweight and wants to be champion. That's really provocative.

"I'm asking what's next, my dad's head, my mother's head, other family members? Maybe he'll attack my religion, my race. This is over the edge, this is not about sport. I tell you this guy will be punished." My jabs will give him a pizza face and then in the 12th-round I will knock him out."

Depending on the outcome, there will either be a rematch or Haye will fight Vitaly for his WBC title to unify the division.

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I like Haye. He's bringing interest to the fight and much needed interest to the heavyweight division. Whether he can back up his boasts or not I'm thinking this is going to be one of the most eagerly anticipated heavyweight bouts for years.

[MarzB]

The problem I have with Wlad coming out trying to take Haye out is that one, thats NOT within his character profile let alone his skill set.

In otherwords, he'll be fighting outside of himself. The one thing Emmanual has brought to Wlad is the use of his left hook and "HOW TO CLINCH". Had Wlad NOT been able to learn about clinching against Peter for example, he would have been KTFO then.

I see Haye coming out exactly like Peter did but more intelligently. I'm not worried about Haye's ability to take a punch (UNLESS he makes a colossal mistake) because you often get knocked out with what you don't see or account for. I definitely believed he's not only STUDIED and sees something he can exploit within Wlad, but the Lennox Lewis addition will definitely help.

Emmanual has a mancrush on tall fighters thats damn near borderline gay IMO but even from one of my favorite boxers of all time (Tommy Hearns) to his present charge in Wlad, NONE of these guys can sustain smart aggressive fighters that come out them and take their height advantage away. (Not Hearns, Vivian Harris, Kermit the cryBaby and not Wlad). Lennox Lewis was the only Emmanual charge that used his height effectively in ALL situations.

My point there is if you concede that Wlad is stronger and the "real" heavyweight, then Haye is definitely the QUICKER hand of the two. Speed is power in boxing.

Haye needs to fight a smart fight, NOT try for the K-O early, make Wlad come at him where he'll be his usual GIRAFFE (stand straight up) self and he'll be a clean target for a Haye hook or straight right.

Haye has use his footwork more to negate Wlad's clinching. Additionally if Haye can come with a body attack (which I doubt he will) it's really trouble for Wlad.

On the Wlad side, if he peppers that jab and catches Haye consistently, Haye may be a sitting duck waiting to be knocked out.

Close fight. I'm rooting for Haye but if Haye doesn't fight smart (and just tries to take him out)it'll be curtains for him.

[Mean Mister Must...]

The problem I have with Wlad coming out trying to take Haye out is that one, thats NOT within his character profile let alone his skill set.

In otherwords, he'll be fighting outside of himself. The one thing Emmanual has brought to Wlad is the use of his left hook and "HOW TO CLINCH". Had Wlad NOT been able to learn about clinching against Peter for example, he would have been KTFO then.

I see Haye coming out exactly like Peter did but more intelligently. I'm not worried about Haye's ability to take a punch (UNLESS he makes a colossal mistake) because you often get knocked out with what you don't see or account for. I definitely believed he's not only STUDIED and sees something he can exploit within Wlad, but the Lennox Lewis addition will definitely help.

Emmanual has a mancrush on tall fighters thats damn near borderline gay IMO but even from one of my favorite boxers of all time (Tommy Hearns) to his present charge in Wlad, NONE of these guys can sustain smart aggressive fighters that come out them and take their height advantage away. (Not Hearns, Vivian Harris, Kermit the cryBaby and not Wlad). Lennox Lewis was the only Emmanual charge that used his height effectively in ALL situations.

My point there is if you concede that Wlad is stronger and the "real" heavyweight, then Haye is definitely the QUICKER hand of the two. Speed is power in boxing.

Haye needs to fight a smart fight, NOT try for the K-O early, make Wlad come at him where he'll be his usual GIRAFFE (stand straight up) self and he'll be a clean target for a Haye hook or straight right.

Haye has use his footwork more to negate Wlad's clinching. Additionally if Haye can come with a body attack (which I doubt he will) it's really trouble for Wlad.

On the Wlad side, if he peppers that jab and catches Haye consistently, Haye may be a sitting duck waiting to be knocked out.

Close fight. I'm rooting for Haye but if Haye doesn't fight smart (and just tries to take him out)it'll be curtains for him.

Haye likes to keep his hands down like he's Roy Jones Jr and because of that he is susceptible to being tagged with jabs. Watch the Maccarinelli fight, he was eating some jabs before he ended the fight. I would expect Wlad's jab to be slower than a cruiserweight's but there is no denying that he has one of the best jabs, in terms of technique, in boxing. It is also very heavy and if Haye gets hit with it too much, coupled with Wladmir's clinches designed to wear out his opponents, Haye might get softened up and get Ko'd.

I don't expect Wlad to come out looking for the KO. I'm pretty sure when he gets into the gym and tells Steward "I vant to knock disrespectful man out." Steward will tell him "Shut your mouth and let's get started on our usual training, jab and clinch".

Also. when he finally steps in with Haye and sees that he is faster than most of the heavyweights he has faced and that he can actually hit pretty good, he will revert to his old ways of fighting from the distance looking for the decision.