Haye vs Klitschko

[GBJ]

So with the contracts finally signed, finally we'll get a chance to see what David Haye is made of.

Personally I've thought for a while, Haye is overrated at Heavyweight. This will be an immense test for him.

Thoughts?

 

[Beefy]

I think Wladimir is going to have too much for Haye. He isn't just big and strong, he's a very good fighter too. But Haye doesn't seem short of confidence and must have a chance.

 

[EastStandBlue]

Depends entirely on how Klitschko approaches the fight.

If he wants to bumble around the ring, keeping Haye at arms length and looking for a comfortable points victory, then Haye could outfox him and catch him cold. If he goes out looking to knock Haye out, then Klitschko will land shots and I can't see Haye standing up to them for too long. Haye needs to be faster, stronger, bigger and cleaner than he has ever been before if he's to pull it off.

I really do want Haye to win, and I think a Haye victory would reverberate around boxing for years to come, but I feel this may be one step too far for him.


Still, Haye talking of a victory is considerably more realistic than Khan talking up his chances of beating FMJ. That fight wouldn't even be a contest.

 

[GBJ]

Still, Haye talking of a victory is considerably more realistic than Khan talking up his chances of beating FMJ. That fight wouldn't even be a contest.

I'm not so sure. I've always said FMJ is the best in the business, but the 34-year-old hasn't fought for nearly a year. How deep has the ring-rust set in? Khan, whilst suspect to big punches, is one of the fastest around, and i'm sure his speed would worry Floyd.

Khan grows in confidence and stature with every passing fight, and has shown the qualities of becomming one of the best.

I can still see Mayweather winning, but Khan will have a chance.

Back to Haye-Klitschko, personally I think Wlad is one boring fighter. He'll no doubt employ the same monotinous, robot style as usual in an attempt to wear Haye down. This is where we'll see Haye's character. Can Haye do enough to disrupt his rhythm? We know Haye has explosive qualities, but he'll have to pick his moments to perfection to put the Ukranian on the backfoot and eventually beat him. Klitschko can be hurt, and let's be honest, David Haye has KO power.

That said, Haye is also capable of being hurt, so if he leaves himself open on one of those explosive flurrys, the champ is more than capable of putting Haye to sleep.

All in all, I think it's a tough one to actually call? I think both are capable of knocking the other one out. I think it all hinges on if Haye can disrupt Wlad's rhythm. Wlad will want to dictate the tempo. If Haye can put him on the backfoot, Haye has a big shout.

 

[EastStandBlue]

I'm not so sure. I've always said FMJ is the best in the business, but the 34-year-old hasn't fought for nearly a year. How deep has the ring-rust set in? Khan, whilst suspect to big punches, is one of the fastest around, and i'm sure his speed would worry Floyd.

Khan grows in confidence and stature with every passing fight, and has shown the qualities of becomming one of the best.

I'd be inclined to agree if this was somebody like Hatton we were talking about, but FMJ stays in shape throughout the year and spars an unbelievable number of rounds just to keep fit. For him, training camps are all about refining the fight plan, rather than getting back into shape. I doubt Khan is even on FMJ's radar to be honest, and I can fully see him bowing out against Pac Man.

I'd definitely agree that Wlad/Haye is too close to call. Wlad's favourite at the moment, but the more Haye talks himself up as the fight approaches I'd guess that the pair will enter the ring almost level with the bookies.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

This is going to be one epic fight and can see one of my renouned "fight night" parties being lined up

 

[Phippsy]

Wladimir Klitschko, has managed to go a whole 55 fights without fighting one single descent puncher or named fighter ( unless you count a washed up Rahman, or chancer chagaev (sp) and still managed to lose 3 fights to unkmown fighters all by tko. He has fitness problems.

The only problem with Haye is his inactivity, he needs to box more simply to keep fight sharpe, I am more than confident that Hayes superior speed, skill and talent will easily out point or possibly Knock out a totally talentless boxer as long as he stays away from the expected big slogs early doors.

There is only 1 good Klitschko brother and even he is well past his sell by date.

Easyish win for Haye either on points or knock out in later rounds, the guy is head and shoulders above this bum..

 

[GBJ]

I'd be inclined to agree if this was somebody like Hatton we were talking about, but FMJ stays in shape throughout the year and spars an unbelievable number of rounds just to keep fit. For him, training camps are all about refining the fight plan, rather than getting back into shape. I doubt Khan is even on FMJ's radar to be honest, and I can fully see him bowing out against Pac Man.

True he stays in good nick, but IIRC i read something saying Mayweather had put on about 12 pounds. Now I know it's not that big, and it's not like Hatton putting on 40+ pounds, but maybe it's a sign of that great discipline starting to wain? Slippery slope from there.

As for Khan, Mayweather is all about one thing..... and that's being in the spotlight. If the money and interest were there, he'd jump at the chance to take on Khan, either before/after/if he fights Pacman IMO.

This is going to be one epic fight and can see one of my renouned "fight night" parties being lined up

I hope you're right. I'm worried as a spectacle, it'll be more of a chess match than the slugfest we all hope for

Wladimir Klitschko, has managed to go a whole 55 fights without fighting one single descent puncher or named fighter ( unless you count a washed up Rahman, or chancer chagaev (sp) and still managed to lose 3 fights to unkmown fighters all by tko. He has fitness problems.

The only problem with Haye is his inactivity, he needs to box more simply to keep fight sharpe, I am more than confident that Hayes superior speed, skill and talent will easily out point or possibly Knock out a totally talentless boxer as long as he stays away from the expected big slogs early doors.

There is only 1 good Klitschko brother and even he is well past his sell by date.

Easyish win for Haye either on points or knock out in later rounds, the guy is head and shoulders above this bum..

I wouldn't write Klitschko off so quickly. Haye might have the speed and movement advantage, but Wlad's technical ability far outweighs Haye's.

I do agree though, WK hasn't fought anyone special, but tbh that, and Haye's quick rise to the top, pretty much sums up the state of HW boxing atm. You can only fight what's infront of you, and that goes for both of them. IMO Haye has got to do a lot to win this, but that's not to say it's unachieveable.

 

[GBJ]

Venue set to be confirmed by next week.

Hoping to go to this one.

 

[Dick Bate's Protege]

I'm going Haye on points following a 12 round bore off. Can't see either looking to take risks, and fancy Haye's speed and fitness to tell over the course of 36 minutes.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

I've not checked but is Haye still talking about fighting Vitali in October in his farewell fight? .. the way i see it if he beats Wlad in the summer then Vit won't fight him, and if Wlad wins he'll say Haye has been dealt with and again no second fight

 

[GBJ]

I've not checked but is Haye still talking about fighting Vitali in October in his farewell fight? .. the way i see it if he beats Wlad in the summer then Vit won't fight him, and if Wlad wins he'll say Haye has been dealt with and again no second fight

Me and my mate were talking about this when the fight was first announced. Apparently the contract stipulates Haye will fight Klitschko, but it doesn't specify which one.

I thought for a time it'd be Vitali who'd step up first, but Haye has come out and said he know it'll be Wlad now.

I reckon whatever the outcome of the first fight, The Hayemaker Spin machine will drum up some big spectacle

 

[Blue_Wes]

Me and my mate were talking about this when the fight was first announced. Apparently the contract stipulates Haye will fight Klitschko, but it doesn't specify which one.

I thought for a time it'd be Vitali who'd step up first, but Haye has come out and said he know it'll be Wlad now.

I reckon whatever the outcome of the first fight, The Hayemaker Spin machine will drum up some big spectacle

The reason for it is because Haye think Vlad will pull out, so there is a clause that say's if Vlad does pull out, then Haye stills gets the fight, but aganst Vitali.

 

[GBJ]

The reason for it is because Haye think Vlad will pull out, so there is a clause that say's if Vlad does pull out, then Haye stills gets the fight, but aganst Vitali.

Yeah I knew that, think you're missing what I'm saying though. The more i've thought about it, I find it a little weird that they've signed a contract, that doesn't stipulate which Klitschko will fight. Has that ever happened before in boxing? Not to my recollection at least. Everything surroundng this fight has been weird.

A fight against Wlad in October, in Vegas, would be more lucrative than anything currently proposed.

However as it stands, according to Haye, it looks set to be Wlad.

 

[EastStandBlue]

I see that Khan's had to whore himself out to PrimeTime to get the purse he wanted for the McCloskey fight this weekend, after Sky only offered him £150k because the undercard stinks.

Fair play to Sky, IMO. The undercard, bar maybe Tyson Fury v Hasim Rahman which could descend into a slugfest, is absolute toilet and if Khan thought he was going to reap in the rewards by fighting McCloskey then he has another thing coming. Until he starts to put his money where his mouth is and fighting the top fighters in anyone of the two, maybe three weights he can contest in then he simply isn't the big Box Office draw.

 

[GBJ]

I see that Khan's had to whore himself out to PrimeTime to get the purse he wanted for the McCloskey fight this weekend, after Sky only offered him £150k because the undercard stinks.

Fair play to Sky, IMO. The undercard, bar maybe Tyson Fury v Hasim Rahman which could descend into a slugfest, is absolute toilet and if Khan thought he was going to reap in the rewards by fighting McCloskey then he has another thing coming. Until he starts to put his money where his mouth is and fighting the top fighters in anyone of the two, maybe three weights he can contest in then he simply isn't the big Box Office draw.

Can't argue with that.

I'm actually more interested in watching Tyson Fury than Khan. Big test for Fury. Be interesting to see if his stamina has improved.

 

[MrB]

On the boxing front, an excellent piece on Michael Watson today:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/apr/12/michael-watson-london-marathon-boxing

 

[EastStandBlue]

Can't argue with that.

I'm actually more interested in watching Tyson Fury than Khan. Big test for Fury. Be interesting to see if his stamina has improved.

Will he need stamina? Rahman hasn't fought for over a year and is 38 now. He's had two fights enter the later stages in the last four years and I just can't see it lasting long.

On the boxing front, an excellent piece on Michael Watson today:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/apr/12/michael-watson-london-marathon-boxing

That's superb.

 

[GBJ]

Will he need stamina? Rahman hasn't fought for over a year and is 38 now. He's had two fights enter the later stages in the last four years and I just can't see it lasting long.

Fair point. Still would like to see if Tyson's stamina has improved. Even after a few rounds he looks knackered. Look at the McDermott fight, he looked dead on his feet. If he ever wants to be a serious contender, then he needs to up certain aspects of his game, and stamina is definitly a main concern.


Sticking with boxing, but not wanting to start a new thread, it was a shame to see James Kirkland get battered at the weekend. I'm hoping he can get back on track, as he's an exciting prospect. Can only hope this is a learning curve for him a la Amir Khan.

 

[EastStandBlue]

Fair point. Still would like to see if Tyson's stamina has improved. Even after a few rounds he looks knackered. Look at the McDermott fight, he looked dead on his feet. If he ever wants to be a serious contender, then he needs to up certain aspects of his game, and stamina is definitly a main concern.


Sticking with boxing, but not wanting to start a new thread, it was a shame to see James Kirkland get battered at the weekend. I'm hoping he can get back on track, as he's an exciting prospect. Can only hope this is a learning curve for him a la Amir Khan.

Definitely with you on Tyson... I don't think he has the discipline to to go far to be honest. Like Haye said about Solis, if you walk into a ring with that amount of fat around you and you go down, you're going to hurt and I loathe boxers who think they're prepared for a fight with a spare tyre. You're supposed to be a professional, sort yourself out. Even if you get battered in the first, you're earning good money so the least you can do is be fit.

The fight I'm eagerly anticipating is De Gale v Groves. A real British grudge match and I'm a bit of a De Gale fan boy. I interviewed him while I was studying and he came across as a thoroughly decent guy with an awful lot of self-belief, which is probably misconstrued as arrogance. I'd want De Gale to take Groves apart and continue his progress. I think he has the potential to be better than Froch.