Boxing:Vladimir Klitschko tipped the scales some 30lbs heavier than David Haye ahead of tomorrow night's world heavyweight reunification title fight. Haye faces a career-defining night against Klitschko but is relishing his part in what he believes is "the biggest fight in boxing".
The Londoner fights on hostile territory in Hamburg aiming to add Klitschko’s IBF and WBO belts to his own WBA heavyweight title. He will do so in front of over 50,000 fans in the most tantalising heavyweight scrap since Lennox Lewis fought Mike Tyson in 2002.
Haye is well aware of the size of the occasion and is unsurprisingly enjoying the spotlight, saying: “This is the biggest fight in boxing, plain and simple. I think the only fight that could match it is Floyd Mayweather against Manny Pacquiao. Obviously for various reasons their fight has not happened, and won’t happen this year, so this is the biggest fight to happen in boxing by far.
“I’m so proud to be involved in it and to be the guy that knocks the other unconscious is going to be a great feeling, to be the main man, at the pinnacle of the heavyweight division. I believe being the unified heavyweight champion is the pinnacle of the sport and I’m looking forward to going in there and claiming my rightly-deserved titles.”
Haye’s best chance of winning centres on Klitschko’s supposedly vulnerable chin. But the 35-year-old Germany-based Ukrainian, who has a record of 55 wins, 49 knockouts and three knockout defeats, is happy to keep on proving the doubters wrong.
“I’ve been called a dead man walking before,” he joked. “But this dead man keeps walking! And you know what? It’s okay the way Haye talks and represents himself. I’ll definitely enjoy the fight. I’ve been involved in this for the last two years and David Haye has been around, talking a lot, and now it is time for the talking to end.”
Klitschko denies he has been wound up by Haye’s numerous publicity stunts and regular goading.
“I’m just more focused,” he said. “I really enjoy being around David Haye, I really enjoy the press conference and stuff because it’s such an exciting time in my life.
“To have such attention, such an opponent and such a buzz around it. I’m actually not taking that much of it in. I’m angry for the last three years but it has transformed into concentration and motivation now.”
At today’s weigh-in in central Hamburg Haye was roared onto the scales by vociferous British support who wasted little time insulting Klitschko. Haye, 30, weighed in at a svelte 212lbs 12oz (15st 2lb 12oz), just two pounds more than when he beat Audley Harrison last time out and lighter than most of his fights at heavyweight.
Klitschko, as expected, was much heavier at 242lb 8oz (17st 4lb 8oz), nearly five pounds lighter than his last fight against Samuel Peter.
Klitschko is rightly the heavy favourite and all signs point to another win for the 6ft 6in powerhouse. The common consensus is that Haye (25-1, 23KOs) must knock Klitschko out to take an upset victory. Opting to use his speed to box rather than fight would be a risky strategy for the Englishman against a man renowned for his conservative but effective boxing skills and in a country with a reputation for harsh judging against ‘away’ fighters.
Haye must take the fight to the heavy favourite and beat him to the punch. Whoever lands a big shot cleanly first is the likely winner. With his speed, skill and natural aggression, that could well be Haye.