It aint easy being Green- What's next for the Green Machine

A wise man once told me that the best time to watch any fighter is when he is hungry.

When he is struggling to pay the bills, when he is fighting for respect, when he is fighting to be noticed and step away from the other “pretenders” and before the bright lights and dollar signs become his lifestyle.

Danny Green was once this very man, and it is what has made him a millionaire.

A man who wore his heart on his sleeve, who took on all comers and left everything in the ring. These traits not only won him a legion of fans, but also took him to an interim Super Middleweight World Title, along with the WBA Light-Heavyweight title.

Talk in the past 24 hours following his loss in social media, and around the water cooler, has seen this legion of fans turn on their man, calling him washed up, a sham and calling for him to retire.

Fans can be fickle and many have lined up to stick in the boot.

But it’s something I won’t do.

I wrote in my preview of the Green-Tarver fight that it is dangerous to question a fighter’s heart, given my view that Tarver no longer had what it took, and that only thing motivating him was the pay cheque.

So I won’t question Danny’s heart now.

Green may not want to see Tarver anytime soon, but he is the man Green must turn to in order to see what is possible against all the odds.

A man who at 42 years old, and with one fight in eighteen months, who had lost two out of his last three, had no chance.

Before last night, Tarver was wearing the same descriptions being attributed this week to Green.

Too Old. Too Slow. Washed up.

Green should also pickup a copy of the film that made Tarver a movie star, Rocky Balboa and listen to the advice given by its star, Sylvester Stallone.

“Life will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. It isn’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much you can take and keep moving forward.

The making of a man, is his ability to take a fall, and rise again.

The loss to Antonio Tarver could well be the resurrection of Danny Green.

Danny’s long-time adversary, Anthony Mundine experienced a similar thing when he was knocked out by Contender Australia winner, Garth Wood.

Mundine is adamant it is the loss he had to have.

The wakeup call that was surely needed and what he says will make him a better fighter in the end.

Mundine had begun to coast in fights, struggling to get up for fights against under strength opponents and take shortcuts in training.

It’s been a talking point for some time that Green has been doing the same. Not so much taking shortcuts in training, as Green continues to train like an animal.

However, since his comeback from “retirement” he has fought a variety of opponents.

He has fought under strength fighters in Anthony Van Niekerk and Julio Cesar Dominguez. We cannot forget the much publicised victory over Roy Jones, who no one can deny was a shadow of his former self.

Green followed the Jones win with a fight against Manny Siaca, who had not fought for over a year and jumped three divisions to take on Green, given his previous fight was at Middleweight.

What followed was one of the biggest debacles in Australian boxing, with Green taking on former world champion contender, Paul Briggs, a man who hadn’t fought for three and a half years prior and who retired due to neurological issues, the same issues which saw the NSW boxing commission fail to sanction the fight.

What followed was a fight that went 28 seconds, and caused massive damage to the Green brand.

Fans deserted the Green machine like a sinking ship, not only annoyed at the fight and feeling ripped off, but also annoyed at Green’s handling of the matter.

Fans wanted answers, and Green was non committal. He claimed he had no knowledge of any of the allegations.

If this was true, Green must have been living under a massive rock, the size of which he was looking to hide under at the time given the fallout.

Green had become just like the man all his fans hoped he would beat, Anthony Mundine.

Fighting for Money, and not legacy.

But we must all be aware that fighters can have an off night.

In his previous fight before Tarver, Green had looked the best we had seen him for a long time. Against the previously undefeated BJ Flores, Green shocked the boxing community with his slick skills and execution, winning a wide points decision.

Having stepped in the ring myself (don’t ask!), fighting against the tide when the momentum of a fight is turning against you is the hardest task. It is almost impossible to stay composed when everything is going wrong.

The fight is happening so fast, the punches don’t stop; it’s like playing chess game whilst getting hit repeatedly in the face. You can’t call a timeout and step outside and work your opponent out.

It’s all done on the run, and whilst you struggle to work your opponent out, his lead gets bigger and the problem intensifies. You go back to your corner and your alone with your a million thoughts, you’re tired, you’re hurt, you’re body is screaming at you and you don’t process anything you’re trainer tells you.

Styles make fights, and sometimes it’s just not your night.

But memories are short and the queue of detractors is long.

The man in the street may think his time is up, but only one man has the answer to that very question, and only one man has the power to do anything about it.

Danny Green has had his pride, future earnings and world title aspirations taken away from him.

The good news though...

Danny Green is hungry again.

Write him off at your peril.



Hyder says Green wants to "punish" Tarver badly

Adam Santarossa talks to Angelo Hyder, trainer of Danny “The Green Machine” Green, ahead of tomorrow’s big IBO Cruiserweight World title fight with “The Magic Man” Antonio Tarver.

Angelo, we are hours away from the fight, how is Danny looking?

He is looking real good mate, he is ready to go.

Now last time you fought against BJ Flores, you pulled a real monkey out of the hat with your game plan, you really surprised Flores with your hit and move approach, opposed to the “come forward” style from Danny that we know. Can we expect something similar tomorrow night?

No I don’t think he will be ducking and weaving away too much tomorrow night mate.

There has been some criticism regarding this fight and there has been some real insults bandied around in the last few days. How personal has this fight become?

Yes mate, it’s pretty personal mate, he (Tarver) has thrown some pretty crazy stuff up, you know to try and unedge us, and if he has wanted to get Danny angry, he has, it’s worked and it’s my job to keep Danny under control. Danny really wants to punish him badly.

What are your thoughts on Tarver? How do you see the fight?

He is one hell of a fighter mate. You know Danny has got to be on his game, he doesn’t want to be getting hit clean by Tarver. He doesn’t want to let Tarver dictate terms in the ring. They know Danny’s style.they know. They know he is a tough nut and it’s going to be very interesting. It’s going to come down to the finer points, you know, are they as good as they say? Or are we as good as we say? So it’s a very interesting fight.

What about these mind games? Today here at the weigh in there was talk that Tarver would not make the Cruiserweight limit?

He (Tarver) hit it right on and it’s the first time Danny has been over 90kg himself, so he has done a lot of hard work and to his credit Tarver has been very professional, and I always knew he would come in on weight, and look as good as he does. I have been following him a little bit on YouTube, seeing all the hard work he has done. He is here for war, and Greeny is no different.

Let’s hope he hangs around and looks to stand and deliver like he said and it will become a stand-up fight and an exciting bout.

Any chance you might jump in there with Buddy McGirt? He has been levelling some insults at Team Green, regarding the hand wrap controversy?

(Laughs) No mate, Buddy McGirt is a good bloke; he knows what he is doing. I have been up against Buddy McGirt a few times, all around the world, I have done a lot of World Title fights in America, I have done them in Germany , I’ve done them in Indonesia, I’ve faced him before, let him have his say, but when that bell rings it’s up to the fighters. Myself and Greeny have a relationship, where I know he will do exactly what I say, and I don’t think they (Tarver-McGirt) have as good a relationship as Danny and I, and I don’t think many fighters in the world do.

So whatever Tarver comes up with, Greeny and I know we will come up with the answers.

There has been some question about Tarver, and how he will go with having only one fight in eighteen months. But there is also a question about Danny, given he had his appendix out only a few months back and this is his first fight since then?

Yes, well I was worried early. I didn’t want to fight Tarver if you can recall. But since now we have gone through all the sparring and the preparation, I can see Greeny is fine, and I am more than happy.

Danny is 39 years old, he has already retired before. Any chance this could be the last time we see him step in the ring?

Well, it could always be that mate, you just never know. But, No...He has got a bit more to do still I think.

Finally, what’s your prediction for tomorrow night?

If Danny catches him (Tarver), he will knock him out, that hasn’t changed from Roy Jones. It’s only a matter of when. The thing is, is Tarver good enough to make that “when” not happen, but if that “when” happens, it’s going to be over.

Angelo Hyder with his fighter, Danny "The Green Machine" Green





Interview with former IBF Super Featherweight Champion, Barry Michael

Former IBF Super Featherweight and now Main Event commentator, Barry Michael

Adam Santarossa caught up with former IBF Super Featherweight World Champion and Main Event Boxing commentator, Barry Michael, to get his thoughts on tomorrow nights, Danny Green-Antonio Tarver fight and also to speak about his charge, New Zealand cruiserweight, Shane Cameron.

Barry we are all here ahead of the big fight tomorrow night, how do you see this one going?

I’ve been waiting to see what sort of shape, Antonio Tarver turned up in and to see him on the scales and he looked in excellent condition. I think it is a “toss up” to be honest, if Antonio Tarver can perform like he has in the past Danny is going to have a very tough night at the office.

I think the longer it goes, I mean if it goes the distance, I think Danny will probably get home on points. But Tarver is a big puncher, he is a dangerous man, and I think this is one of Danny’s most dangerous fights to be honest.

There is a lot of talk going around regarding Tarver’s ability to go twelve rounds. He has had only two fights since 2008. As a former fighter yourself, how hard is it to get back in the ring following a period on inactivity?

Well it is a comeback, and that is probably one of the biggest things against him (Tarver), the longer the fight goes the harder it will undoubtedly be for him, but it also depends on how he has prepared. If he has had gruelling gym work and the gruelling sparring sessions, to replicate as close as he can to what a real fight is, he might be ok, I have seen fighters do it. The great Sugar Ray Leonard did it after two years out, Ali did it, so look, it can be done, look at Bernard Hopkins, who is 46.

Tarver doesn’t look like an old man; he looks fresh as a daisy.

Danny Green is a great fighter, there is no worries about that but Antonio Tarver has been one of the greatest in the light-heavyweight division, now fighting  at Cruiserweight, really their both light heavies, again, I think it’s going to be a tossup, one of Danny’s hardest fights.

It is Tarver’s first time fighting overseas, how much affect do you think that will have on the fight?

I don’t think it will affect a great deal, Tarver is an experienced campaigner, I don’t think he is going to be overawed fighting in front of a pro Australian crowd. He would have fought all around the world as an amateur, he had hundreds of amateur fights, and I actually saw him first hand in 1996 in Atlanta, were he won bronze and was captain of the American team. I don’t think it will bother him one bit.

Now prediction wise, are you sitting on the fence, given you see it being such a close fight?

Yes, I am going to sit on the fence with this one. I reckon if it goes the distance, I reckon Danny on points. I will be surprised if Danny can stop him, because if he (Tarver) has never been off his feet, and Danny, well I’ve seen Danny off his feet, but I’ve never seen him stopped, but if there was a knockout I think Tarver might have the power to do it. But I’m sitting on the fence.

Now turning to a fighter you’re involved with, Shane Cameron.  He has been trying to get Danny Green in the ring for a while now, but tomorrow night he faces, Dominic Vea for the Commonwealth Cruiserweight title, how has his preparation been?

Shane is in the best shape he has been in years. He has come down from 107.7kg, to 90.7, he has become accustomed to the weight over the past year, and he finally has a right hand. People don’t realise he hasn’t been fighting with a right hand for about five years; he has had it full of bolts. Finally now it is bolt free and he can punch with it, and I think Dominic Vea is in for a big shock tomorrow night.

Danny Green as I said before has been in your plans, is that still an option after this fight?

Definitely. We pray Danny Green wins, because Plan B is we win and Danny wins, we get in on for the title, probably about November in New Zealand, we hope. Which will be fantastic and a Trans-Tasman war.

Barry Michael, thanks for your time and have a great call tomorrow night.

Thank you, all the best.

New Zealand's Shane Cameron, fights on the undercard tommorow night and has Danny Green in his sights.



Green-Tarver weigh in ahead of World Title fight



Antonio Tarver weighed in first at 89.7kg (197.75 lbs), under the Cruiserweight limit of 200lbs (90.71kg).

Talk before the weigh in was that Tarver would not make the weigh and would have to return later this evening to make the weight, but this talk was quickly shown to be false, and alleged as “mind games” from the Danny Green camp.

Tarver when questioned on the pre weigh in talk,called it mind games and said it didn't faze him one bit, as “I am always one step ahead. I am a professional and it is my responsibility as a fighter to make the weight and I am ready to fight”.

Tarver went on to discuss the great Roy Jones and stated that Roy Jones has had two careers.

“One before me and one after me. And it’s the same for Danny Green. You will remember Danny having two careers, one before me and one after me”

Danny Green weighed in next, weighing in at 90.25kg (198.96 lbs).

Green labelled Tarver as “confident, and a smart guy”, and spoke about the foxing the Tarver team had done all camp.

“I do my talking in the ring and just want to thank everyone for coming out today and all my supporters”.

Green closed with a suggestion that Tarver should buy a box of the Pain and Arthritis relief cream, “Pain away”, a company part owned by Green’s trainer, Angelo Hyder.

“ He’ll be needing it come fight night” said Green.

The fighters than went into the customary faceoff, which was full of intensity and both men, had to be separated by their respective trainers, only increasing anticipation for the fight tomorrow evening.

By Adam Santarossa

Danny Green- Antonio Tarver: The fight to silence the doubters

The lure of the Danny Green v Antonio Tarver, IBO Cruiserweight World Title fight, is that you simply don’t know what you are going to get.

Antonio Tarver could well be another Roy Jones.

A man who came to Australia, a shell of a fighter he once was, with plenty of hype and all the bells and whistles, only to be destroyed by the hungrier Green in 180 seconds.

Tarver is a man who has fought only twice since 2008 and has never fought as a Cruiserweight.

In his most recent fight, in October of last year, against the unimpressive Nagy Aguilera (16-6-0) Tarver looked sluggish and uncomfortable fighting at Heavyweight, despite winning a ten round decision.

His two previous fights were consecutive losses to Chad Dawson, and given the ease at which Dawson won each fight on the scorecards, it gave many critics the ammunition to consider Tarver no longer “elite”.

Tarver comes to Australia, almost three years after the fact to prove those critics wrong.

Some have questioned the reason a man, crowned the best Light-Heavyweight of the past decade who has been largely inactive and seen more action as a HBO commentator than in the ring in the past few years, has for stepping back in the oldest proving ground in the world.

It’s clear like Roy Jones; the name “Tarver” is no longer considered “Money” back home in the States.

Tarver says he is here for the Cruiserweight title, a title he has never held, and a line borrowed from Green’s previous victim, Roy Jones.

But the mind does wonder.

Tarver will command an alleged guaranteed fee of $1.3 million dollars, for taking this fight.

 Its $1.3 million reasons why you just don’t know what to expect.

Is this one final pay day or does Tarver mean business.

The fight has been met with some pessimism following the last big name boxer to come to Australian shores.

Roy Jones collected his $3 million guaranteed money upfront, and we all saw what happened in that fight.

The problem with guaranteed money is simple. Why get beat on for twelve rounds, when you can make the same money fighting one. When the going gets tough and the fight becomes a war, is the fight that is needed to win such a battle still existent in Tarver.

This fight was meant to happen two years ago, but Tarver wouldn’t put pen to paper.

The big question is what has changed in those two years.

What’s driving Tarver now?

But questioning a man’s heart is a dangerous business in the fight game.

There is no reminder needed that Tarver was the first man to knock out Roy Jones, who then in his prime was considered untouchable.

Tarver not only achieved that, but in doing so unified the Light-Heavyweight division.

You also need no reminder of Tarver- “The Olympian”, Tarver- “The Magic Man”, and the man that fought his way out of poverty to an eventual place in the Hall of Fame.

If it’s his desire to once again become a world champion and reign in a division he has never before, then we may yet see a war between “The Green Machine” and “The Magic Man”.

But if it is like Jones, a sight of easy money and a sunny holiday, then who knows?

Tarver is certainly dangerous; a man with his record and legacy doesn’t need to be talked up too much.

He is a boxer, who has the silky skills but who can also flick the switch.

His biggest asset against Green is that he is a southpaw.

Danny Green has previously shown a weakness, like many fighters to a Southpaw.

Markus Beyer was one who completely outboxed Danny Green in their second encounter.

But in saying that, the Danny Green we see today is very different from the Danny Green of years past.

Once a come forward fighter with a ton of heart, Green showed in his past fight against the then undefeated, BJ Flores, that he is a smarter fighter, by not engaging with the bigger man, by executing a superb game plan of being elusive and fighting at a distance.

Green won comfortably on all cards, and opened the eyes of many.

The talk emanating from the Tarver camp is that Green is simply a come forward fighter and fought a “primitive style”.

These are words that I’m sure will be music to the Green camps ears.

Danny Green has just looked better and better with age.

But Green also brings some intriguing questions to the table.

Just how much of an effect has surgery earlier this year to remove his appendix had on the 39 year old.

Just what tole has the surgery and the loss of 10kg, in the process had on Green’s body?

Could this be the final time, we see Green in the ring?

At today’s final press conference, it was clear the fight had an extra feel.

Tarver’s words had finally gotten Green to respond.

“The American’s have sometimes been referred to as ‘septic tanks’ and the reason for that is that nothing but crap comes from their mouths”, Green boomed.

Cleary aggrieved with the Tarver camp’s talk of Green using illegal hand wraps in his fight with Jones.

It’s an issue, that was shown to have no foundation, and if anything an orchestrated move by Jones, to retain his jeopardised fight with Bernard Hopkins.

It’s an issue that clearly has infuriated Green. The repercussions of which will only be seen on fight night.

Tarver was as ever at his confident best, full of swagger and full of confidence.

“I feel they picked the wrong guy. They thought I was old, slow, 42 year old guy that would be showing up Wednesday night”.

“But that’s not the case. You’ve got a hungry, determined assassin”.

It’s an intriguing battle that raises many questions that until the two combatants meet can only leave everyone guessing.

PREDICTION- GREEN by late round stoppage

Exclusive interview with Billy "The Kid" Dib- "This is It"



Billy “The Kid” Dib fights for the IBF Featherweight World Title at the Sydney Olympic Park State Sports Centre on July 29^th against Mexican challenger, Jorge Lacierva.

Billy took time out of his hectic training schedule to sit down and discuss the fight and the career of Billy “The Kid” in an exclusive interview with Adam Santarossa.

Billy we are only a few weeks away from the fight, how are preparations going?

I’m in camp at the moment in preparation for this fight and I am leaving no stone unturned. I have a great trainer in Billy Hussein and some great sparring partners in Paul “Two Guns” Fleming, Joel Brunker and Daniel Iannazzo helping me out. Preparation has been fantastic so far and it’s only getting better.

This fight is two and a half years in the making, your career hit somewhat of a crossroad following the Steven Leuavano fight , which was for the WBO Featherweight title, there was much criticism from your performance, I know the HBO commentators were quite critical, what was the fallout like from that?

At the end of the day, it was a fight in which I was in it, but I didn’t do enough to win it. Steven Leuvano was the champion and in order to beat the champion you have to go over there and wrestle the title away from him. It was a bit of a lacklustre performance from me, but if you look at the scorecards it was close and I didn’t even try to win the fight. After the fight I did cop a bit of criticism, which is accepted, I accept criticism, that’s fine because what it has done is helped me rebound and become a much better fighter, and now I’ve legitimately worked my way up the ladder without the help of Golden Boy Promotions and Oscar De La Hoya pushing me in the ratings and I’ve just worked really hard with my trainer Billy Hussein, my strength and conditioning coach and my family to secure this position. After the fight we had an agreement with Golden Boy Promotions to walk away from the contract and do my own thing back home , and they wanted me to get back home, rebuild and they have really helped put this fight together, with the help of Michael Karagiannis my manager and Mike Altamura who is another great promoter in Australia. So the rebuilding has been done, the preparation is good and July 29^th is the date I’m going to be world champion.

Part of that rebuilding phase was linking with Billy Hussein, just how different is your work with Billy than with your previous trainers?

Billy Hussein is a technician and that is something that I lacked a little bit in my game was a little bit of technician work, I was more of what you call a spoiler, who kind of came from different angles and things like that but Billy Hussein has really settled me down and made me a much stronger fighter and a much more complete fighter. Now I put a lot of pressure on my opponents and I try to take their heart away in the fight.

You haven’t sat on your hands in the last two and a half years, you have certainly kept yourself busy, you’ve chased fights, and you have been chasing Chris John for a while. Obviously I’m sure you’re not looking past this fight, but is he someone still in your sights?

Look after this fight gets done, and I win this fight, god willing. after that we are going to sit down and talk to the team and I’m sure we are going to see Chris Johns team come out and offer to try and unify the titles and if it makes sense to the team and makes sense to my manager, then we will go ahead and do that, but I’m in no rush to call out names or anything like that, I am just fully focused on Jorge Lacierva, July 29^th and just winning the title and making my family and all my supporters proud.

Do you think sometimes people forget that you are only 25 years old?

Yes, sometimes I forget I am 25 years old. If you look back at Anthony Mundine’s great career he turned professional at 25, and I’m 25 now and just about to fight for a world title. 25 and still have another ten years  in this game I believe, I’m a clean living person and I’m 100% focused on the sport , and it’s a sport that I love and I realise that this is a sport that if you do not give 100%, it can be nasty. So until that day I will continue to box and another ten years reigning as a world champion, god willing, is what I want to see.

You’ve had a pretty good career. You’re a former IBO Super Featherweight World Champion; you have fought in Vegas, Madison Square Garden and Atlantic City already. Whatas the biggest lesson you have learnt so far?

The biggest lesson I have learnt is I was so caught up in the hype before; I was caught up in the hype of being with the superstars and everything like that. Now I have settled down and realised at the end of the day , no one in the sport of boxing is going to be able to help you unless you help yourself , and I became reliant on those guys like Shane Mosley and Oscar and that but now I’m fully reliant on my trainer and my manager and I fully rely on my own skills and I know that there is a motto in boxing that “skills pay the bills” and that’s what I 100% work on, basically staying focused on what I’m doing  and not worrying on what’s going on around me.

Turning our focus to the fight, how much do you know about your opponent Jorge Lacierva?

Jorge Lacierva has had a tremendous career. He has suffered a few defeats, but if you look closely at his record, out of his first ten professional fights, he lost four. Since then he has only lost three, and he has gone on to have something like 52 professional fights now, and I know he has 39 victories, 6 draws and 7 losses. In the last five years he has only suffered two losses  and they were at the hands of Celestino Cabellero, who has been a multiple world champion and Cruz Carbajal , who again has been a world champion, so this guy has been battle tested, he’s a tough Mexican and I know they come to fight and this is a guy coming here realising, you know that he is 32 years of age and this will be his last shot at glory but unfortunately he is coming to our country and he is coming into a fight with a kid who is hungry and determined to come good on the promise.

Do you think you’re fighting for respects on July 29, given you were originally meant to fight Mickey Garcia however he passed on the fight? Do you consider that disrespectful?

At the end of the day, to me, no that was his decision because he was offered a TV deal by HBO. He wanted the fight to go ahead with me on June 4^th, which wasn’t going to be fair, and wasn’t going to be enough time for the both of us to prepare. I mean he was already preparing for a fight trying to get me to fight on July 4. I said no, forget about it we will just go to purse bid and whoever wins the purse bid wins the rights to stage the fight, but they said no they couldn’t wait and they wanted to take that date on HBO. We made a clear decision that we were going to go ahead to the purse bid, his management decided to pull him out of the fight and we gave them our word that once we win this world title, and everything goes well, then we are happy to give Mickey Garcia an opportunity.

So I’m not fighting for respect, I’m fighting for my dream, this is my dream and I’m fighting for everything I stand for and focusing on living my dream and making sure it comes to fruition.

I know your very active in social media on facebook and twitter, how can the fans get in touch with you online?

Yes, I put all these videos up, I stay active on twitter and facebook to keep the fans updated because without the fans this couldn’t be possible, without you guys getting down to the venues and supporting us fighters then we wouldn’t be able to make a living. The guys can catch me @billydib on Twitter and you can catch me as “Billy Dib” on Facebook and the “Billy ‘The Kid’ Dib” fan page, any questions the fans may have I am happy to answer. I am always on there and I dedicate an hour every night to answer all the fans questions.

The final question though Billy- Why will you win the World Title on July 29^th?

Why will I win the fight? Because I’m hungry, I’m determined, it’s been a long time coming and I have to come good on the promise. The prophecy has been that I was going to be champion of the world and I have to come good on that. I’m 100% focused and doing everything I can in training camp. This is the first time I’ve gone away on a training camp for a fight, I am leaving no stone unturned.

So if you want to come out there, July 29^th and watch me become world champion and I promise you on July 29^th, I am leaving with that belt!

Billy “The Kid” Dib vs. Jorge Lacierva for the IBF Featherweight World Title

July 29^th at the Sydney Olympic Park State Sports Centre, Homebush.

Tickets can be purchased from http://www.ticketdirect.com.au/

Klitschko-Haye Preview: The Heavyweight Superfight the world is waiting for



Finally Boxing is dragging itself off the canvas, and leading the way is the Heavyweight division.

This Sunday, we will witness a genuine heavyweight superfight, when Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye finally meet.

Sundays fight is almost two years in the making, and will unify the heavyweight division, with Klitschko defending his IBF, WBO and IBO World Heavyweight Titles and Haye defending his WBA Heavyweight Title.

The only remaining belt is in the possession of Wladimir's brother, Vitali, who fights Tomasz Adamek in September for the WBC Heavyweight Title.

If Haye is victorious in Hamburg on Sunday, there’s a slight chance Vitali might be next.

But that’s only one intriguing aspect to this highly anticipated encounter.

The critics all say David Haye may have finally bitten off more than he can chew.

They say Klitschko has been undefeated since 2004.

So too has David Haye.

They say Wladimir's height and reach advantage will prove insurmountable.

Yet the critics said the same about the very man, Haye dethroned of the WBA Heavyweight Title, Nicolay Valuev.

There is no doubt though that Wladimir Klitschko AKA “Dr Steelhammer” who boasts a 55-3-0 record, with an impressive 49 knockouts, will be David Haye’s toughest ever test.

But I don’t agree with critics who say it’s a test that Haye is unable to pass.

David “Hayemaker” Haye also boast an impressive record of 25-1-0.

He is a former undisputed Cruiserweight World Champion and has never lost as a Heavyweight.

He has coveted media attention and fan adulation for his brash and outspoken antics, and up until now Haye has backed that up with antics just as impressive in the ring.

Recently Haye has knocked out Audley Harrison, the Sydney 2000 Olympic Gold medallist, who wasn’t able to throw a punch, he was convincing in his demolition of John Ruiz and showcased his boxing skills in impressive fashion against the giant, Nicolay Valuev.

 Not only did Haye impress everyone with his silky skills and fast hands, but Haye also rocked Valuev, something we hadn’t come close to seeing anyone do to the gigantic Russian before.

He destroyed Enzo Macrinelli in just two rounds, to unify the cruiserweight division when no one gave him a chance.

And Jean Marc Mormeck is still picking up his teeth from the canvas.

Haye labels Klitschko’s style as “Jab, Jab, Grab”, and whilst its true Klitschko does rely heavily on a granite like jab, Haye is more than aware of Klitschko’s power.

You do not knock out 49 of your opponents with simply a jab.

But Wladimir Klitschko’s dream of adding David Haye to the list, as his 50^th knockout victim won’t come easy.

You see, David Haye is different, as Haye says he is not “a big fat pudding” like the rest.

He has fast hands, silky skills, and great movement and can get in and out like no other Heavyweight on the scene today.

He can box you, yet he has the power to knock you out- Big-time.

There are doubts that do linger over Haye. Questions have been asked regarding Haye’s withdrawal from the scheduled 2009 fight against Wladimir Klitschko and some have even suggested Haye is only in it for one final pay day before hanging up the gloves.

Simple answer is, there are a lot easier ways to cash out of boxing than a Heavyweight unification fight on foreign soil, in Germany in a sold out 50,000 seat Imtech Arena.

But if there are doubts about Haye, there are also those regarding Wladimir.

Klitschko has not fought since September of last year, with a comfortable stoppage of a lacklustre Samuel Peter. Before then, Klitschko has had victories over the likes of Hasim Rahman, Eddie Chambers and Ruslan Chagaev, all big names in the division, just not when they fought Klitschko.

In his most recent fight with Samuel Peter, Klitschko looked tentative in going in for the kill when he was clearly making mince meat out of Peter. Against Haye, Klitschko might not have the time to mull it over.

Whilst the fight has drawn much exposure and focus back onto the sport, and more importantly the Heavyweight division there is still some doubts about the prosperity of the division that linger.

Haye has said for a long time its is his intention to retire upon his 31^st birthday this October, and if he is victorious and cannot manage to talk Vitali Klitschko out of his September fight with Tomasz Adamek, then Sundays fight will be his last.

Therefore with the Heavyweight division’s brightest star potentially heading for the exit door, there is a big chance Haye will leave the division without a champion, and its next biggest star coming off a defeat.

It hardly sends the future cash registers spinning.

Without Haye, it leaves the Klitschko brothers who have pledged to never fight one another and Adamek, who is still unproven as a Heavyweight.

So as much as the fight goes a long way to saving the division, upon its conclusion the fight may have brought the Heavyweight scene to a bleak outlook.

But there’s no doubt the hype that surrounds this fight is unlike something we have seen for a long time.

Haye’s best chance is to mirror the game plan he used so effectively against Valuev.

Haye needs to use his agility and mobility to get inside Klitschko’s jab and make him pay.

Haye needs to fight at a high tempo, and dictate the pace of the fight and make Klitschko uncomfortable. Haye is better prepared for a high intensity twelve round fight given Klitschko is the bigger body, and isn’t as agile as Haye. Haye needs to start with a high work rate and go to the body early.

You factor in Klitschko’s recent injury concerns and potential element of ring rust, then in my eyes the upper hand goes to Haye.

The talk in the lead up to the fight has been all about the hatred that both have for one another, and that given the personal nature of the fight, both would be seeking a knockout.

But in my opinion I would suggest Haye does not listen to those wanting a slugfest.

His best bet is to use his hand speed and skills to pick Klitschko apart.

Haye will be hoping that Klitschko does come to knock him out, and therefore by coming to fight, does away with the rigid robotic style that has made him so effective in recent years, but also so hard to break down.

Haye has purposely made things personal in order to lure Klitschko away from his iron guard, yet question remains whether Klitschko is naive enough to prove Haye plan was successful.

Haye has been on the campaign trail hurling insults at both the Klitschko’s wanting the fight, from t-shirts showing Haye holding the decapitated heads of the Klitschko brothers, to crashing Klitschko media conferences and poking fun at the brothers poor command of English and the fact that they have some resemblance to Kazakhstan’s greatest asset Borat.

Haye has shown he is not all talk, by taking the fight in Germany, with the fight taking place in Hamburg at a sold out 50,000 seat capacity Imtech Arena.

As most fight fans know, Germany is not the easiest place to go for a fighter, particularly in a close fight, but given the spectacle and world interest, you would think nothing untoward would be going down Sunday.

The fact that the four biggest names in the division in the moment are all European shows how far the Heavyweight division has declined in America.

It’s hard to see where the next White hope is coming from.

This Sunday, we will find out just who is the biggest and baddest in the division.

Given the fight takes place in Germany, it means a 4am start time for us Australians, but given it has been almost ten years since a Heavyweight Superlight of this scale, this one is certainly one not to miss.

If Haye fights in a similar manner to the way he captured the title of Nicolay Valuev then it will be British smiles in Germany once again.

Prediction- HAYE by UD or Late Round Stoppage