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 50th 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 31st 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
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