Jamie Moore
Salford’s former British and European light-middleweight champion
“I wouldn’t be surprised if David Haye landed one on him and won it in the first round. He hits so hard and Wladimir Klitschko has been knocked out in the past.
“But I think Klitschko will fight cautiously and slowly but surely break Haye down in the later rounds.
“Haye is a great talker – and a great fighter as well. I catch up with him when he’s in Manchester and he is nothing like the cocky character that comes across whenever a TV camera or microphone is put in his face. But I don’t know if I’m being sucked in and believing the hype.
“Klitschko has been so dominant and he’s not on the slide, he’s in the best form of his career. Even with Haye’s speed and power, I can see Klitschko being over-cautious, making a boring fight of it before finishing it in the later rounds.
Verdict: Klitschko rounds 8 or 9.
Bob Shannon
Trainer of Matthew Hatton, Prince Arron and Denton Vassell.
“If I was training Haye for this fight, I’d tell him to go for an early win.That’s the only way I see him beating Klitschko. He needs to get some of those Hayemakers off really early and get his opponent out of his comfort zone.
“Mark my words, Klitschko will not be looking for a knockout. He will know that he can keep tight, get behind his jab and steal every round he possibly can, leaving Haye with it all to do.
“He won’t commit to anything and end up boxing Haye’s ears off for 12 rounds.
“I can see every round being the same, with Haye moving around a lot like he did against Nikolay Valuev, but Klitschko is a step up from that level.
“If Haye wins, it’s got to be by knockout but I can’t see that happening.”
Verdict: Klitschko on points.
Joe Gallagher
Trainer of John Murray, Anthony Crolla and Matthew Macklin
“This fight can go one of two ways – Haye by knockout or Klitschko by points. Haye’s fortunate in as much as he’s fighting the “chinny” Klitschko.
“He’s been knocked down before and Haye certainly has the power to do it again.
“But if it goes to points, I can’t see Haye getting a decision. The good news for him is that he has all the judges he needs in his two fists, so he shouldn’t need to go to the score card.
“He’s got the tools to win it, but if he fights like he did against Valuev, he won’t be coming home with the belt.
“The question is whether Haye will bite the bullet and go for it? Because in my opinion he has to win by knockout or he won’t win at all.
Verdict: Klitschko on points
Anthony Crolla
British lightweight champion
“In the battle of the mind games, I think Klitschko has already won. He’s intelligent, he’s funny and he’s above some of the tactics Haye has used in the build-up to the fight.
“The Klitschkos just aren’t the type of people to let slanging matches get to them. He’s been so cool and calm in the build up and he deserves credit for that.
“He also deserves respect for the way he’s come back from some bad defeats earlier in his career to become a great champion. It would be great if Haye could win but I see this as a cagey fight with Klitschko doing it on points.
“Haye will try to use the same game plan as he did against Valuev, but Klitschko is a lot faster than that. I can’t see it working this time.”
Verdict: Klitschko on points
Anthony Farnell
Trainer of Frankie Gavin and Ronnie Heffron
“Klitschko isn’t a great fighter, but he does everything well. He will know exactly what to do to get the job done.
“He’s got a brilliant jab and a good right hand and that will be enough.
“If Haye lands one, he’s got a great chance because he’such a massive puncher, but I just can’t see him winning.
“He’s not a natural heavyweight. I noticed the difference when I stepped up from light-middleweight to middleweight and that’s nothing like the step Haye’s made.
“He’s a top class cruiserweight, but Klitschko is huge.
“I really hope I’m wrong, but if I was putting my house on it, I’d have to go for Klitschko to win by stoppage.”
Verdict: Klitschko rounds 9 or 10.
What do you think? Have your say.
As Brit faces Wladimir Klitschko in battle of the heavyweights, James Robson asks the five-man Manchester jury for its verdict
June 28, 2011
Comments
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Surprised no one is willing to back Haye. I don't want to argue with five people who know way more about boxing than I do, but have any of them checked Wlad's record? The best fighter he's fought is Sultan Ibragimov (W12 pts). Heard of him? Thought not. Klitschko's career has been very cleverly constructed and I cannot think of another long term world champ who has fought more than 50 bouts without taking on any quality opponents. Most have just rocked up, taken the beating they expected and flown home with a bigger paycheck than they could have ever have dreamed of. Klitschko is a boxing bully.
I agree, Haye cannot win on points but I don't think he will have to. Every fighter who has got into the ring with Haye has said, despite getting the right sparring, he was way faster and more powerful than anyone they have fought before. Referees who have handled previous Haye fights say his punches sound different to anyone else they have been in the ring with, such is his power. I think Haye's plan will be to show that speed and power early. Klitschko himself says he's a 'made' fighter not a natural one, and when he feels that power I'm not sure he has the fighter's instinct to deal with it, mentally more than physically.
I take Haye to win by KO, and it could be any round you pick to be honest. Klitschko's negative tactics may well delay the moment, but at some point Haye will get to him and hurt him.Then what? Has Klitschko got the heart to deal with adversity? His past losses suggest not.
Haye might even need to get up from the canvass at some point (he got up to KO world class champ Jean Marc Mormeck) because Klitschko has power too, but once tagged I see Klitschko unraveling before our very eyes. I think we will look back on this bout and see Klitschko for what he really is: a manufactured fighter with a manufactured record. And it will be good for boxing...
no actully hes fought rahman who knocked out lennox lewis chagaev samual peter and chris byrd not world beaters granted but still respected if youve seen hayes record then id be asking myself whos he fought besides the awesome "cat"thompson who hammered him at welterweight because big mouth punched himself out.mormeck who he keeps bragging he beat maccarinelli a legend in his own mind.hayes had 26 fights and lost 1 but he goes on that hes the best thing in boxing and has done miracles for the sport grow up david get a bit of repect and keep your chin down because otherwise you will be knocked out AGAIN.i for one wont be disapointed im not a big fan of the klitschcos but like the way they have handled them selfs.