Moments ago inside of the Imtech Arena in Hamburg, Germany, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko cruised to unanimous decision victory over former WBA champion David Haye. The fight was one of the most anticipated heavyweight duels in recent memory but just like many of Klitschko’s recent fights it failed to deliver in terms of excitement or competitiveness.
Haye had talked a big game heading into the contest and in the early going his movement and unorthodox nature did seem to trouble his 6'6" opponent as he darted in and out with grazing shots. But Klitschko remained poised and began figuring out the British star, slowly picking him off with his ramrod jab and piling up the rounds.
As the fight progressed HBO commentator Larry Merchant showed his disdain at the lack of action, criticizing Haye for not engaging enough. Sure enough, through ten rounds Haye had only landed in double digits in one stanza while Klitschko had only one frame that he failed to do so.
It was only in round twelve that Haye seemed to really get through, rocking Wladimir with a right hand that had him a bit shook and holding. But the 35-year old champion simply kept his cool and killed the final seconds as he rode off to a unanimous decision victory. For quite some time, the heavyweight division has failed to give fight fans a reason to tune in. After years and years of limited action it appears the time has come, as this Saturday night two of the sports biggest stars collide when Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49KO's) takes on former cruiserweight David Haye (25-1, 23KO's). As we prepare for this epic showdown, we'll take a look at "Keys to Victory", four critical game-changing elements to explore, as well as an official prediction:
WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO - KEYS TO VICTORY
For Wladimir, the fight will basically come down to two things contained within one word: Nerves. Several marquee fighters throughout the history of the sport have suffered from (for lack of better words) performance anxiety; able to execute well under certain conditions, yet anxious and awkward as the stakes grow higher. In the case of Wladimir, this once highly pronounced flaw from the early days has seemed to be cured in recent times, yet none of us have seen him on a stage this grand at any point in his career.
How Wladimir handles the bright lights and the kind of pressure known to burst pipes in this career defining moment will be key and ultimately dictate his level of success. A relaxed Wladimir is as good as it gets, and considering the fact that his opponent is a bit out of his league in this colossal affair as well, the ability to calmly and patiently execute will come at a high premium. The other element to weigh heavy in the final outcome can also come down to that word "nerves". Only in this case, perhaps "nerves" of a different variety....closer to what the Latinos would call 'juevos', or more simply put, 'cajones'.
Not only will Wladimir need to calmly execute against the fast and powerful David Haye, but the operative question here is does he have "nerve" (or 'cajones') to stand in the pocket and risk the potential onslaught from a man who's ability may rival his? Will he be willing to stand in the pocket and face the fire, or will he melt out of sheer fear of being burned? This question could be more grand than the initial, because a scared Wladimir will no doubt result in a defeated Wladimir. Strategically, Haye has marginal footwork and questionable stamina. If Wladimir has the "nerves" to stand in the pocket, keep Haye on the end of a stiff jab, and execute calmly, it'll be an easy night for him. Maybe even easier than we've seen in recent times.
DAVID HAYE - KEYS TO VICTORY
For David Haye, the plan of attack is not so simple. Haye has faced a few giants in his brief and somewhat unfulfilled tenure at Heavyweight, but none with the total package, equipped with a level of athleticism this rare in a big man. For David Haye, it will be very important to start out fast and strong, using good head movement and solid footing, as one flush shot in the wrong position could land put him on his back quicker than he knows. Haye will have to prevent Wladimir from gaining confidence early. A confidence bearing Wladimir is the equivalent Jekyll and Hyde, as he literally becomes a beast.
One other major concern for Haye will be stamina. Past fights that involved heavy action has left him breathing quite hard on his stool. Limited stamina in front of Wladimir would make him a dead man walking. If Haye can start fast, land crisp to the body early and often and set the tone, his chances of winning this fight increase by the round, as questions also surround Wladimir's ability to fight at a face pace over the distance as well.
FOUR TO EXPLORE
3's THE CHARM: When you analyze video of these two men, one common thread is the often used one-two combination. For Haye it's more of a quick flurry, for Wladimir, it's often one and done, as the second shot to land flush typically seals the deal on the heals of the first. When it isn't enough, Wladimir is known to do a 'wrap up hug', preventing return fire from the opponent. Although both men have had great success with the one-two, conventional wisdom tells me that the one who's limited defense keeps him frozen long enough to allow a third shot to land will undoubtedly be the one looking at the ceiling for a full 10 count. Keep an eye out for the trio-combo, as neither man is expected to survive it.
Lights, Camera....Action?: David Haye has become more of a talker than any of us ever knew he was, and similar to Wladimir Klitschko, even the great Mike Tyson recently went on record to say that David Haye "talked himself into this fight". Just the other day, veteran Floyd Mayweather jr. told the young Victor Ortiz in so many words that "there's more people at the press conference than he's used to having at his actual fights. So all the talking is good, but question is will he be able to perform on a par to support those words with 17000+ screaming to the top of their lungs when the lights turn on"? Operative question: When the lights come on and the camera starts to roll, is David Haye truly capable of performing to the level of his mouth which has yet to stop? It'll be interesting to find out.
Start of the End?: There's much to be said about the state of the heavyweight division, but one thing few are talking about is "what happens if Haye loses"? A Haye victory sets up a sequel, as Vitali awaits. But if Haye loses, is the party over, because we know that Vitali won't be facing brother Wladimir. More and more in the sport we see dead-end issues like this tilt the scorecards. Could such a tilt be in the works here? NOT A CHANCE. As Lennox Lewis stated, "Haye's only chance to win is a KO". That being said, Where does the momentum of the division go if he loses? Stay tuned.
Thunder or Lightening?: Legend has it that "speed kills", while "power thrills". In the case of these two potential "legends-in-waiting", it'll be intriguing to see which of the two is more prominent in the outcome. Wladimir has decent speed and exceptional power. Haye has exceptional power and better than average speed (for a heavy). The lone X-factor here is the fact that Wladimir's speed and power are both proven on this level; while Haye has shown speed at the heavyweight level, yet his power has only been able to net him a few TKO's, all stemming more from accumulation than immediate disintegration. In the end, will Haye's "Lightening" be enough to withstand the wrath of Wladimir's ominous and deceptively fast "Thunder"?
OFFICIAL PREDICTION
For one of these men, tonight's fight will culminate into the proverbial watershed moment that every fighter in the sport hopes for. For Wladimir, it's a chance to help himself solidify a legacy that has a defined body of work, but no true exclamation mark to punctuate the journey. For Haye, it's a chance to prove that confidence breeds cockiness, and belief in self can propel even the most questionable to new heights.
I believe that both men will put forth a solid effort and the fans will get their monies worth. In the end, despite the speed and power of Haye, as well as the bravado, better judgement tells us that history is our best indicator of who exactly will have their hand held high in the end. This year has been the year of the upset and aside from the sports co-P4P king Manny Pacquiao, no man has been spared. Unfortunately for David Haye, he is no Pacquiao, and it's highly conceivable that he won't be spared like the incredible fighting Filipino. The stiff jab, reach, and athleticism of Wladimir will be too much over the distance.....unless Haye has it in his to conquer this mountain and shock the world. But don't bet your money on it. The jury is back, the votes are in.........the final verdict.........
