Talk Is Cheap

Nobody can deny it, David Haye talks a good game. But the time for talking is nearly over. Tomorrow night at the Imtech Arena in Hamburg, Haye (25-1, 23ko's) faces Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 ko's) in the hugely anticipated heavyweight title clash. Haye puts his WBA World Heavyweight title on the line against Klitschko's IBF, IBO and WBO belts in a mouth watering unification fight that has finally got people excited about a heavyweight bout. Boxing's heavyweight division has gone through a considerable lull over the past decade or so and this fight seems to have got the public's attention with this being billed as the most tantalising heavyweight tussle since Lennox Lewis stepped into the ring against Mike Tyson in 2002.

Much of the credit for this must go to Haye. His constant insults and jibes have fueled the interest levels of the ordinary boxing fan and got people talking. He more than anyone else has sold this fight. He has adopted many derisory tactics in the lead up to the fight including wearing a t-shirt of the severed heads of Wladimir and his brother Vitali. Some have questioned these tactics but Haye seems to be happy with the path he has chosen. He's obviously trying to get under the skin of the giant Ukranian and feels that by angering him, he may take him out of his comfort zone, making him take a more aggressive approach and in doing so, leaving him open to be hit when they finally step in the ring. While I think some of Haye's antics have been well below the belt, I don't think it has been enough to overly affect Wladimir's preparation. Klitschko is the consummate professional and it seems almost impossible to ruffle him. He has come across really well in the build up and seems to be single minded in his quest to make Haye his 50th knock out victim.

So what of both fighters chances? Both men come into the contest on the back of relatively easy victories against poor opposition, Klitschko knocking out Samuel Peter in the 10th round while Haye destroyed the pitiful Audley Harrison in three rounds in one of the worst world title fights in living memory. Klitschko goes into the fight as the (adopted) home town favourite and will enjoy huge support from the majority of the 50 000 fans that are expected to be packed into the Imtech Arena. He is seen as an almost robotic figure inside the ring, something Haye has commented on, utilising his left jab to perfection while looking to finish his opponents with the big right cross. What he lacks in speed, he makes up for in ring nous. He's a natural heavyweight and is a master of dictating the pace of his fights, something which Haye mustn't allow to happen.

Haye is not a natural heavyweight, he's a cruiserweight. This will only be his fifth fight at the weight and yet this will be his fourth heavyweight title fight. He is giving up both height and weight to Klitschko but what he has in his favour is youth and speed. Haye, 30, is five years younger than Klitschko and will need to take the fight to him, using his superior footwork to close the distance quickly and manoeuvre him into vulnerable positions. He can't let Klitschko dictate the pace of the fight and must find a way to counter the many jabs that will be coming his way. Fighting in Germany means that he is unlikely to get a decision if it's a tight fight that goes to the scorecards so he will have go looking for the knockout wherever possible. Klitschko's three defeats have all come by the way of knockout so Haye knows that if he catches him flush, he has a great chance of upsetting the odds.

From a betting perspective, this fight is a tough one to call. Klitschko is the 8-15 favourite with Haye available at 6-4. Both men are perceived to have vulnerable chins and this is shown in the prices for the fight to go the distance, 11-5 yes and 3-10 no. I for one have to favour Klitschko's chances. For all the excitement and personality Haye undoubtedly brings to proceedings, I think the bigger and more experienced man will eventually come through. He's seen it and done it all before and the last of his three defeats came over seven years ago and he has greatly improved since then. I don't see this turning into a slugfest early and can see Klitschko taking the centre of the ring and jabbing his way to get rounds in the bag. As Haye knows he's unlikely to get a close decision as the away fighter, I feel he will open up and take more chances coming into the later rounds, allowing Dr. Steelhammer to step in and get a late stoppage. Klitschko to win in round 9-12 is 9-2 and I think that at the prices, this is the bet and I advise a 1 point play on this. 

They say talk is cheap and I expect David Haye to find this out come Saturday night.