26.03.09 – by James Slater – Former cruiserweight world champion and current heavyweight contender David Haye was a live guest on Steve Bunce’s Boxing Hour today on Setanta T.V. Guess what “The Hayemaker” spoke about!? As tired as everyone else when it has come to the seemingly endless delay in getting the big fight he wants with IBF and WBO champ Wladimir Klitschko made official, Haye said today that the fight is, at last, on.
Asked point-blank on today’s news show if the fight will be announced officially next week and that he will be in intense training next week, Haye replied, “Yes.” So, at last, the fans can get ready to look forward to what is potentially one of the most exciting heavyweight title fights in some years. Haye said today he will have approx twelve to thirteen weeks to train, sure is he that the much talked about June 20th date is the one that will host the anticipated rumble..
Haye was first asked if the fight was at last all done and dusted.
“All the stumbling blocks are over now,” Haye said. “Everything, everything, has been agreed. All it’s about now is the Klitschko people sending me the contract so I can sign it and send it back. That’s it.”
The challenger said he feels the fight will take place in Germany, but that this does not bother him in the slightest.
“I think it’s gonna be in Germany, sure he’s [Wladimir] going to want all the advantages,” Haye said. “But I don’t care where the fight’s at. I’ll fight in Germany, Ukraine, it doesn’t bother me. As long as it’s Wlad in the ring and a referee who can count to ten I’m a happy man.”
“The Hayemaker” went on to explain just why he is so massively confident he can beat “Dr. Steel Hammer.”
“I know exactly what Wladimir’s style is, I know what his attributes are,” Haye explained. “I know why he’s been so effective for so many years and I know the strategy to beat him. This is going to be one of my easiest fights. I know it sounds crazy, but I’ve studied this guy for a long time and I know exactly what to do to whup him. I’m not only going to whup him, I’m going to look good doing it.
“I like the fact that some people think I need more fights [at heavyweight[ before going into a world title shot, but that’s what’s going to make this fight a lot more exciting. It will mean that much more, the fact that I’ve come straight up from cruiserweight and that’s it; I’m gonna blast out the number-one in the world.”
Haye was then asked if going over to Germany for the fight is risky, what with the judges and everything. Typically, Haye said the fight will not go the distance anyway, making the scoring officials redundant.
“Twenty-one of my twenty-two wins have come by knockout,” Haye said. “I’m not looking at going the distance. No way. I’ll be surprised if this fight goes past six rounds – unless Wladimir gets some sort of chin operation to toughen it out. Unless he gets some steel implants in his chin!
“As soon as my fists start connecting with his head the fight’s over.”
Why do I feel Haye’s comments will attract a bunch of comments by his fans and a whole lot more from those who don’t like him!?
The main thing, though, is the fact that we can at last start to look forward to a heavyweight battle that is sure to be explosive! It’s about time.