By James Slater: Watching a live build up show on BoxNation tonight, I was surprised to hear promoter Frank Warren and top scribe Colin Hart talk of how the fight, for all intents and purposes a heavyweight title eliminator, and also a “title fight” in it’s own right (WBA and WBO baubles on the line), will be fought over just ten-rounds and not 12.
Hart said he found out just this lunch time, and the veteran writer said that, in his opinion, the shorter fight favours Haye, who Hart feels has suspect stamina. I must say, I agree with Hart. Haye has been known to fade in the later rounds of fights in the past, and Chisora has been known to come on strong in rounds 8 through 12. Now, on Saturday, “Del Boy” will have to get the job done in just ten sessions. Will Haye, even if he does begin to fade around the 8th be able to suck it up and get through the last couple of rounds?
Promoter Warren, however, says the shorter fight will favour his man Chisora, because with the pace the younger man will set, there will be no chance of him “flagging” in the later stages..
My pick has always been Haye to win on points, and now that the fight has been reduced by two possibly crucial rounds, I’m even more convinced Haye will have his hand raised. Both men have promised a KO, but I think Haye, knowing he has only 30-minutes to work, will box and move his way to a clear decision. Just wait: a disconsolate Chisora will complain post-fight how he was just getting going and getting to Haye when the final bell rang!
By the way, Warren is convinced that if Chisora does manage to get the win, he will then land a massive fight with Ring Magazine, IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO king Wladimir, “There’s a lot of history between them,” the promoter said. Damn straight! But can “Del Boy” get the win at the weekend?