In a heavyweight title bout deemed significant enough for even HBO to
broadcast, IBF/IBO/WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko has been priming the
pump in anticipation of his July 2 showdown in Hamburg, Germany, with
WBA heavyweight champ David Haye. Klitschko appeared on CNN International yesterday and announced that he’ll flatten Haye when they meet. “I knocked out 49 fighters,” Klitschko said, “and David Haye is going
to be the 50th on my list. I am looking forward to it. I will get a
great challenge in the ring. “He will try to get through with his strategy, psychological and
physical game and I’m ready for it because I’m a true professional
athlete and have been doing it for such a long time. I love to be
challenged.”
Haye, while the underdog, is no slouch, as his record (25-1, 23 KOs) indicates. The 30-year-old moved up from cruiserweight in 2008 and has made a lot of noise what he’s going to do to the Klitschkos.
Klitschko is having none of it. “[Defeat] is not an option,” he said. “Myself and Vitali are going to unify all the belts. Haye is quick and his record speaks for itself. He won a lot of fights by knockout, so I will not underestimate his speed or his punching power. “It’s all about the way you fight and how you follow through with your plan and tactics.
