13.07.08- by James Slater: We all knew it wouldn’t take long for David Haye to put forth his opinion of last night’s fight between Wladimir Klitschko and Tony Thompson. And we pretty muck knew Haye would not have too many nice things to say about the IBF and WBO champ’s 11th round KO win..
Thanks to a phone line hook-up with Setanta T.V, Haye – who remained in his Cyprus base instead of going to the fight live as he’d earlier said he would – was able to share with us all his opinion of the heavyweight champion’s performance. “The Hayemaker” said he was not impressed.
“I’m happy Klitschko won the fight,” Haye said. “All he had to do was get the win and he did that. Tony Thompson came and gave a pretty dismal effort. Klitschko after 50 fights does not have a defence. All he did was hold, he keeps a pawing jab, he doesn’t put any meat on his jab and hopes to land that one backhand. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, he’s been doing the same thing every year. Every time he’s been in the ring with someone fresh, someone fast and someone with heart, he’s been knocked out. I’m that guy.”
Haye even predicted what round he would stop Klitschko in.
“If he fights me the same way he fought that guy tonight he’ll get knocked out in three rounds,” Haye declared. “I love guys who stand long with me. My ideal opponent is Wladimir Klitschko. He fights in a similar style to Alexander Gurov. Everyone said that the Alexander Gurov fight was a dangerous fight because he was tall and fights in a similar style to me. What happened? In 45 seconds with my first punch I knocked him spark out. I will do the same to Klitschko. I just want to get in that ring as soon as possible.”
It seems a Klitschko-Haye fight is destined to happen. The question is when? And whichever way you see the fight going, and whether you agree with Haye or not, the fact remains the fight would do huge business.
Haye added one more interesting comment via his phone line.
“I can’t stress how much Klitschko’s style will gel with mine to see a violent early knockout.”
But in whose favour? This is another question that will be continually asked until the two big-punching fighters get it on!