by James Slater – Today, on Setanta Sports, footage was shown of heavyweight title challenger David Haye being put through his paces in his Cyprus training camp as he gets himself in top shape for his June date with IBF and WBO king Wladimir Klitschko. Looking fantastic, Haye was seen slamming a hammer into a huge tractor tyre and he was also seen preparing himself on how to deal with “Dr Steel Hammer’s” long left jab.
Smiling as he did do, Haye worked out with the aid of a long poll with a glove on the end – slipping and blocking the over the top replica of Klitschko’s telephone poll of a left hand. Haye may have been having some fun as the cameras rolled, but he has been going about his training in a deadly serious manner.
Speaking to Setanta Sports News, “The Hayemaker” acknowledged that he must be at his absolute best on June 20th, better than he’s ever been in fact..
“I’m just going to go out there and be the best I can be,” Haye said. “I can’t focus on what he’s going to do, he always does what he does. He’s a very defensive fighter. He’s 6’7,” he’s eighteen stone. He’s a big guy. He looks like Ivan Drago from Rocky IV. He looks the part. He shapes up the part.
“He hasn’t got the heart I’ve got. I’ve been telling people since the age of three I’m going to be the heavyweight champion of the world and here’s my chance. This is it. This is the big one.”
Haye may have been having a little fun with the mock Klitschko jab, but in all seriousness the former cruiserweight champ admits the weapon is one to feel concerned about.
“His advantages are arm length and his height,” Haye said. “I can’t afford to stand on the outside of his punches getting jabbed in the face like a lot of his opponents do. So I’ve got to fight a little bit more like Mike Tyson in this fight. [Normally] I’ve got a Lennox Lewis style with the long jab and the right hand. I’m the small guy now.
“I’m the small man in the fight. I’ve got to work twice as hard. I’ve got to get twice as close. I’ve got to be twice as good as I’ve ever been.”
The Million dollar question, of whether or not Haye CAN get past the defending champion’s left jab, will be answered in less than a month’s time!