By James Slater: Upon reading the above headline, any fan will instantly know just which fight David Haye is talking about. Set, at long last, to rumble with Wladimir Klitschko a week on Saturday, the WBA champion is adamant he will shock the Ring Magazine, IBF, WBO and IBO ruler. But Haye says he should be receiving credit right now for the way he “made the fight happen.”
Haye says it was only due to his willingness to make concessions and to agree to all of Klitschko’s demands that the fight we are all looking forward to was made. Speaking with Mirror Sport at the weekend, “The Hayemaker” said he is at a loss as to why “Dr. Steel Hammer” is looked at as a hero.
“For some crazy reason people think that Wladimir is some type of gentleman in boxing,” Haye said. “The truth is that he is a ruthless two-faced business man. It’s been two hard years of negotiating to make this fight happen – and he seems to be getting all the credit. I’m not really that bothered, but he is not the hero some people think he is.
“I have made all of the concessions and done everything that has been asked of me. I made this fight happen.”
We have all read about how many demands the Klitschkos make in their fight contracts; with a number of their opponents having to agree to rematch clauses and even an agreement to fight both brothers in the event of them getting a win. However, Haye pulled out of the original June 2009 date with Wladimir, and that was obviously not Klitschko’s fault. It is an interesting thought, though: would the July 2nd fight be happening if Haye had refused to agree to all he’s agreed to (fighting in Germany, coming into the ring first, agreeing to split the U.K T.V money, etc, etc)?
At any rate, the fight is happening and once the bell rings, fans will forget all about the pre-fight wrangling between the two camps. Haye has said many times he will score a vicious KO over the “boring, weak-chinned” champion. And the Londoner has come out this week and pleaded with Klitschko to “stand and have a fight,” and not to “run away.”
“On the night, there will be only one boxer prepared to back up his words with action: me!” Haye stated.
But will Haye get the result he thinks he will if Wladimir stands and trades with him? Haye’s chin is not fashioned out of granite, and if the two do meet in ring centre and slug it out, it could be a case of who lands the first bomb.
Haye feels he has managed to get under Klitschko’s skin to the point where Wladimir will abandon his usual tactics and fight angry. Maybe this will indeed be the case; but will Haye benefit from it?