Haye has speed and a very good punch, I was impressed with the way he staggered Valuev in the last rd of there fight but on the other side Vlad has a sound defense and as long as he fights his fight he should keep the jab moving and pick his spots. I do not think he is without caution vs Haye, that would be silly. Haye has confidence and it will take a few rds and a a defensively offensive Vlad should use the jab and the right hand and his hook to bring Haye to the place he wants him. Haye will be looking for the big punch Vlad should box and let the KO come. Vlad by TKO in 10
Which is similar to the expert predictions in the build up to Tyson Holyfield 1. Wlad is the favourite of course, Haye is still largely unknown. Im admittedly rooting for Haye.
The jury is still out on Haye at heavyweight, he has defensive lapses, and carries his left too low, but he has a punchers chance. No one has tried to make Wlad do what he doesn't want to for a very long time . People are saying Haye will fight Wlad as he fought Valuev, in my view this is the wrong tactic ,I think he must let it all go, land somehting big to get Wlad worried . Wlad has the appearance of some one who is gunshy to me, Haye must get his respect early, circle him like Dempsey against Willard ,then leap in and land that right on his chops, easier said than done,I know , but if he stays outside he will give away the momentum to Wlad and the Russian's confidence will soar ,he will peck away behind that jab and gradually erode Haye's resistance . Haye MUST let his hands go early ,in and out like Leonard v Hearns, lateral movement ,keep Wlad reaching for him then move in, throw a bomb ,and get out.In short he must fight the perfect fight to win, odds are he won't, but, if I can get reasonable odds I will put a couple of bob on Haye by stoppage. The vision of Valuev wobbling in the last round of their fight gives me some hope Haye just might duplicate it against Wlad.
How many picked Cassius Clay to beat Sonny Liston? Jim Braddock to beat Max Baer? Buster Douglas to beat Mike Tyson? Evander Holyfield to beat Mike Tyson? Leon Spinks to beat Ali? Mike Spinks to beat Holmes? If boxing writers were infallible they would be making their living betting fights instead of writing about them .
Iggy deserves credit for going the distance with Wlad...awkward, bad fight or no..after all, Iggy and Chagaev are often thought of a very similar fighters, with similar builds, abilities and attributes, but Chagaev got hammered and Ibragimov went the distance..proving he's cannier and tougher than his counterpart IMO.
Hadn't seen that, Wlad comes across as a less inteligent Boris Johnson Interesting fight, Wlad is technically better, better jab, taller/longer but more robotic. Haye is a big threat because he has the speed, angles and power. Both have the power to knock each other out
Chagaev was done by the time Wlad got to him nearly losing to Matt Skeleton in his prior fight. Byrd had no power whatsoever to bother Wlad