Austin and Thomson actually had longer reach than Klitschko, didnt do them any good. Having a 3 inch shorter reach and being 4 inches shorter is a disadvantage for him.
There seems a big height, weight and stature disparity, but most fighters have a 'disadvantage' in the aforementioned against either Klitschko.
Think the height is irrelevant. Haye doesn't fight tall at all. He gives away height to most of his opponents, because he fights from a crouch.
in haye's favour for this fight is that he's going to have a go early. WK had some serious changes to way he fought after sanders destroyed him and if i were haye i'd be looking to test him early. WK is a much more cautious fighter since that sanders fight and he's done bloody well to overcome the mental hardships of getting sparked that badly.
the height's relevant because both klitschko's use their jab effectively to back up their height - and they are both very strong men. let's hope haye's sstrategy for beating one of the brothers is better than danny williams was....
Haye generates a tremendous amount of torque when he punches, I woudl say hes the best power puncher since Naseem Hamed. True punchers are a dying breed, Haye is Julian Jackson,Hamed, Hearns calibre puncher... he also has the HEarns Jackson, calibre chin
A reach still helps though, plus don't forget the height and weight advantage too. Haye does have a puncher's chance though so it'll be an interesting fight.