Haye is not Klitschko’s strongest foe
Many in the boxing world are looking forward to the Klitschko/Haye fight on July 2. A fight over two years in the making. Boxing pundits have said that only the Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson fight in 2002 is bigger. Klitschko is the long-reigning champion within boxing’s glamor (though fading) division facing a moment of truth against a younger opponent in his prime. But the latter is to be taken with a grain of salt.
Klitschko’s career has seen this before and he has overcome. Klitschko has been criticized for being a boring fighter facing less than stellar opponents. It was in 2005 in Atlantic City, N.J. When the then 29-year-old Wladimir faced an undefeated power puncher named Samuel Peter. Peter punished Klitschko throughout the fight sending him to the canvas three times. But Klitschko was not to be broken. It wasn’t a pretty fight but somehow Klitschko reached down deep inside and pulled out a unanimous decision. He later had a rematch with Peter and won by a 10th round KO. Since then Klitschko has squashed the negative talk by turning in a 13 fight winning streak including nine title defenses. He has remained rock solid and unflinching. It was that fight where he overcame the two greatest adversaries of his life: fear and doubt.
Klitschko’s style changed as well. After that fight his trainer, Manny Steward, began working to turn him into a mighty defensive machine. He focused on developing Klitschko’s jab and thus not get hit as much as he did in his earlier career. Unfortunately Klitschko’s rise within the heavyweight division has coincided with its demise within the sport. Regardless one has to acknowledge that Klitschko’s becoming a self-made success falls squarely in line with the American Dream. The “bully” Haye is nothing compared to the bully we have within us; the one who cries out for us to quit. Klitschko beat that bully and Haye will have his hands full on July 2. Watch Klitschko vs Haye live online this Saturday and convince yourself!