IF you were to take as gospel recent polls of various pugilistic experts and visionaries, then you would be excused for asking why David Haye is bothering to pitch up in Hamburg for his July 2 date with WBO and IBF heavyweight king, Wladimir Klitschko. Given that this fight is the most meaningful match-up the sport�s marquee division has seen since Lennox Lewis� unification rematch with Evander Holyfield in 1999, it makes Ring magazine�s recent poll all the more baffling.
Whilst resisting the temptation to belittle the �Bible of Boxing’ it would once again appear that our trans-Atlantic contemporaries are a mite reluctant to acknowledge the growing threat of our prizefighters with only three of the 20 (one of which was BN�s own Tris Dixon) polled predicting a win for the �Hayemaker�. Such polls, whilst intriguing should always be approached with trepidation, lest we forget that James Degale attracted a staggering 29-3 vote of confidence from UK trainers to prevail over George Groves in last month�s Boxing Monthly survey.
However, come fight night in Hamburg, polls will be as meaningful as soap operas are to this writer � an elaborate irrelevance. The fight�s outcome will have been decided long ago, a mantra Muhammad Ali firmly believed in: �The fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses; behind the lines in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.� Preparation will hold the key to heavyweight immortality.
In the corners, Adam Booth will pit his wits against legendary Kronk man, Emanuel Steward. Booth first met Haye in 1996 and has mentored, managed and trained Haye for the past 13 years. Although Steward dwarfs Booth in terms of experience, the London pair seem to share a bond that is both highly unusual and enviable in this the hardest of trades.
They trust each other�s judgment unconditionally and share an inner calm and confidence when faced with adversity. Such judgment was on display when saving Haye from calamity against Carl Thompson in 2004. This trust was again evident with Haye�s inquisitive enquiries as to the exact number of punches thrown following his fourth round knockdown against Jean-Marc Mormeck in 2007. It seems whatever the plan, it is ruthlessly adhered to and results flow seemlessly; the two simply operate on the same frequency.
Of course, Steward ranks alongside the likes of Dundee and Ray Arcel as one of boxing�s great trainers. So good in fact that Lewis poached him from Oliver McCall�s corner following the controversial American�s stunning second round stoppage victory over Lewis. With Steward in tow, Lennox easily avenged his first loss three years later in 1997.
Whilst Steward and Klitschko have been together for over 7 years, it is doubtful that their relationship is akin to Haye�s with Booth, as the latter gave his undivided attention to Haye for a decade before Groves joined Hayemaker Promotions in 2008.
Last month I was fortunate enough to visit Miami and like any boxing enthusiast would, I made a beeline for Angelo Dundee�s famed 5th Street Gym, located on Washington Avenue, deep into the city�s South Beach region. This was the gym of choice for Ali throughout his illustrious career and it provided the base for Haye and Groves in the lead up to their respective blockbuster fights. Although both had recently returned home by the time I visited, I found head trainer and co-owner, Dino Spencer, to be most accommodating. I asked him about Groves� recent win and the intense sparring sessions with Andre Dirrell at the fabled gym.
�I was very impressed with George�s attitude from the get-go. He never took a backward step against Andre and neither held back. He�s fearless in the ring and looked very comfortable operating at this level against a very awkward southpaw.�
I then asked how Haye�s preparation had been going. �David looks in great shape. This was his second stint in Miami this year and he looked near fight weight in March. Adam arrived in early April and he�s had some quality sparring on a daily basis. He�s clearly a world-class athlete but he�s also a very clever fighter, and he has phenomenal hand speed for a heavyweight. I think his match-up against Wladimir is a real pick �em fight.�
Haye will no doubt attract lots of picks despite his current underdog status, a tag that whilst unfamiliar, is unlikely to phase him. Against Mormeck, a flood of late money meant the Hayemaker entered the Parisian cauldron a fractional 4/5 favourite. Against Nicolay Valuev in 2009, Haye drifted out to the same price, with punters lumping on the Russian giant, disbelieving the size difference between the two foes.
Here, factoring in virtual home-field advantage, the younger Klitschko predictably starts a warm favourite, but the 8/5 price offered on the exchanges and 6/4 widely available on the high street, is likely to prove too tempting for patriotic punters come fight night. One thing is for sure, should Haye triumph, respect will be replaced by unadulterated admiration on both sides of the pond.
