Lords of the ring: Famous faces deliver their verdict on Haye v Klitschko

[FrankieBruno]

The biggest names in boxing deliver their verdicts on the heavyweight title showdown in Hamburg between David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko.

FRANK BRUNO
I'm pulling for David and he has a good chance, if the atmosphere of a huge occasion in a big stadium doesn’t get to him. He is going to have to knock him out to win. He’s definitely got the skills to do that. Haye has got the youth, freshness and hunger to beat him.
VERDICT: Haye

CARL FROCH
David by KO, inside six rounds. He’s young, fresh and fast. David is going to be very aggressive and he has already got inside Klitschko’s head. David needs to stick it to him early. The longer the fight goes on, the harder it will get because Klitschko is taller and stronger. David can’t outbox him because he’s tall and rangy.
VERDICT: Haye

RICKY HATTON
Haye can do to Klitschko what I did to Kostya Tszyu in my defining world title fight - break his heart. I think it’s going to be over pretty quick. I think Haye is going to shock everyone. David is like a flyweight in the heavyweight division. He is exciting to watch. Tactics have got to be so important.
VERDICT: Haye


NATHAN CLEVERLY
Haye stops him with his speed and power.
VERDICT: Haye

FRANK MALONEY
I would love Haye to win for British boxing and he has a chance but, if pushed, I have to go with Klitschko — the first real, big, live heavyweight David has faced. If Klitschko makes a mistake David can knock him out but I don’t see Klitschko making a mistake because he is so methodical. David has never been hit by a fully-fledged heavyweight so we don’t know how he’s going to take it.
VERDICT: Klitschko

ANGELO DUNDEE
Haye can win this. He has the speed and heavy hands to shock the big guy.
VERDICT: Haye

AMIR KHAN
David’s too quick. He can knock out the big man early or late.
VERDICT: Haye

FREDDIE ROACH
Haye by KO. Wladimir is a tremendous athlete for a big man but not a natural fighter. David is exciting and speed kills. I trained Wladimir for four fights and he’s a very good boxer and once he gets his jab going he’s difficult to beat. Haye has a great opportunity if he goes out there early and uses his power and tries to take Wladimir’s confidence
away.
VERDICT: Haye

JOHN MURRAY (training in Germany for fight with Kevin Mitchell next Saturday)
Everyone here says the mouthy Englishman will get knocked out but I keep arguing with them that it’s going to be the other way round. David’s got dynamite in his fists.
VERDICT: Haye

MIKE TYSON
Haye shouldn’t last more than two rounds. Klitschko by KO. I like David’s style but Wladimir is too big, too strong and too powerful. I respect Haye as a human being but he hasn’t earned this fight. Klitschko should wipe him out, I just don’t think Haye can keep him off.
VERDICT: Klitschko

BARRY McGUIGAN
It's a big, tough fight but Haye’s quick and powerful enough to pull it off.
VERDICT: Haye

FRANK WARREN
I’m afraid I have to go with Klitschko. Anything can happen with heavyweights and David’s speed gives him a chance but this is the first authentic heavyweight he’s fought and he’s been put down or wobbled by much lesser fighters than Wladimir. I look at the fights against Audley Harrison and Nikolai Valuev and he can’t fight like that against Klitschko.
VERDICT: Klitschko

JIM WATT
Either man could knock the other out but I have to say that Klitschko starts as favourite.
VERDICT: Klitschko

JARVIS ASTAIRE
Warn the British public not to risk their mortgage on Haye. Klitschko is too big, too strong, too experienced at heavyweight.
VERDICT: Klitschko

JOE CALZAGHE
Haye! David is never out of shape and I’ve never seen him better than this. His power looks frightening.
VERDICT: Haye


KEVIN MITCHELL
I fancy Haye big time. All over for Klitschko between rounds six and eight.
VERDICT: Haye

GLENN MCCRORY
Haye for me. He’s too quick for Wladimir.
VERDICT: Haye

TYSON FURY
Easy for Klitschko. He’s dealt with fast, heavy hands before. Wladimir can KO David if he wants, or take a comfortable win on points.
VERDICT: Klitschko

HAYE: 12

KLITSCHKO: 6