By Edward Chaykovsky
WBC super middleweight champion Carl Froch gave his take on the upcoming heavyweight unification between his countryman David Haye and unified champion Wladimir Klitschko, which takes place on July 2 in Hamburg, Germany.
Froch expects Klitschko to use his considerable edge in height and reach. If Klitschko manages to execute this strategy, Froch predicts a very rocky road for Haye. To prevent Klitschko from setting the distance, Froch has advised Haye to attack Klitschko early with fast, rapid power punches.
He gives Haye an excellent shot at knocking Klitschko out in the early rounds, but he doesn't seem as confident with the outcome if Klitschko sets the pace with his usual fighting pattern of keeping his distance and jabbing often to set up other punches.
"I think Klitschko is a tall gentleman and has the height and the reach on David," said Froch on Sky Sports News. "It would be stupid for him not to try and take that advantage from round one. He can either stand on the outside of David - who will be pushing forward trying to hit him with a big shot - and use his long range. Or he might take the center of the ring and try and control it from there.
"If he keeps using his reach to keep David out of range then that could spell trouble for David. David wants to get to him and hit him hard. David has to push to him, he has got to hit him early and I think he will do that. If David catches him early then he will flatten him - it's a long shot but David is an excellent boxer, he can fight and he can box. This is the biggest fight of his career, In David's mind he knows he is in deep water so he needs to be at his best. I know he is mentally tough, physically fit and I am confident he is going to do the job, I really am."
