By Terence Dooley
George Groves and James DeGale found unlikely common ground when speaking to me ahead of their May 21st British super-middleweight title grudge match. Lonsdale belt holder DeGale gives Britain’s WBA heavyweight titlist David Haye a “puncher’s chance” going into a proposed July 2nd challenge against consensus champion Wladimir Klitschko, who is 55-3 (49 KOs) and holds the IBF, WBO and IBO belts.
Groves expanded on this assessment, citing Haye’s power and tactical acumen as vital ingredients of an upset win. “Yeah, if anyone can do it then it is David. He’s done it before when going over to Germany to win the title from Nikolay Valuev [in November 2009],” declared the 12-0 (10) Londoner.
“David’ll go over there and do a job on Wlad. David thrives on that environment and if the tactics go well before the fight Wlad will be too riled up to go in there and do what he wants to do.”
Haye, 25-1 (23 early), has a huge task on his hands when traveling to Hamburg’s Imtech Arena in a bid to put a dent in ‘Dr. Steelhammer’s’ dominance over the division. The younger Klitschko brother has not tasted defeated since 2004 – ironically the same year as Haye’s last reverse – and has improved dramatically since falling in five to Lamon Brewster.
Groves, though, believes that ‘Hayemaker’ has the edge in athleticism, power and mindset over his 35-year-old, 6’ 6½’’ opponent. He predicted, “It will be a tremendous fight. Although Wlad has looked unstoppable of late he’s up against someone fresh in David who is a big challenge – I don’t think Wlad can deal with that. He won’t be able to cope. David will get the stoppage.”
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