By Edward Chaykovsky
Former two division world champion David Haye is backing IBF heavyweight king Anthony Joshua to put away Wladimir Klitschko, the former division king, on April 29th at Wembley.
Haye and Klitschko were both ringside on Saturday night when Joshua retained his world title for the second time with a third round demolition of Eric Molina.
By the time they fight, Klitschko will be 41-years-old - and he's been inactive since losing a twelve round unanimous decision, and his world titles, to Tyson Fury in November 2015. Two planned rematch dates fell through when Fury withdrew - and he vacated all the titles after a mental breakdown.
The vacant WBA and IBO world titles will also be on the line in the contest.
Haye, who lost a twelve round unanimous decision to Klitschko in 2011, wonders if the same Klitschko that was present against Fury will show up against Joshua.
Between his age, poor form in his last contest and the biggest stint of inactivity in his entire career - Haye says Joshua is getting his hands on Klitschko at the best time possible.
"The only thing I worry about is the lack of punch volume from Wladimir Klitschko in his last fight," Haye told Sky Sports Box Office. "When he needed to let his hands go [against Fury], he put his foot down and there was no gas in the tank. I'm not sure if he still has it?
"I think this is the perfect fight for Anthony Joshua. I think this is the perfect time for him to beat Wladimir Klitschko, who still is a massive name in the division. But I believe Joshua is too young, too fresh, and he's on too much good form."
"You can only go by current form and in the last fight he had against Tyson Fury, he refused to let his hands go. He couldn't pull the trigger," said the former WBA heavyweight champion. By the time the fight happens, he will be 41 years of age, and he will have been pretty much 18 months out of the ring. It's terrible preparation to fight someone so young and someone who has been fighting so regularly."
Haye himself wants get a piece of Joshua. The Hayemaker will first get in the ring on March 4th against Joshua's Matchroom stablemate Tony Bellew, who moves up from cruiserweight.
