Vitali vs Haye

[Weltschmerz]

If the fight materializes this year, who will be the winner in the ring?

Most agree Vitali has slowed down a bit.
Haye is a fighter who should be in his absolute prime as a HW, yet he is too inactive.

Who wins?
Vitali's tough and hardened experience combined with his size advantage will wear Haye down, or Haye's speed and power will overwhelm the Ukrainian veteran?

I personally think it's a very intriguing match up at this point in time, but I would still say Vitali is too much for Haye. Let me know what you guys think.

[happyman]

vitali easy win

[damuttz112]

I posted this awhile back:

"David Haye is one of the most exciting fighters in boxing largely because of his athletic prowess. He possesses Middleweight skills for a Heavyweight. His fluid upper body and head movement is extremely rare for a big man."

"Vitali doesn't have the ability to move in and out as quickly as Wladimir and he's been countered effectively in the past as a result."

"We've all seen that Vitali is very intelligent when fighting smaller, more aggressive fighters, as was evidenced during his brilliant performances against Sam Peter and Chris Arreola. But, we've seen the current WBC Champ get into trouble when he over commits against a fluid fighter who can slip and counter effectively."

"When Vitali fought Corrie Sanders back in 2004 for the WBC Heavyweight title, the South African was able to bait him in and hurt Klitschko with a sharp left hand counter against the ropes. Sanders stunned Vitali in the first round and legitimately had his man hurt in the final moments of the opening stanza. Sanders didn't have the kind of conditioning to capitalize on his opportunities, but David Haye will. I see Haye implementing a very similar fight plan should he meet Vitali Klitschko in the near future."

cont.

Hayes KO Power (e.g Tomasz Bonin):


An example of Haye's ability to put together combinations and finish his opponent.

"David Haye has the same ability to slip and counter effectively. Like Sanders, Haye doesn't telegraph his punches and has the ability to explode with short, compact shots when an opponent misses and leaves himself out of position. Haye should have the same kind of success against Vitali, especially if he can establish his left hand to the body and to the head early in the fight."

Haye's ability to punch on the Back-foot (e.g Ruiz Fight):


Once again he demonstrates his ability to punch whilst moving backward.

"All of Haye's opponents know that he has a lethal right hand counter. Against a very intelligent fight like Vitali Klitschko, Haye absolutely must give him something else to focus on during the fight. He has to establish his left hand to the body and head in the form of a jab or hook. Even if he isn't successful in landing the left hand, he has to give Vitali something else to think about. This is where Haye will be more successful than Corrie Sanders. Corrie didn't have anything else in his arsenal that could hurt Vitali. Once Vitali figured out the angle and distance needed to stay away from that deadly left hand of Sanders, the fight was over. There was nothing more that Sanders could do."

"Haye can hurt any opponent with either hand and at various angles in the ring. He uses his fluid lateral movement to set traps for his opponents effectively. Because Vitali has the defensive ability to lean away from shots efficiently, Haye can't attack him and expect to hit him cleanly on the chin."

[Earl-Hickey]

Vitali decision, but anyone saying it's "easy" is just an ignorant hater.

Vitali was never as fast footed as Wladamir even in his prime, and he's lost more than a step. His reflexes have dimmed and his power has faded.

Vitali is still a very good fighter, especially when faced with an opponent who is going to stand in front of him, where he can use that 250lb, 6'7" frame to jab and club them into submission over several rounds

But he's almost approaching Valuev levels of slow now, and will have a hard time landing anything of note on a highly mobile, fast fighter like Haye, especially considering the faster brother, with higher volume and harder punch never landed anything that really bothered Haye, and the best he could do was nullify him and win points from the jab.

I expect haye to dance around, land a few counters, but take a few too many jabs to win most rounds.

[Simurgh]

I see Vitali winning UD but it won't be in impressive style so he won't get any credit.
I see this fight similar to Valuev fight with difference Vitali will land more than Valuev - enough for the win in relatively boring fight.

[Earl-Hickey]

I see Vitali winning UD but it won't be in impressive style so he won't get any credit.
I see this fight similar to Valuev fight with difference Vitali will land more than Valuev - enough for the win in relatively boring fight.

This.

It will basically look like the Valuev fight mixed with the Wlad fight

[Weebler I]

I think Haye beats this version of Vitali.

Maybe if VK can replicate his brother's discipline staying behind the jab he could win but somewhere along the line I think Haye catches him big and stops him.

[Weltschmerz]

What I'm hoping is it would be an all out war as the fight progresses. Question is whether Haye is willing to risk more than the Wlad fight; then it could get real fun.

[Weebler I]

What I'm hoping is it would be an all out war as the fight progresses. Question is whether Haye is willing to risk more than the Wlad fight; then it could get real fun.

I think Haye would avoid VK as best he could for the first half of the fight before attempting to take out a tired Vitali down the stretch.

I think in a war you'd have to say Haye has the handspeed and power advantage, Vitali the better chin. It would be interesting to say the least.

As a boxing fan I do hope the fight happens but I would respect Vitali's decision should he choose to turn it down given where he's at in his career.

[damuttz112]

Haye's needs to use his jab, only when he used it he was able to make significant contact. (I know bad analogy) But Lennox used his Jab we'll to bust Vitali on the inside.