Wladimir Klitschko vs. David Haye: Official B/R Predictions

Alright fight fans, we have finally arrived at the biggest super mega fight possible, outside of course the forever teasing Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather fight, and that is none other than the heavyweight championship title unification super mega fight of Wladimir Klitschko vs David Haye.

To get everyone up to speed, please read the intro to this previous article, where we summarized what has been going on in the current state of the heavyweight division with both of these heavyweight champions Klitschko and Haye.

A couple of key note things about this fight. It is the biggest money making fight outside of again Pacquiao-Mayweather, which of course, historically and generally speaking, the heavyweight championship fights were often the highest grossing fights.

Ironically, it is taking place Fourth of July weekend which is a huge major holiday in the United States, and often in the past, a time where the biggest fights in boxing would take place. These days, more so in MMA, the UFC tends to put its biggest fights on Fourth of July weekend than in boxing, which now usually holds its biggest fights during the Mexican holidays of independence.

But even more so ironically is the fact that both of these champions are not American. Haye being from the UK, and Klitschko, being of Ukrainian decent, has been adopted by Germany where he is bigger than David Hasselhoff and this fight is taking place in Germany.

For those of you who have never seen a big fight in Germany, it is literally a rock concert taken to the next level, with a multi-million dollar budget with state of the art special effects, sound, production and quality.

Klitschko has been known to walk into the ring with a mini-movie intro having classic footage of the greatest heavyweight champions such as Ali train and talk side by side with him. He has also been known to have some of the most famous heavyweight champions such as Foreman, Fraizer, and Tyson all appear as cameos wishing him luck on the huge jumbotron screens as he is walking to the ring.

Even the biggest boxing hater or even Klitschko hater find themselves pumped up after seeing such an amazing ring entrance done only by the Klitschko brothers.

One more key note about this fight is Haye is definitely at the disadvantage of giving away the full hometown edge to Wladimir, who is again one of the biggest current icons in Germany. So the crowd, the judges, even the referee may all be influenced and swayed to Klitschko if anything.

Another disadvantage is Haye has made it publicly clear that he intends to retire by October 2011, which is his 31st birthday. Many politics/business of the sport of boxing often tend to frown upon a fighter who publicly announces their retirement before a scheduled fight, so that may also be another true disadvantage should this fight go to the score cards.

So with all of that out of the way, let's get to the boxing experts of the Bleacher Report and hear what they have to say about who wins this fight, and we will see who will win the prizes this time around.

KING J, Bleacher Report Boxing Community Leader/Featured Columnist

The logical easy prediction is Wladimir taking this fight; however, I am not feeling logical or easy right now. I have a gut feeling that if Haye is able to back up even 40 percent of the hype that he is claiming he will do in that ring, then he will pull the win. We have never seen Wladimir behave like this before where he appears genuinely pissed off and uncomfortable even being in the same room with Haye. All of these psychological warfare games that Haye is successfully utilizing against Wladimir will enable him to have opportunities to capitalize on.

Yes, Klitschko is bigger, stronger and more experienced, but Haye has the superior speed and also one punch knock out power and again, most importantly, the mental edge in this fight. Haye will need to knock out Wladimir, for winning a decision against him in Germany will be like trying to win a basketball game against the Harlem Globetrotters.

Do not get me wrong, I personally love both Klitschko brothers, more so Vitali, for being great ambassadors of the sport with their humanitarian causes, their advanced PhD degrees, speaking six different languages fluently and having high knock out percentages in their fights.

I even use the Klitschkos as an ice breaker when I am hollering at hot German or Ukrainian girls, literally. But after July 2, it looks like I'll be hollering at some hot British girls using the newly unified heavyweight champion David Haye as the ice breaker.

Jess Mathew Beltran

Wladimir seems to have the upper hand on this fight. He is three inches taller and possesses the strongest right cross in boxing. However, this fight would be one of the most competitive one for the later part of his career. David Haye is five years younger and a very determined fighter. Russ Puritty, Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster all have a common denominator. They all scored a knockout win against Klitschko, which means anything is still possible.

That’s why I like heavyweight boxing, because one punch can really make a difference. That’s all David Haye needs…But being the smaller guy who basically fought in the cruiser weight division, it’s just hard to bet on, especially if he fights a boxer with a steel hammer on his hands.

Klitschko Third-Round KO

Martin Salt

I reckon that Haye will win this one on a close split points decision.

If you can, watch the George Groves vs James DeGale fight if you have not already seen it. It will probably give you some indication of how I think Haye will fight. Check out this clip from our boxing show in the UK—watch the clip from three minutes and it explains what Adam Booth’s strategy was for the Groves fight. I think it will be very similar for Haye although Klitschko is not as fast.

Justin Tate, Featured Columnist

If David Haye can get off early and avoid getting hit, then I believe he knocks out Klitschko in Round 7.

Jo-Ryan Salazar, Featured Columnist

Klitschko in three.

Briggs Seekins

I’ve got Wladi winning by KO in.I think seven. Haye is explosive, but Klitschko has a distinct size advantage and is the far superior technician. I think he uses the jab and lateral movement to keep Haye outside where he will break him down.

Wladi has the suspect chin, and Haye’s speed gives him the old puncher’s chance, but I still have to go with Klitschko in seven.

James Foley

Well, this is a tough one to call…wait, No it’s not. I like Klitschko by TKO in the late rounds, I think the post-Hayden Panettiere Klitschko will be a new man, and after taking Haye’s spirit early in the fight by suppressing his attacks with a methodical jab and technical superiority, He will be aggressive late and connect with some big rights that will badly damage the game Haye. Haye will keep coming but eventually the corner and ref will stop what should be a one-sided affair.

Klitschko TKO 11

Harry Rowland

Klitschko TKO 11

Blake Dreisbach, Featured Columnist

Haye picked the right Klitschko to fight because there’s no way he can beat Vitali. He has a way better chance with Wladimir, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see either fighter get dropped more than once in this bout. A lot of people are expecting a knockout, but if it’s not going to happen, it’s going to be Klitschko winning the fight. I think Wladimir cautiously controls Haye with the jab and the right hand to win a wide unanimous decision over 12 rounds.

Scores (118-110 Klitschko, 117-111 Klitschko and 117-111 Klitschko.)

Leo Reyes, Featured Columnist

Klitschko is expected to use his advantage in reach and throw more jabs to neutralize Haye in the early rounds and go for the kill in the later rounds. Haye, on the other hand, will most likely go for an early knockout, but if he is not successful in his KO attempt and the fight drags on till the last round, Klitschko will finish him before the end of the round.

Klitschko via KO in 12th.

Bill Jackson, Featured Columnist

Wladimir will keep this fight simple, sticking to the formula that has worked against every other opponent in recent years. He will cautiously use his jab for the first two rounds without throwing a single right hand. Starting in the third, he will start sneaking in some right hands against the shorter Haye. Klitschko uses his height too well for Haye. Late in the fight, Haye either quits on his stool or the ref calls off the fight. Easy win for Klitschko.

Klitschko TKO Round 9

Stewart Flaherty, Featured Columnist

Haye to win by Round 6 stoppage.  Klitschko had an unspectacular early career and was knocked out by many worse fighters than Haye, something many people try to delete from history.  Manny Steward has implemented a defensive style in the big Ukrainian, but the emotion of hating Haye will open this fight up.  Expect both men to go down and get up before Klitschko is KO'd in the sixth

Clayton Holloway

I'm on the fence with this fight. Countless hours of sleep lost because I couldn't come up with a prediction for this fight (Not really, but initially, I couldn't figure out a winner.).

I think it’ll be very close early on. But when it’s all said and done… Klitschko wins. He wins because his jab and power become too overwhelming for Haye. He wins by a late-round stoppage or UD.

Richard Everett

I see two scenarios playing out. Owing to Wladimir’s notoriously cautious approach, which is most evident in the early rounds, Haye bypasses the jab and lack of offensive deterrent to KO Wlad inside five rounds.

OR Wlad survives the first half of the fight and begins to establish a consistent jab. The increased success rate would inspire confidence, and as a result, he would throw more ambitious right crosses—either winning by KO rounds 10-12 or close UD.

But, I am leaning to the first. Wladimir has never experienced the combination of foot speed, hand speed and power that Haye possesses. Haye will be aggressive in bursts the first four or five rounds and will confuse Wlad. I see Haye by KO somewhere between Rounds 2-5, in doing so, completely undermining the Klitshcko "legacy."

Tyler Curtis, Featured Columnist/KissingTheCanvas.com founder

I think Klitschko is just to big for Haye. Haye has the speed and power to give Klitschko problems early in the fight, but after four rounds, he is dead in the water.

Klitschko is going to hit him like he has never been hit before and I see him going into a shell like all Klitschko victims. No shame in that, as one Klitschko jab would knock me out.

I think Klitschko gets him by TKO-11 on a corner/ref stoppage.

Dave Carlson, Featured Columnist/KissingTheCanvas.com contributor

The most intriguing heavyweight fight in over five years, and this isn't an easy prediction to make. Haye has youth, power and undeniable world-class talent, but we still haven't seen much of him at heavyweight. Ignore Haye's last two fights against John "Yesterday's News" Ruiz and Audley "The One Hit Wonder" Harrison.

The only relevant indicator is Haye's fight with Nikolay Valuev. Valuev is larger and has a better chin than Wladimir Klitschko, but Klitschko has better speed, power and overall ability. Haye's win over Valuev was narrow and questionable, but was legitimized when Haye staggered Valuev in the 12th round. But Valuev is clearly past his prime, and Haye didn't look much better than 46-year-old Evander Holyfield did against Valuev a year earlier.

So Haye still has a lot of question marks. Klitschko only has one: his chin. If Ross Puritty and Corrie Sanders can knock out Wlad, then so too can a powerful hitter like Haye. The Brit has a puncher's chance, especially early in the fight. The longer it goes, the more likely we'll see the usual Klitschko narrative: Wladimir's power, reach, jab and defensive mastery will wear down his opponent and have Klitschko in control by fight's end.

If Haye is less durable than expected, or if he gets cocky with his defense—leaving his hands down and not guarding himself against Wlad's jab and right cross—then a late-round knockout is a clear possibility. However, I think a decision victory is the most likely scenario. Whatever happens, this is a significant moment for boxing, and a huge step forward for the heavyweight division.

Prediction: Klitschko unanimous decision over Haye, with Wlad winning by a comfortable margin (four rounds or more) on at least two of the scorecards.

Jonathan Shrager

I’m an Englishman, so I accept that my opinion is slightly partial for this one, but I genuinely believe David will pull off the upset here, and this is the best thing that could happen to the Heavyweight division, as it will perfectly set up a swansong bout for David against Vitali, and then Mr.Haye can retire with a robust resume, bequeathing a respectable legacy, and he will be branded the “Klitschko Killer”.

So if David wins, we will likely get to witness him fight the veteran Klitschko, who many believe poses the greater threat to Haye, and with the added incentive for Klitschko Senior of wanting to exact revenge on behalf of his younger brother.

Some may find David brash and outspoken, but then again, what was the greatest of all time, Muhammad Ali? And so far, he has proven himself capable of backing up the talk, albeit against primarily questionable adversaries.

I’m inclined to agree with David’s assertion that Wladimir has never fought anybody with his athleticism, speed and explosiveness. Perusing “Dr.Steelhammer’s” CV, he hasn’t encountered a challenge of this calibre for a long time. It’s true that owing to a lack of real contenders in the HW division that Wlad has fought opponents that haven’t really been worthy of the shot. It doesn’t help that the majority of the opponents do not even appear to enter the ring in-shape.

Furthermore, if David has actually managed to unnerve the customarily stolid Goliath, there is a chance that Wlad will fight less methodically and adopt a more offensive approach instead of hiding his suspect chin behind the robotic left jab. For David, it’ll be intriguing to discover whether he will box in-close or if he will operate from the outside. Both options entail risks, but I have a feeling that David won’t turn up to the biggest fight of his life without giving it a proper go, and at some stage he will land clean on Wladimir. And I think he will be too quick and elusive to be caught by the towering Ukrainian.

I predict Haye will win via KO within the first six rounds, or he will win via decision.

P.S. It’s great to see the American fight fans with a renewed interest in the HW division.

Alright fight fans, so there you have it; the books are now closed on our predictions. We shall see who are the real boxing experts and who should have quit on their stool before offering their so-called boxing knowledge to the world.

As true fight fans, I am sure we all just want to see a good fight. Shoot; we deserve a great fight after being subjected to such a horrendous era of overweight, lazy chumps trying to be contenders.

Our next collaboration prediction piece will be on the super mega welterweight championship fight of the biggest American superstar name in the sport, Floyd Mayweather, who is challenging Victor Ortiz on September 17. We will also have prizes on the line as well for that one.

Have a wonder Fourth of July weekend to all my fellow fight fans out there!

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