Wladimir Klitschko and Why He Is Faster Than David Haye

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. This simple fact of geometry is why Waldimir Klitschko will consistently beat David Haye to the punch. Hand speed and reaction time are not the most important factors in how quickly a punch lands.

Haye’s main issue in the upcoming July 2^nd bout can be found in his nickname, Haymaker. Haye often arcs his punches to get around the guard of slower fighters. He also uses this style to gain power by throwing his weight into these shots.

Klitschko, conversely, throws extremely straight punches. He, as trainers like to say, shortens up his punches in that they travel a short distance due to having no arc. Even with his large size Klitschko could shadow box down a hallway and never touch the walls with his elbows.

The fact that Klitschko is so tall combined with his short punches makes him incredibly difficult to get inside on. There is no gap that occurs during his combinations wherein a smaller man can sneak in. The distance someone would have to travel to go around the punches would be too great considering Klitschko’s reach and would probably be for not because of Klitschko’s above average for his size footwork.

The only option available to get past Klitschko’s long reach is to fight extremely low, with lots of head movement similar to Joe Frazier’s style. However, this is a style that Haye has never used and would involve too drastic a change. Few boxers can completely change their style to such a degree for one night.

Boxing has seen this before where a speedy fighter who loops his punches fights a slower man with straight punches. Arguably the most famous knockout ever occurred because of this style clash when the slower Rocky Marciano threw a punch simultaneously with the very quick Joe Walcott. Marciano’s punch, despite moving slower, got to Walcott first due to simple geometry and Walcott was immediately separated from his senses.

And this occurred with Marciano not enjoying the size and experience advantages that Klitschko will have over Haye.

To picture the math involved imagine running from one end of a foot ball field to the other in straight line. That is a Klitschko punch. Now imagine running from one corner to the opposite side of the field at the fifty yard line and then to the opposite corner of the football field. That is the trajectory of a punch from Haye.

Haye does have speed mixed with power and Klitschko does not have the best chin amongst other longer reigning champions but when the two meet in the ring none of that will matter. The only thing that will matter will be the degrees of angles and mathematics. Klitschko’s punches may be slower but they will arrive at the target first at which point the only math that will be necessary is the ability to count to 10.