The compelling HBO Face-Off of Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye was shown today, you can sense the animosity both fighters feel against each other. Wladimir calls Haye a wannabe to his face, a chicken running around and that he better shut up.
While Haye was saying “He’s clearly a d*ckhead. He doesn’t have a f****ng clue what he’s talking about. Just jabbering on about absolutely nothing."
This bad blood is just magic between these two heavyweight champions. Wladimir looks rather intimidating in this face off and his English is now near perfect with almost no accent or stumbles at all.
This is indeed the most significant and meaningful heavyweight title unification bout we have had in such a long time and any true fight fan should be eagerly awaiting their July 2 super mega fight.
Moderated by Max Kellerman, "Face-Off" is a roundtable-style interview session. The fighters answer Kellerman's questions face-to-face and can deliver a message to each other as well as their fans.
David Haye has called Wladimir Klitschko a “coward” for avoiding a showdown for the WBA Champion and opting to fight Dereck Chrisora instead. All plans were set in stone after Haye agreed to all of Klitschko’s crazy demands.
David Haye still wanted to fight the Ukrainian at all costs and was hoping to be given the opportunity to unify the Heavyweight division should the fight be agreed. Yet now Wladimir has decided to face Chrisora instead for the IBF and WBO which Klitschko currently holds.
Haye said in a statement: "We agreed to a date of July 2 at a venue in Germany with both Sky Sports and RTL and everybody appeared happy with the deal.
"We made a few concessions to remove past stumbling blocks and were happy to do so, as it finally looked like the fight would get made.
"Even through negotiations, though, it was clear Wladimir was looking for the coward's way out. He would often come up with new obstacles and problems to overcome, and I never once sensed he fancied it.
"He refused to come to England, wanted to pick his own gloves, enter the ring second, box out of the red corner and demanded a German doctor.
"He also wanted his name to feature first on any promotional material ahead of the event. We bowed to each and every one of his demands. I didn't want to potentially jeopardise anything this time around."
"Once I retire, people will always ask him 'why did you not fight David Haye?' and he will have to live with that. If it does not happen now, it never will.
"Hopefully he is getting some serious stick, will read what the world is saying about him and think 'okay maybe I will just cancel this fight and do the fight everyone wants to see'.
"It is pretty sad but shows the mindset of Wladimir Klitschko and why he will go down in history as a heavyweight who just fought the worst possible people out there."
David Haye has now set his sights on facing mandatory challenger Ruslan Chagaev. With Klitschko now agreeing to re-arrange his fight with England's Dereck Chisora for April 30, WBA heavyweight champion Haye must now make the third defence of his title against the German-based Uzbek Chagaev.
Haye believes IBF AND WBO Champ is running scared and that Klitschko really didn't want the fight.
Haye said; "Fight fans just want to see the best against the best - if only it was that simple," Haye said.
"Very rarely in boxing do you get a situation where you have all the pieces of the puzzle, all the politics have been smoothed over?
"Then all of sudden he announces he is fighting Chisora, knowing I have to then fight Chagaev.
"To then fight me after is impossible - it is a shame he has now shown his true colours.
"What is wrong with now? Nothing. It does not make sense, especially after all the public campaign to get me in the ring. This would be a once in a life-time fight.
David Haye’s manager Adam Booth has today confirmed it is now up to the Wladimir Klitschko camp to agree to their latest offer. Previously the negotiations had hit a stumbling block after the WBA champ wanted more than 50% knowing that he would bring more of audience than Klitchsko.
However, now all the previous disagreements have been ironed out, Adam Booth and David Haye were happy to offer Klitschko a 50-50 split.
This was a deal that the Ukrainian had wanted from day one, Wlad had set a deadline of January 4th to agree to fight and now it’s all up to the WBO and IBF Champ to accept.
"We are now perfectly positioned to get together and make this fight with Wladimir Klitschko," said Booth.
"We have sorted out all the old problems and disagreements and are ready to sign the deal both (Klitschko's manager) Bernd Boente and I discussed on Sky Sports' Ringside show in November.
Speaking on UK television about the money that the Haye camp generates, he added; "Despite the fact we know we bring more UK television money to the table, David and I are happy to split the entire pot 50:50 and grant Wladimir the deal he has wanted since day one.
"We have offered them 50:50 on everything - just as they requested - and now see no reason why this tremendous fight can't happen. The path is clear."
David Haye said that he sees no reason why Klitschko should not agree to a unification fight in 2011. "We have now ticked every box they have asked us to tick and I just hope Wladimir is as eager to fight as he tells everyone he is," said Haye.
"We have removed every possible excuse and have shown we are serious about making this fight become a reality. I'll smoke him out if I have to. I only pray Wladimir is as serious as we are, because this fight needs to happen for the good of the sport."
Vitali Klitschko has today said on BBC Radio 5 Live in the UK that he wants to fight David Haye in the Spring 2011.
Hhe has insisted that Haye should stop talking and sign up to the fight. Klitschko, who currently hold the WBC title is willing to fight in the US, UK or Germany,
"Stop talking. I'm ready to sign any time, let's make the fight in springtime." said Klitschko with no obvious readiness to give Haye some sort of period of grace after his third round destruction of Audley Harrison over the weekend.
He added, "No excuses any more, he talks too much, he's a great talker, but the question is, is he a good fighter or not?
"He's world champion by talking. Let's fight. Let's go."
Vitali Klitschko says he would be prepared to offer David Haye a 50-50 deal.
"Let's discuss where we would fight. Let's fight in the United States. I listened to a great proposal for Madison Square Garden. I'm ready to fight in the US, Germany or Great Britain," Vitali Klitschko added.
"Let's make a contract Straightaway. We are ready to sign the contract - I want to fight David Haye."
The words nest and egg spring immediately to mind. Although perhaps Klitschko is without need of any further monies for a pension plan, he recently announced that he intends to retire from professional heavyweight boxing at the end of 2010. He must have had a change of heart.
Audley Harrison has apologised for his performance against WBA Heavyweight champion David Haye.
Harrison was knocked out by David Haye in the third round at the M.E.N Arena on Saturday night. Harrison only hit David Haye once throughout the two and a half rounds of boxing and many fans are suggesting that they feel short changed with Harrison's performance and feel he just wanted a pay-day rather than fighting for the title.
Audley Harrison has today released a statement. He said, "To my family, my team and the fans who got behind me on this journey to overthrow David Haye and become heavyweight champion, I'm sorry I was unable to walk through the door and fulfil my destiny."
"I can promise I cut no corners in training and did all I could do in getting myself ready both physically and mentally for Saturday's fight.
"Ultimately, I didn't get going and my game plan to take over the fight in the later rounds was extinguished by the power and speed of David Haye who caught me clean around my guard.
"If I wanted an easy way out, I would have stayed down from the knockdown, but I rose and the referee's intervention saved me from a potentially bad knockout as David is a good finisher, but I would have gladly left the ring on a stretcher as I wanted to work my way through it.
"I make no excuses and I'm not sure where I go from here in boxing, but I'll lick my wounds, take some time out with my family and see what I want to do."
David Haye insists he is ready to go to war with one-time friend and now fierce rival Audley Harrison, as fight night approaches Haye is gathering momentum knowing that the whole British sporting nation will be watching and David will want to show what he can do. On the other hand he feels due to the magnitude of the fight, Harrison will fall short on the night.
David Haye flew into Manchester arriving by helicopter on Tuesday ahead of the fight on Saturday 13th November and with millions watching the fight live on Sky Box Office Pay-Per-View from 9pm, Haye is determined to win by knockout.
"I think this has far surpassed the hype and anticipation for the Value fight, for the simple fact that although Nikolai Valuev was a seven-foot beast. no-one really new his story, no-one really knew who he was," he told Sky Sports News.
"This time I'm fighting Audley Harrison and for the last 10 years, Audley has been banging on and banging on about he's going to be heavyweight champion of the world and this is it. This is his chance.
Former undisputed Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis has warned current champion David Haye not to underestimate Audley Harrison when they face each other at the MEN Arena this Saturday.
Lewis has suggested that Audley has more than enough in his locker to knock out David Haye and has warned against complacency. Lennox Lewis knows only too well what a shock punch can do to you when it lands, having lost to American Oliver McCall at Wembley, going down to a sucker punch.
Although Haye is a favourite, David must not underestimate Audley.
"Audley realises this time is now or never," he said. "He sounds very confident.
"Audley's definitely got the power to stun the world and upset everybody's thinking. It's another great fight for Britain
"It will be a good fight. I think David Haye is a better boxer. He can get off his combinations quicker. But Audley is a consummate pro. He is an Olympic champion and that is a great pedigree."
Lewis doesn't subscribe to the view that Harrison lacks heart.
He said: "OK, there have been a couple of stumbling blocks. But he is still here. That shows he has the desire to succeed."
In just under two weeks, David Haye faces Audley Harrison. This fight has been billed as the greatest all British title fight for two decades. David Haye's WBA title fight against Audley Harrison squares off at the MEN Arena in Manchester on 13th November from 9pm.
The two fighters were once good friends, but that turned sour after Audley accused Haye of not repaying the favour of having Harrison on his undercards, which Audley claims he did when Haye was an up and coming boxer. Since then Haye and Harrison have traded copious verbal abuse at each other when given the opportunity.
Haye is the favourite considering his path to this fight: in his last three bouts the WBA champ has beaten the likes of Monte Barrett, Nikolai Valuev and John Ruiz. Whereas most people see that Audley struggled in his last fight against Michael Sprott, which went to the last round until Audley found his bomb of a punch which knocked Sprott out.
"I am a man on a mission. It has taken me longer than I planned for but people have got to realise that all great achievements take time," said Harrison.
"It has taken me time to learn my craft. At 39 years of age I am ready."
"It took me four years to win the Olympics and when I turned professional I said I would be a world champion before I retire."
"He is a guy I groomed," added Harrison. "I have tasted his punches and power and he never hurt me in a training session."
"This is my destiny - on 13 November Audley Harrison will be champion of the world and of that there is no doubt. "If David Haye thinks I've taken this fight strictly for a payday, he is in for a rude awakening."
"David Haye will be in the fight of his life. Every second, ever minute, every round I will be in his face."
"He will have to break my spirit and break my heart. Trust me. It is my destiny to be a world champion."
While the WBA champion added, "The fight will be a public execution," added Haye. "His resume is not as good as that of the last five people I have fought."
"Everybody feels passionately that they want me to finally close the curtain on the joke that is the Audley Harrison show."
"Audley has known me for years, he knows how devastating I am in the ring. He knows it first hand from sparring sessions. I'm no joke."
"I'm the most devastating fighter on the planet. This is the time your career gets well and truly finished."
Boxing pundit Steve Bunce has given his view on the outcome, saying, "This fight has happened because the Klitschko brothers, who hold the other versions of the world title, demanded too much of David and offered too little.
"So David did the sensible thing - he's a businessman after all and he can't fight in deficit. He found a fight that was going to provide him with a major platform and a lot of money. It's also happening because David says Audley doesn't deserve this fight but he says the public have demanded it.
"There are a few hundred people inside boxing circles who are saying this fight is terrible. Garbage. There have been fights like this since boxing started. This fits in with tradition. This is a popular fight. It will sell out. It will break records on Sky Box Office and it will break records on BBC Radio 5 live on the night."
From what the two boxers are saying - if their words are anything to go by - this will be a grudge match to remember.
David Haye says he will end Audley Harrison's "crappy career"
Audley Harrison explains why he'll beat David Haye
Audley Harrison has reportedly agreed to a one million pound fight against David Haye for the WBA Heavyweight Championship on Saturday 13th November, this fight will take place at Manchester Evening News arena and will be carried on Sky's pay-per-view service. This fight is all but done and should there be no hiccups, this bout could be a signed deal very soon.
According to British promoter Frank Warren, a press conference has been arranged for early September, to announce that the fight will be confirmed for 13th November in Manchester and Frank Warren added, "Haye has sworn blind recently that he would not fight Audley Harrison. But it looks like he has changed his mind.
"The truth is on his past performances, Harrison does not really deserve a shot. Harrison got into this position courtesy of a lucky KO punch against Michael Sprott when he won the European title. Way down on the judges' scorecards, Harrison pulled out a winning hook in the dying seconds of the fight.
"That should serve as a warning to Dave. On paper, he's rightly a massive favourite, but he's also vulnerable. If he gets clipped, it could be all over. And for all his faults, Harrison can punch.
