Wladimir Klitschko Defeats David Haye

By Peter Owen Nelson (Photo by Will Hart)

Saturday night, at the Imtech Arena in Hamburg, Wladimir Klitschko (56-3-0) won another belt, but fought for his legacy.

In despoiling the Briton of his WBA belt, Klitschko with his brother Vitali have now successfully unified all four major titles of the heavyweight division (WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF) - perhaps a defining legacy unto itself. However, after out-jabbing David Haye to an unanimous victory (117-109; 118-108; 116-110), Klitschko finds himself still lacking a signature victory. Klitschko's legacy is now in peril of becoming synonymous with the eventless dominance of his cautious perfection.

Read the rest of the Klitschko-Haye Fight Recap at HBO.com

Prefight Interview: Trainer Emanuel Steward

By Peter Owen Nelson (Photo by Will Hart)

HBO caught up with Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward on the eve of his charge Wladimir Klitschko’s showdown with David Haye for the unified heavyweight championship. 

Wladimir came in at 242 at the weigh-in, but that was after eating, so he’s probably closer to 238. Wladimir stays in excellent shape, so from the beginning of camp that’s never a concern. The first time we weigh him is at the weigh-in. I have to check my weight more than him. Right now, I’m about 172. 

I’ll be 67 next week [July 7], and I know now that if I ever take a break from working mitts, I’ll never be able to do it again. At the end of the day, I get a lot of throbbing in my shoulder and hands. That’s why I wrap hands. I’ve never seen another trainer do it, but my hands feel better when I do it. In 1992, I began wrapping my hands for mitt work. But it wasn’t until this camp that Wladimir suggested I start taping my hands, too.

Read the rest of the prefight interview with Emanuel Steward at HBO.com.

Klitschko-Haye Weigh-In

By Peter Owen Nelson

Photo: Will Hart

By noon, Friday, in old town Hamburg, the red carpet was out along with droves of rowdy Britons and polite Germans elbowing one another in anticipation of two men weighing themselves inside a sporting goods store. Security had to inform many attendees that beer would not be allowed into the sporting goods store, even when transferred to water bottles or, as one ambitious Brit attempted to do, a plastic bag.

Due to the limitless of the division, having a scale at a weigh-in for heavyweights is a bit like having a speed gun on the Autobahn for Bugattis. It makes little sense, but then again, neither does braving the odds in a fight against a man nearly four inches taller and 30 pounds heavier than you — and yet David Haye will do exactly this on Saturday against Wladimir Klitschko.

After the undercard weigh-in ended, ring announcer Michael Buffer took to the podium to announce the fighters. Haye was up first and the crowd, overwhelming British, erupted in song. England currently has 2.43 million people unemployed, and all of them appeared to be present at the weigh-in. They chanted for Haye, heckled Klitschko, and were in general awe of Buffer’s impeccable tan.

Haye came in at 212 3/4 lbs to Klitschko’s 242 1/2. As the math became clear to crowd, the Britons quieted, until they spotted Lennox Lewis, and were reminded of brighter days. Perhaps the brightest yet will come for them on Saturday night.

Compubox Analysis: Wladimir Klitschko vs. David Haye

Ever since Lennox Lewis' retirement in 2003, the heavyweight division has lacked a vital ingredient -- suspense. Although the two-headed reign of Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko has produced many knockouts, their metronome-like precision and lack of two-way action has inspired respect but not love -- at least in America.

During this so-called "Dark Age," the one fight many said would salve the wounds was Wladimir Klitschko-David Haye, which will finally take place Saturday after a series of frustrating starts and stops. "The Hayemaker's" heavy hands and roiling rhetoric -- and the fact that three belts will be at stake -- made this fight irresistible. Will Haye pull off a historic upset or will "Dr. Steelhammer" pound another opponent into oblivion? Their CompuBox histories offer the following insights and advice:

Read more Compubox analysis of Wladimir Klitschko vs. David Haye at HBO.com.

Bert Sugar on Klitschko-Haye

As told to Peter Nelson

Photo: Will HartThis fight is the first glimmer of interest America has had in a heavyweight fight in some time.

It could be an exciting fight, particularly if David Haye can get inside or force Klitschko to fight going backwards (something Klitschko can’t do). Haye has little chance because of Klitschko’s phenomenal jab. If Wladimir’s seated in his corner, he can hit you with it in yours.

Since his last defeat [in 2004], Klitschko has become a grabber and a holder. His trainer Manny Steward taught him that. But he needs to do more than jab in this fight — not to win, but to prove himself to American fans. For each fighter, how the fight unfolds will be as important as who wins and who loses. As the favorite, Wladimir cannot lose and gain, but as the underdog, Haye can. He will have to take sizable risks to do so.

While Wladimir can win with just the jab, the union limit on hands is not limited to one. During a Klitschko fight, I once had a man in Madison Square Garden ask me, “Stop snoring because you’re keeping me awake.” I blame this style and consequent decline of the heavyweight division on Lennox Lewis, because he showed that a man who is 250 pounds can move and box.

Wladimir took this fight for greater acceptance, achievement, and identity. Boxing around the world does not notice the heavyweights. We no longer have a universally appreciated World Heavyweight Champion. Over the years, Wladimir has become a star in Germany. In taking his heavyweight titles to that nation, he has become a world heavyweight champion who is celebrated in Germany, instead of being celebrated all over the world.

They give us an exciting fight and it will help that division.