At the weigh-in t
he WBO, IBF, IBO and Ring magazine champion Klitscko tip the scales at 17 stone 5 pounds the Ukranian and was greeted by a raucous British contingent. It is estimated that between 500 and one thousand Haye fans crammed themselves inside the sport store that hosted the fight formalities.The 6 foot 7 inch giant was greeted with chants of “who are ya’” and “you’re supposed to be at home” from the large group of fans who have made the trip to Germany early, with many fans arriving as early as Wednesday in order to witness the open workouts of both fighters.
The hostility that met Klitschko today will be alien to a boxer who has fought so much of his career in front of tame German crowds and the British presence is set to be multiplied 20 times over with over 20,000 Brits expected to be in attendance on Saturday evening.
Haye, who is considered as the challenger in this fight despite holding the WBA title – winning that too in Germany, cut a muscularly defined physique as he took to the scales. The Londoners weight of 15 stone 3 pounds is his second lightest at heavy weight in what is only his sixth fight in the division. The former cruiserweight champion comes into the bout two and a half pounds heavier than his last defence against Audley Harrison, with speed clearly in mind once again.
“There was never a plan to come at any particular weight,” claimed Haye post weigh-in.
“I just made sure I trained hard and I was healthy. I’ve eaten well, I haven’t had any junk food, I haven’t cut any corners, so this my ideal fighting weight.”
The Hayemaker took this last opportunity to give a few choice words to Klitschko, who to his credit has reacted well to the verbal jibes aimed at him from the Bermondsey fighter throughout the long build up to this heavyweight showdown billed as ‘The War’.
“I don’t think I can say what I was saying to him up there,” said Haye. This was clear in the fact that Sky Sports’ Craig Slater having to apologise on the behalf of Haye in the aftermath of the live televised event.
“It wasn’t nice, I wasn’t telling him I love him, put it that way.”
Following the weigh-in the Hayemaker camp revealed that Haye stopped sparring three weeks ago, a week earlier than normal, as their charge looks took peak on fight night.
“Adam booth said ‘what’s the point in doing the same thing over and over again, you’ve got it, let’s work on some other stuff – conditioning and timing and speed – I feel great.”
As has been the case throughout the build up Klitschko’s older brother Vitali took the opportunity to take a swipe at Haye, something that Wladimir has failed to do at times claiming that his brother would be superior in every department.
“Look at my brother, he is confident, he trusts himself and has a lot of experience.”
By midnight tomorrow we will have found out whether Wladimir was in fact too good for the Hayemaker or it may be the case that Vitali is out for post fight revenge. One thing is for sure the talk surrounding this contest has reignited a fading heavyweight division and it is one not to be missed.
