Haye brands world champion Klitschko “a fraud”

HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters): The WBA heavyweight champion believes he will knock out Vladimir Klitschko on July 2.

Heavyweight boxers, WBA champion David Haye of Britain (R) and IBF and WBO titleholder Vladimir Klitschko of Ukraine (L) pose with their belts during a news conference in Hamburg on May 9, 2011. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

WBA heavyweight champion David Haye called rival Vladimir Klitschko “a fraud” on Monday as the duo began verbal sparring ahead of their unification fight in Hamburg on July 2.

“I have seen his style and seen what he does in the ring and he is a fraud,” Haye, 30, told a news conference.

“I know what he is about. Even when I was a cruiserweight I believed I could knock him out.

“For the first time he’s fighting someone who’s healthy, he normally picks people who are injured or coming off a long layoff. I’m a prime athlete in my peak coming off a nice long streak of spectacular victories.

“He wears big shoulder pads in his gown and picks guys who suit him perfectly but I am not fooled.”

Klitschko, 35, who holds the WBO, IBF and IBO belts, hit back by saying he was confident he could floor Haye by unleashing his 50th career knockout punch.

NUMBER 50

“I really want that 50th knockout. It is like a golden number,” the Ukrainian said during the joint news conference.

“I really respect him. He is a great boxer with an impressive record but I will be well prepared. David Haye is going to be my 50th knockout.

“Forty nine fighters have been knocked out in the last 15 years and David Haye has completely disrespected them. I will show him that he is just going to be another like the 49 before, he will be number 50 on July 2, that is the way it is going to be.”

Klitschko and his brother Vitaly, who holds the WBC belt, twice had fights with Haye called off in the past two years after they failed to agree on the details for the much-awaited unification fight.

Haye, who exchanged a stare-down with Vladimir that lasted several minutes, has a career record of 25-1 with 23 knockouts. His opponent’s record stands at 55-3 with 49 knockouts.

“The boxing gods have decided July 2 is the date I become unified champion,” added Haye.

“I looked into (his) eyes for 20 minutes and visualised me destroying him. I looked into his eyes and saw him beaten and broken.”

Klitschko could win the only remaining major belt that has eluded the two brothers while a victory for Haye would drive a wedge into the Klitschko careers, giving the Briton a shot at all five belts.

The two fighters appeared at a news conference that had also been delayed for several days until contractual details for the bout were ironed out.

(Writing by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Pritha Sarkar)