By Scott Gilfoid: Undefeated Deontay Wilder is getting ready to fly over the UK to start helping out former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (26-2, 24 KO’s) for his September 28th fight against Tyson Fury (21-0, 15 KO’s). Deontay will be working as high caliber sparring partner to help out the 32-year Haye for the 6’9” Fury. Haye needs a big heavyweight with super long reach to mimic the size of Fury. Haye already has 6’7″ Alexander Dimitrenko in the camp, and there’s talk that the 6’8″ Mariusz Wach will be joining him soon as well.
Deontay’s trainer Jay Deas said:
@BronzeBomber Deontay Wilder on yet another plane soon for 3 weeks top work with David Haye in London.
— Jay Deas (@TheRealJayDeas) August 26, 2013
This could be some really tough sparring for Haye unless he has Deontay lighten up on him and not use his full power and speed. It’s a given that Deontay will have to use extra-sized gloves in order not to brain Haye, but he’ll also likely have to fight in the same weak, slapping manner Fury fights in in order to do a good job of mimicking Fury.
It won’t help if Deontay comes out with his usual seek and destroy killer instinct to flatten Haye right off the bat. I could see Deontay given the bum’s rush right out of training camp if he does that, and sent packing for the USA. Deontay is probably going to have to fight at one-quarter speed and hold off completely on his power in order not to mess Haye up before his big fight. We’re talking big size differences between Haye and Wilder.
Deontay is more like a super heavyweight, whereas Haye is kind of a small to medium size heavyweight. You can’t have Deontay using all of his power and leverage in his 6’7” frame to tee on Haye.
Deontay can still get something from the sparring despite not being able to go all out. Just being in the ring with a guy like Haye will help Deontay, because he’s going to be in the ring with fighters similar to Haye in the future. It’s only a matter of time before Deontay has an opponent that moves in constant circles throwing occasional pot shots in a safety first manner for 12 rounds. At least by sparring with Haye, Deontay will get better at cutting off the ring and forcing guys like him to exchange.
Comments are closed.