By Sean McDaniel: Former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Michael Sprott believes the Klitschko brothers would be too good for World Boxing Association heavyweight champion David Haye (24-1, 22 KO’s). Sprott should know. He’s been sparring with IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and has been on the receiving end up his big punches. In an article at the Daily Mail, Sprott says “Wladimir is up there with the greats of boxing, like Lennox Lewis. For a heavyweight, he is a very technical fighter. Haye has been the exciting one out there and might prove a challenge. But I can’t see anyone beating Wladimir or his elder brother, that’s why they have been champions for so long. I know David [Haye] said all he [Wladimir] does is jab, jab, jab, and he has got a powerful fast jab. But as soon as he lands that left, the right follow and it is all over quickly.”

It’s hard to disagree with Sprott on his observations. He’s obviously see both Haye and the Klitschko brothers close up and know what they’re both capable of. Wladimir Klitschko recently pitched a shutout for 11 rounds against American’s best heavyweight Eddie Chambers before finally taking him out with a powerful left hook in the 12th round. The punch knocked Chambers unconscious and he was badly hurt by the shot.

What was so impressive about Wladimir’s performance was how easy it was. Chambers, who is roughly the same size as Haye, rarely was able to land anything at all because of his height and reach advantage. Chambers ate jabs and right hand all night long and didn’t seem to be the same fighter after getting dropped in the 2nd round by a right hand from Wladimir.

As for Vitali Klitschko, the WBC heavyweight champion, he defeated previously unbeaten Kevin Johnson by a one-sided 12 round decision last December. Vitali dominated the fight and was never really tested by Johnson, who looked as if he was just trying to survive the fight without getting knocked out. The 6’7 250 pound Vitali would have a huge advantage over the 6’3” 222 pound Haye if they were to fight.

Haye would likely have to run for the full 12 rounds and hope that Vitali didn’t catch up to him and land one of his big right hands. Haye’s punches would likely be much fewer and weaker because he would be trying to avoid Vitali’s left hooks and right hands. If Haye was to have any chance of winning the fight, he’d have to throw a lot more punches than he did in both his 9th round stoppage win over John Ruiz last Saturday night and his 12 round decision victory over Nikolay Valuev last November.

It would seem unlikely that Haye opt to go for a fight with Vitali, because Wladimir is pushing hard to be the first of the Klitschko brothers to get the first stab at Haye. If things end badly for Wladimir, then Vitali can move in and seek revenge. This was the situation when Wladimir was beaten in the past by Ross Purity and Corrie Sanders. Vitali fought both fighters, and stopped them in one-sided fights. Against Wladimir, Haye would have a punchers’ chance to win the fight because of Wladimir’s weak chin. However, against Vitali, Haye would probably have very little chance unless the fight takes place a couple of years from now after the 38-year-old Vitali ages some more.