By William Mackay: WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-1, 23 KO’s) questions IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko’s ability to take punishment as well as handle heavy pressure.

Haye believes that Wladimir folds up when he gets tagged or pressured hard in his fights. Haye does have a point because the three fights that Wladimir lost during his career have been fights in which he was pressured hard and fast and hit hard.

In an article at fighthype.com, Haye said “I see it [his summer fight with Wladimir] being explosive and quick. I don’t think Wladimir can hold up to the type of heat I will be dishing out on him. Whenever someone puts pressure on him, he hits the canvas pretty quickly. The reason why he’s been put on the floor 11 times in his career is because whenever he gets hit hard, he hits the floor.”

In fairness to Wladimir, he’s been put down by some really heavy hitters in Ross Purity, Corrie Sanders, Samuel Peter, DaVarryl Williamson and Lamon Brewster. I can easily see Haye getting knocked down and out by all of those guys. The fact is Wladimir has faced some big punchers in his heavyweight career, whereas Haye has been facing weaker, older fighters for the most part.

Haye has faced guys like John Ruiz, Monte Barrett, Nikolay Valuev and Audley Harrison. Those aren’t pressure fighters nor or they big punchers. We still don’t know how Haye would react if he were to fight someone with power. Haye was put down by cruiserweights Jean Marc Mormeck and Carl Thompson in the past. That tells you that Haye’s chin isn’t that great.