By Scott Gilfoid: I’m really hoping WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-1, 23 KO’s) keeps it clean against IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KO’s) on July 2nd and doesn’t resort to teeing off on Wladimir with rabbit punches when the two fighters get in close but I can’t see Haye holding back on these kinds of fight-altering shots. For the most part, Haye has gotten away with throwing these punches in his recent fights in the UK and I think he may not realize that this fight will likely be closely monitored for those kind of punches by the referee.

The fight is taking place in Germany and it’s doubtful that the referee will put up with Haye landing rabbit shots when Wladimir comes in for one of his many clinches. By the same token, I also doubt that Haye is going to be able to hold and hit, which he sometimes does when he’s throwing flurries against his opponents in close. If you watch his bout with Audley Harrison, at one point Haye hooks his left around the head of Harrison to hold it in place while Haye nails him with right hands.

The referee for the Klitschko fight will no doubt be told to watch for this and to quickly take points away from Haye. With Haye possibly getting penalized for rabbit shots and holding and hitting, we could see a quick disqualification in this fight if Haye fails to get a handle on this problem. The bad part about the rabbit shots is that it could end the fight with Wladimir getting badly hurt and we could have a scenario where Haye hurts Wladimir with rabbit shot to the point where he can’t continue.

Haye would then be disqualified for nailing Wladimir in the back of the head and we would have an outcome somewhat similar to the Andre Dirrell vs. Arthur Abraham fight. This is why I’m hoping the referee immediately takes points away from Haye the very first time he lands a rabbit shot or holds and hits in the fight, because we can’t have Haye going rabbit crazy in there. It would turn the fight into some kind of primitive no holds barred type of fight where anything goes. That’s not boxing. That’s some kind of street brawl.