By Scott Gilfoid: WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-1, 23 KO’s) was excited with the success that Commonwealth super middleweight champion George Groves (13-0, 10 KO’s) had in beating British super middleweight champion James DeGale (10-1, 8 KO’s) last Saturday night. Groves followed a simple plan where he move constantly against DeGale and only fought in brief spurts to avoid getting hit so much.

It worked to the effect that Groves was able to avoid being hit enough to win a controversial 12 round decision. However, things were somewhat stacked in Groves’ favor on that night. The crowd was backing Groves, DeGale didn’t possess a great jab and didn’t use the jab that he had, and DeGale showed Groves too much respect for the first four rounds.

After the early rounds, DeGale had his way and did more than enough to win the fight. But seeing as how excited Haye is and how he said after the fight that he has a great strategy to beat IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KO’s), it’s likely that Haye is going to use the exact same style that Groves used against DeGale. Haye is going to try and apply the one size fits all strategy for the Wladimir fight by moving and looking to fight in quick combinations. Boy, is Haye going to be in for a big surprise on July 2nd in Hamburg, Germany.

The differences between DeGale’s skills and Wladimir’s are huge. DeGale doesn’t have a jab and isn’t a huge puncher with his right hand. He’s got a good left hook but he doesn’t have Wladimir’s jab or right hand. DeGale also doesn’t have the power that Wladimir has in his left hook. Had that been a miniature version of Wladimir in there with Groves last Saturday night, Groves’ face would have been turned to pizza from Wladimir’s jabs and once he connected with a hard left hook or right hand, Groves would have taking a 10 count.

So, Haye can run around the ring and try to avoid getting hit but Wladimir’s jabs are still going to find him again and again all throughout the fright. And when Haye gets in close, Wladimir will connect with either the right hand or the left hook and knock Haye cold. I’m guessing Haye will taste the power early and then look to run for the remainder of the fight and just be content to lose by a lopsided 12 round decision while averaging 5 to 10 punches thrown per round. Haye won’t be able to jab because his arms are too shot and lack the flexibility to extend far enough to make content with Wladimir.