By John F. McKenna (McJack): Sky Sports News is reporting that Joe Calzaghe was “shocked” by David Haye’s performance when he went to watch him prepare for his July 2 unification fight with Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer” Klitshko. WBA champion David Haye (25-1, 23 KO’s) has vowed to push himself to a new level when he takes on WBO, IBO, IBF, and Ring Magazine king Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KO’s) in Hamburg, Germany. Haye concedes that this will be his toughest test as a fighter and that he has never fought anyone at Vladimir’s level.

The Brit’s power and speed has the potential to be the deciding factor in the most talked about and energized heavyweight championship contest in years.

Haye’s backers are only too happy to remind everyone that Klitschko was knocked out in 2003 by Corrie Sanders and by Lamon Brewster in 2004 and are hoping that “The Hayemaker” will exploit what his camp sees as a flaw in Wladimir’s make up. That flaw being what they perceive to be as a glass chin.

After watching Haye in the gym, Calzaghe believes that he has too much speed and power for “Dr. Steelhammer” to cope with and will be overwhelmed when the fight takes place.

Calzaghe was quoted by Sky Sports as saying: “Haye brings excitement, he’s flash, he’s controversial and that’s great. Muhammad Ali was the same. I had the privilege of seeing David train two days ago, and I was shocked by his speed, power and focus. I’m convinced, after seeing what I saw, that he will knock out Wladimir klitschko come July 2.”

Earlier this week, Haye said that he was inspired by the timing of Calzaghe’s retirement. Calzahge retired undefeated in November 2008 after beating Roy Jones. Haye plans to retire in October after hopefully bringing Klitschko’s title belts back to England in victory.

It is not uncommon in the final days in the lead up to a huge fight for supporters of both fighters to trot out boxing celebrities for one side or the other to add weight to who they think is going to win. It is all part of the hype. It is almost a given that Freddy Roach and Emanuel Steward are going to give you their take on any fight shortly before the event takes place. Way back when Joe Louis was in his declining years, he would routinely be asked to comment on who he though was going to win a major fight. Joe’s predictions were almost always wrong. As much as I liked and admired Louis I knew at a young age that it was all part of the hype and would routinely pick the other fighter to win.