By John F. McKenna (McJack): In a recent interview 6’6.5”, 247 lb Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KO’s) has made the frank admission that he was not born to be a fighter. Vlad, who holds the IBF, IBO, WBO and Ring Magazine Heavyweight Titles will be facing WBA Heavyweight Title holder David Haye (25-1, 23 KO’s) on July 2 in a title unification fight at the Imtech Arena in Hamburg, Germany.

“Dr. Steelhammer” stated that he was not born to fight and that his “split personality” allows him to step between the ropes. “I have had to get to know my other qualities, my fighting qualities. But, I have become a fighter.” Wladimir has honed his classic muscular physique and with his long arms develops a lot of power in his punches, something his opponents are not fully aware of until they are in the ring with him.

Klitschko has a ramrod left jab, a powerful right cross and a pulverizing left hook that he has used to dispose of ten successive opponents, all in title defenses over the last six years.

Wladimir was quoted as saying “Vitali, my older brother, was born a fighter. You have people that were just born that way. You can call it a talent. I have had to learn about the qualities I have in me.”

It is this vulnerability that Wladimir Klitschko has which makes his July 2 showdown with David Haye so intriguing. The two combatants could not be at more opposite ends of the polar spectrum in their approach to boxing and to life itself. “The Hayemaker” is younger, smaller and infinitely more brash than his opponent and their dislike for each other appears to be genuine and not just hype designed to sell more tickets.

Klitschko went on to explain from his Austrian training camp that the process he is going through in preparation for his fight with Haye is a ritual that he goes through for every fight. “I’m two people, there is the man and there is the fighter. I am like an actor preparing for a role. No matter what happens, I am not going to lose.”

Wladimir spends every night while in training in a cabin on the side of a hill alone after sparring. This is part of the process he uses to divorce himself from Klitschko the man.

After the fight he will spend a couple of weeks rediscovering him self. He believes he needs to go through this ritual for every fight to acquire the mental toughness needed to achieve victory.

“Dr. Steelhammer” carries with him the mental scars he received at the hands of Lamon Brewster in 2004. That was the lowest point of his career where even his staunchest supporter, his brother Vitali was suggesting that perhaps it was time to quit.
As painful as that period of time was Wladimir says he cannot forget it and uses that pain to motivate him today.

Klitschko said he is heartened and gratified by all the support he has received from British fans and that he is looking forward with great anticipation to July 2 and his encounter with David Haye.