By Byron Wallin: Being British myself I could not banish the feelings of shame that arose whilst watching the recent Max Kellerman Face off between IBO, WBO and IBF Heavyweight World Champion Wladimir Klitschko and WBA Heavy Weight World Champion David Haye. Haye chose to express himself using foul language and terms that one might hear on a Friday or Saturday night from the lower echelons of British society. His choice of words and how he intonated them were not representative of the gentleman’s sport that is boxing, or of those great boxing legends of the past. Many people may argue that Ali used talk of this nature to gain a psychological advantage over his opponents. However, can anyone honestly imagine Ali calling an opponent a ‘Dick Head’?

Sitting directly opposite Haye was Dr Wladimir Klitschko, who conducted himself with his usual suave poise. Speaking eloquently and politely making eye contact with Kellerman as he did so. He did not stare wide eyed and incessantly ramble on about his own greatness past and future. In fact after his initial opening thoughts on the fight Wladimir spoke very little, instead using the time to study Haye in close proximity and have a thorough look in the man’s eyes.

The atmosphere in the face off drastically changed when the subject of the famous Haye T-shirt depicting him holding the brothers heads was raised. This was a chance for Haye to regain some dignity and say it was merely a publicity stunt, that he was sorry for the offense it caused, and that perhaps he had on this occasion gone too far. However, Haye in typical self righteous fashion did no such thing. Instead he revelled in this stroke of genius landing him the big fight and how he wanted to beat both brothers, proclaiming he was doing same, not only for the good of boxing but for the good of the ‘Universe’. When Haye spoke in this manner regarding WBC champion Vitali, something changed in Wladimir. When Kellerman asked him about how this made him feel, he merely stared at Haye, with a multitude of expressions slowly passing over his face beginning with anger and ending with a cruel smile. At this point it was clear to see exactly why this well educated, charitable family man, was the holder of three of the heavyweight division’s belts and had knocked out forty nine men. Haye was clearly rattled by this, choosing to break the silence by saying it was going to be a ‘great fight’. This is where Klitschko in my opinion won the face off, Haye may be able to talk himself up outside the ring, but when the veil of silence falls come fight night and both men step into the ring any words will be a distant memory, as only their fists will be allowed to speak.

Many people point to Klitschko’s three losses as displaying his glaring weaknesses: a lack of Stamina and chin. However this man has been undefeated for the best part of a decade, and does not remotely resemble the fighter that lost those fights, neither in style nor attitude. Also, can anyone name a great fighter with fifty five fights who is undefeated? Is our current pound for pound king not the bearer of three losses?

I will give Haye credit, as I by no means believe him to be a bad fighter. He has great talent and potential, which was glimpsed in his unification of the cruiserweight division. However, I fear he has failed to push himself, particularly since his move to the heavyweight division, culminating in his last fight being an absolute farce against Audley Harrison. Unlike most, I blame Haye for this more than I do Audley, for letting the fight happen in the first place.

Come fight night Klitschko will enter the ring with the usual poise and professionalism that he conducts himself with both in and out of the ring, and will proceed to systematically break down a David Haye who due to inactivity and soft opposition will simply not be prepared for his adversary and will subsequently be defeated. Many believe this will have catastrophic consequences, as Haye was the flickering hope of injecting excitement into a dead division. However, on the contrary I cannot accept how having two brothers, both with PHDs, both who conduct themselves professionally, and both who invest so much of their time and money into charity can be anything but a cause for pride and celebration in the sport.