By Sean McDaniel: Former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye and former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Dereck Chisora met on Tuesday at the Upton Park ground to publicize their July 14th fight.

Given their past brawl last February after Chisora’s loss to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, the two fighters were separated by a 7-foot high steel fence to keep each other from getting things started a little early.

Haye had this to say as quoted by Sky Sports News “He is the ideal opponent for me. I am so glad he has got a good chin because if he didn’t have a good chin he would be blasted out the first round. This means I will give him a nice, slow concussive beating. I tried to knock him out in Munich and this is the opportunity to shut him up.”

Indeed, Haye struck Chisora with an overhand right when Chisora made the mistake of walking up on him after asking why Haye wouldn’t fight him in the ring. Haye chose to tag Chisora first before Chisora had the opportunity to cold cock him like he did Vitali at their weigh-in. Chisora was too slow to react to Haye’s right hand, and he was quickly wrestled to the ground after Haye landed what appeared to be some elbows.

Chisora said “That was a lucky shot he hit me with in Munich. David, you are winning 1-0, but come July, I am coming to whoop your a**.”

I have to favor Haye in this battle simply because Chisora has lost three out of his last four fights, and he doesn’t have the foot or the hand speed to get the better of Haye during any exchanges. Chisora is basically a one punch at a time fighter unless you stand in front of him covering up. He lost his last fight to Vitali, and was never able to land more than one shot at a time in losing by a lopsided 12 round decision.

Haye will make it a lot tougher for Chisora because he’ll be able to move around the ring picking spots where he wants to flurry on Chisora. Haye won’t have to worry about Chisora being too tall or too athletic like Wladimir Klitschko, who Haye lost to last July. Chisora is roughly the same height as the 6’3″ Haye, but he doesn’t have great footwork or a great jab. He’s more of an inside fighter or a pot shot puncher when on the outside.