Boxing Betting: Big-name backing for Haye against Klitschko

Boxing Betting / Michael Lintorn / 28 June 2011 /

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Trainer Freddie Roach fancies David Haye to trouble Wladimir Klitschko

"Arguably the most high-profile seal of approval that he has received has come from very well regarded trainer Freddie Roach."

Wladimir Klitschko is a strong favourite on Betfair for Saturday's big heavyweight bout against David Haye, but plenty of industry insiders fancy the Hayemaker.

The level of support for David Haye in boxing circles is growing larger by the day with former WBO Super Middleweight champion and BBC Sports Personality of the Year Joe Calzaghe the latest to predict that Haye will have his hand raised in Hamburg against Wladimir Klitschko on Saturday night.

The Welshman, who retired in 2009 with an unbeaten record of 32 knockouts in 46 fights, offered his verdict on the eagerly awaited WBO, IBF and WBA heavyweight title unification bout, saying: "He is going to knock out Klitschko.

"I watched David train a couple of days ago and I was actually quite shocked how good he was -- the best I've ever seen by far...It's a career defining fight. He's got to give his best and everything he's got and I'm really confident he can pull it off."

Calzaghe follows in the footsteps of another British boxing great in hyping up Haye, who is actually the outsider by some margin on Betfair at [2.8], after former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis expressed his belief that the Hayemaker has the tools to seriously trouble the Ukrainian.

The fellow Londoner, who has plenty of big-fight experience having conquered other legends like Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson, as well as also defeating Wladimir's brother Vitali in 2003, said: if "David is able to stay with his game plan and move and throw combinations he should do very well."

It isn't just the 30-year-old's compatriots who are optimistic that he can pull off a shock though, as arguably the most high-profile seal of approval that he has received has come from very well regarded trainer Freddie Roach, who has worked with [1.59] favourite Klitschko before.

He said: "I think Haye has a great opportunity if he goes out there early and uses his power, and tries to take Wladimir's confidence away... He does lack confidence as a fighter and we discussed it when I trained him...I don't see David Haye as the underdog in this fight."

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