• Boxing

I've already won the first round - Haye

ESPN staff
April 28, 2011
David Haye believes Wladimir Klitschko is running scared © Getty Images
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David Haye believes he has already won the first round against Wladimir Klitschko and says the Ukrainian's demands are a sign of weakness ahead of their heavyweight showdown in July.

With the July 2 bout taking place in Klitschko's adopted homeland of Germany, Haye has also agreed to walk out first, claiming such details were a deal-breaker for Klitschko.

But rather than see it as an advantage for his opponent, the WBA champion believes such demands are signs that Klitschko is running scared and needs a "safety blanket" ahead of the unification showdown.

"Most fighters always want to fight on their home turf, especially a fight of this magnitude," Haye told the Daily Express. "But these guys, they want it their way or it doesn't happen.

"It's like a safety blanket definitely. And that shows a sign of mental weakness, that he has to have things his way. He wants to walk to the ring second, as a champion does. These are the deal-breakers for the guys - if he doesn't have that then the fight will not happen.

"I said to him, 'Come on dude. Why not flip a coin. Let fate decide'. But no. That was it for him. He also stipulated the size of the ring but honestly that's fine. I feel that is the first round to me already.

"He needs to feel comfortable and that mental weakness will come out during the fight and my mental toughness will also come out."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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