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Wladimir warns Haye to enjoy fame while he still has it

Wladimir Klitschko is 'extremely motivated' for his meeting with David Haye © PA Photos

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Wladimir Klitschko has attempted to get inside David Haye's head prior to their heavyweight world title fight, claiming he is preparing for the fight as if Haye were 'faster and stronger than he actually is' and that the Englishman should 'enjoy these moments of fame'.

The two men have increasingly engaged in a war of words since the announcement of their unification bout on July 2 in Hamburg, building on some bad blood that has existed ever since the two men's aborted fight in 2009.

On that occasion Haye produced a t-shirt depicting him holding the severed heads of both Klitschko and brother Vitali, a fashion statement that clearly still rankles with the Ukrainian.

"I think David, inside of him, feels that he was wrong with the t-shirt that he did. I think it is really embarrassing and I believe that I will really show him the way in the ring," Klitschko said, speaking to Sky Sports.

"Would your mother like to see your head chopped off from your body, or your sister, or your brother?

"I think it is worldwide - it doesn't matter where you are coming from; there are things that you cannot cross. But, however, he did it, he needs a lesson and I will with pleasure give it to him."

With training camps well underway, Klitschko insists he is not getting distracted from his preparations for the fight by the promotion and war of words that surrounds it, warning that he is working as if Haye were faster and stronger than he believes him to actually be.

"I won't underestimate David Haye as a fighter; he is fast, has fast hands, heavy hands," he said. "He has got a lot of knockouts on his list. He has been successful. I will prepare accordingly.

"I'm expecting my opponents to be better against me on fight night than they usually are. That's great motivation for them - they are going to fight the heavyweight champion; this is the chance of their life.

"I will definitely respect you as a fighter, David Haye, but no more than that. If I wasn't nervous I wouldn't get through the preparation - I wouldn't be motivated.

"I am looking forward to this preparation and this challenge and I am expecting David Haye to be faster and stronger than he actually is."

The 35-year-old believes that mental strength will be just as important as physical skills in deciding the winner of the bout.

"You win the fight or you lose the fight in your mind," he said. "If you think about heaven and hell it is all actually here (in your head), not up there or down there.

"So it's all about mental strength but also physical strength - that's why boxing is so complicated as a game. It's like chess - there are a lot of components that we have to put together.

"I've been in this sport for such a long time and if you look at the history of this sport there have been guys who have presented themselves very strongly before the fight and they were very weak in the fight.

"Other guys showed really kind of scared manners and they weren't confident but in the ring they were great. Mike Tyson was crying before his fights and then he performed pretty impressively. So we will find out."

Klitschko finished with another warning for Haye - telling him he should enjoy his time in the spotlight while it still shines on him.

"I believe that he has to enjoy the time, the highlights of his life - and these are definitely the highlights, especially these talks and the fight," Klitschko said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.