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Haye drafts in Price to mimic Klitschko

Wladimir Klitschko will hold a height advantage over David Haye © PA Photos

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David Haye has been sparring with David Price as he puts the finishing touches to his training ahead of his world title clash with Wladimir Klitschko.

Haye will put his WBA heavyweight belt on the line against IBF, IBO and WBO champion Klitschko in Hamburg on July 2.

The task facing Haye is nothing new for the Brit, as his last three fights - against Audley Harrison, John Ruiz and Nikolay Valuez - were against fighters who stood well over six feet tall.

Klitschko is highly likely to try and dominate the fight from behind his jab and Haye has brought in Price, who will be hard fit given he faces John McDermott next weekend, in a bid to mimic what he will face against Klitschko.

"Ask any boxer to name the single most important part of training camp and I'd imagine most of them would pinpoint sparring as number one," Haye wrote on his personal website, hayemaker.com. "Sparring helps us fighters improve timing and reactions, as well as familiarise ourselves with sensations and certain strategies we will try to implement on the night of the fight. It is also important to reach an ideal balance between doing too much sparring and not enough.

"I have already enjoyed some great sparring sessions for my next fight on July 2nd and I'm getting very close to fighting shape already. In the past few weeks I have worked extensively with three unbeaten heavyweights, all of whom are slightly taller than my next opponent Wladimir Klitschko.

"Deontay Wilder and Kelvin Price both arrived from America to help me out, and last week Britain's own David Price dropped into the gym to do a load of rounds with me ahead of his British title eliminator with John McDermott next weekend.

"Each of the heavyweights brought different things to the table and they all kept me on my toes. Deontay was athletic, busy and fast with his right hand, while Kelvin brought lots of awkwardness and speed behind a snappy jab. Most of you will have seen David Price box already, but it's fair to say he mimics Klitschko about as well as anybody else in the heavyweight division. His jab is very good, his right hand is heavy and his foundations are extremely solid.

"I will also be looking at new faces in my own training camp next week, as a fresh batch of sparring partners arrive to put me through my paces. I'm excited to see what they bring and am keen to continue working on moves and tactics that have so far served me well in sparring.

"By the time I meet Klitschko in Hamburg, these moves will have become second nature, and the process of finding an opening and landing my right hand on his chin will be as smooth and routine as waking up and brushing my teeth."

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