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Lewis urges Haye to run

David Haye won the WBA heavyweight title from Nikolai Valuev in November 2009 © Getty Images

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David Haye must repeat his "perfect" performance against Nikolai Valuev if he is to defeat Wladimir Klitschko, according to Lennox Lewis.

Haye upset the odds to snatch the WBA title from Valuev in 2009, producing a performance that combined elusive footwork and deadly accuracy on the rare occasions he did engage his opponent.

While Klitschko is unquestionably a more skilled operator than Valuev, Lewis - who defeated Wladimir's brother Vitali - has urged Haye to employ the same tactics when he takes to the ring in Hamburg on July 2.

Lewis told BBC Five Live's Sportsweek programme: "What makes me give Haye a chance is what he did against Valuev. He fought a perfect fight, he kept moving, he stayed elusive and in the final round he almost knocked Valuev out.

"He has the speed and the weight in his arms and any shot he hits Klitschko with will be a shocking blow. Klitschko has the bigger advantages but if David is able to stay with his game plan and move and throw combinations he should do very well."

Lewis believes that Haye's movement will be absolutely crucial, with any close combat likely to result in Klitschko capitalising on his size advantage.

"Klitschko is the best right now, he is the man everyone is aiming to get at," Lewis said. "It's really tough to be heavyweight champion of the world and it's even tougher to stay there.

"His strength is his size, his reach and his weight. He is a true heavyweight and weighs about 20lbs more than David Haye. He has all those advantages and on paper he is the one they will pick to win because he is a natural heavyweight.

"His weakness is his chin, his speed and maybe his stamina. And they are things that David Haye can expose.

"His weight is a big thing for Wladimir Klitschko, Haye is light but he can use it to his advantage if he can stay away from him. But if they get into a clinch and Klitschko puts his weight on David it may sap some of David's energy."

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