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Former foes Harrison and Maccarinelli backing Haye

David Haye has been doing his best to unsettle Wladimir Klitschko © Getty Images

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Two of David Haye's past victims Audley Harrison and Enzo Maccarinelli are backing the WBA heavyweight champion to beat Wladimir Klitschko on Saturday, if he "jumps on him early".

Welshman Maccarinelli suffered a crushing loss at the hands of Haye in a cruiserweight unification contest in 2008, with the referee bringing a halt to proceedings in the second round.

Harrison, who used to train with and mentor Haye, lasted a round longer but still endured a similar fate when the two former friends clashed in a domestic heavyweight showdown at the MEN Arena in Manchester last April.

Haye is promising to deliver another blockbuster performance against WBO and IBF king Klitschko at the Imtech Arena in Hamburg, and has proceeded to wind up his Ukrainian opponent throughout the build-up to their eagerly anticipated super-fight.

Harrison is no stranger to Haye's mind games and, with Haye persistently aiming insults in Klitschko's direction, the former Olympic champion believes Klitschko has been rattled.

"Normally, Wladimir is able to control the opponent and pretty much know the outcome before the fight's started," he told Sky Sports.

"Here, David has got under his skin - he has really riled Wladimir and ridiculed him and his brother all the way through camp. This is David's moment of destiny and you know 100% that he's paid the price in camp and I think he's got a few tricks up his sleeve.

"It's not going to be an easy fight but I think if David jumps on him early on then he can come away with the all the belts."

Maccarinelli echoed Harrison's sentiments, insisting that Haye will be victorious if he sticks to his trainer Adam Booth's game plan, although he feels Klitschko could prevail if the fight goes to the later rounds.

He told talkSPORT: "I believe he can do it. Adam Booth is a tactical master and I think he will come up with a game plan [to succeed]. He locks himself in rooms for hours and hours and studies tapes to make sure everything is right and I think David's chances are very high.

"David has played the right game and got under Klitschko's skin. David is laughing and joking because he knows what he's doing is working. Klitschko has only ever been beaten by fellas he's expected to beat. When he's faced a tough fight he's been very methodical in his preparation, and he will have prepared well for David.

"Wladimir is one of the best in the world at the moment but he's never faced anyone who will throw punches at the angles David will.

"Haye has to jump on him early and stop him getting into a rhythm behind that big heavy jab. Klitchsko is ten times better than Valuev and, if he lets him get control with that jab, David will be in trouble. The longer it goes on, the more chance Vladimir has to get that jab going and, if he does that, it's going to be a hard night for David."

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