• Boxing

Klitschko trainer roars back at 'rabbit puncher' Haye

ESPN staff
June 30, 2011
Genaro Rodriguez was in charge when Wladimir Klitschko was KOd by Corrie Sanders in 2003 © Getty Images
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Wladimir Klitschko's trainer Manny Steward has swatted away David Haye's complaints over referee Genaro Rodriguez, who will oversee the unification showdown in Hamburg on Saturday.

Adam Booth, Haye's trainer and manager, is concerned at the way Rodriguez officiated a previous bout involving Klitschko, a fighter renowned for his clinching when an opponent gets on the inside.

"In the first five rounds Wladimir was allowed to get away with 32 offences without being spoken to once, and that concerns me," Booth said.

Rodriguez has refereed four of IBF and WBO champion Klitschko's fights, and one of them was his humiliating second-round knockout defeat against Corrie Sanders in 2003. Steward believes Rodriguez's presence in that clash proves he does not turn a blind eye to Klitschko's antics.

"This referee was the referee when Wladimir was knocked out by Corrie Sanders. When you're talking 60 fights, like Wladimir has had, you're going to have a lot of referees who have been involved in those fights," Steward told Sky Sports.

"Haye's complaints about the referee, I don't see any merit to them. As a matter of fact, you can say that Wladimir Klitschko clinches - which is typical of tall fighters - but Haye has made an excessive amount of rabbit punches in all of his fights.

"I think it could be a rough, physical fight - but that's boxing. They don't have any reason to complain about the referee."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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