Bloody Nose

Thai Fight Extreme 2012 - the brilliance of Buakaw

Mark Heath — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:33:50 GMT

I was lucky enough to be one of the 3,000 or so folks in a sweaty tent hastily errected outside Leicester City's King Power Stadium for Thai Fight Extreme 2012 recently - and what an experience it was.

To see Thai Boxing afforded that big of a stage in the UK was fantastic - lasers, smoke machines, explosions, 4,000,000 db sound system, it had the lot. I was half deaf and a touch charred of skin after about three fights.

But the real stars, of course, were the fighters. And none shone brighter than Thai superstar Buakaw Banchamek, as he is known now.

After an introduction boasting more pyro than a Kiss concert and which seemed to last longer than most of the other fights, Buakaw took centre stage against Fight Code champ Toure Abdoul.

Wow. As with any other athlete who has conquered their sport, watching Buakaw was a joy.

He made everything look effortless, linking combos and moving into and out of clinch with sickening ease. I'd expected that though, to be fair.

What shook me most was just how calmly he did everything. Here, in the midst of thousands of Muay Thai fans chanting his name, and faced with a foe intent on kicking his face off, Buakaw was the picture of serenity. Grinning inbetween rounds and blunting attacks as if he were shadow boxing, BB never even showed the slightest sign that he was troubled by anything.

And, when the end came, it was beautifully brutal. He dispatched Abdoul with a venomous roundhouse knee to the ribs in round two which hurt just to watch.

(Please visit the site to view this video)

It was an inspirational performance from a fighter at the top of his game. But, among the myriad of other things I took away to work on back at my gym, the one thing I'll remember most is that ridiculous sense of calm and poise.

When you've won 366 fights as Buakaw has, I guess it comes naturally. Not sure where that leaves the rest of us!

Preview: Vitali Klitschko versus Dereck Chisora

Mark Heath — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:15:00 GMT

LOSING two fights out of three isn't usually a route to a shot at the World Heavyweight title - but it's worked for brash Londoner Dereck Chisora.

Del Boy faces massive Ukranian champ Vital Kiltschko in Munich on Saturday for the WBC title despite falling on points to uber-hyped fellow Brit Tyson Fury and promising Finn Robery Helenius either side of a thoroughly unimpressive 6-round victory against a journeyman pro in Halifax.

Hardly the sort of form which merits a pop at the champ, but here we are. It says much for the state of the heavyweight division, once ruled by the likes of Ali, Foreman and Frazier, but now dominated by the Klitschko brothers Vitali and Wladimir.

Wlad, of course, bested our own David Haye and his poor wittle broken pinky toe in a world championship fight last year, while a win here for Vitali may lead to him also getting the chance to defeat the apparently retired Haye in due course.

Nothing in either the tale of the tape or fight records indicate that Chisora has anything but a puncher's chance here. Vitali, at 6ft 7ins, towers over 6ft 1 1/2 ins Chisora and will enjoy a six-inch reach advantage on Saturday.

And Chisora's 15-2 (7KO) record pales in comparison to Vitali's 43-2 (40 KO) record. Del's best win came against a seriously shot Danny Williams back in 2010, while Vitali destroyed a prime Williams, coming off his famed win over Mike Tyson, in eight rounds in 2004.

(Please visit the site to view this video)

Much like his brother, Vitali possess an excellent jab, perfect boxing technique and a sledgehammer right hand. He's slower than Wlad but certainly boasts a better chin.

So then, how can Chisora beat big Vitali? Well, other than hope that Vitali suddenly shows all of his 40-years in the ring and lets Del land one of his big hooks on his chin, Chisora simply has to get inside his jab and ruffle the perfectly poised Klitschko.

Chisora does have a big punch and Vitali MUST surely be getting more vulnerable with time. If he can land a couple of big shots early and worry Vitali, he's got half a chance.

But I can't see it! Vitali's just too big and, even in his fifth decade, too good for Del Boy.

Klitschko on pts or late stoppage.

- What do you think?

UFC 141 preview: Brock Lesnar vs Alistair Overeem

Mark Heath — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:15:00 GMT

IN these days of pathetic heavyweight boxing, MMA is the only place to look for quality fights in the big man division.

Tonight's mouth-watering match-up at UFC 141 between giants Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem is just such a bout.

One-time WWE superstar Lesnar, who stands 6ft 3ins tall and has to cut weight to make the division limit of 265lbs, is the former UFC champion, returning after months on the sideline with a second bout of a serious intestinal illness which required surgery.

And he certainly hasn't been handed a tomato can to crush in his first fight back. 'Demolition Man' Overeem is the former Strikeforce heavyweight champion, hasn't lost since 2007, weighs the same as Brock and will have a two-inch height advantage.

With his horsemeat-fuelled physique, 'Ubereem' looks like something straight out of a comic book.

(Please visit the site to view this video)

Who wins the battle of goliaths, and claims the next shot at UFC champion Junior Dos Santos?

Well, um, I'm not sure. In years of previewing and picking fights of all kinds, this is one of the hardest calls I've had to make. It will be decided in just one area - can Brock take Overeem down?

Overeem (35-11-1) boasts perhaps the best all-round striking in the heavyweight division. His Muay Thai pedigree means he'll combine punches with vicious kicks, knees and elbows and, if the fight stays standing, he'll destroy Lesnar within a round.

But Brock is the best wrestler in the division, combining freight-train takedowns with murderous ground-and-pound. I know Overeem has 19 submission wins on his record, but I really can't see him doing anything other than getting smashed to bits if Lesnar takes him down and can keep him there.

When the fight was first announced, I saw Overeem stopping Lesnar with a knee on the way in and taking him out with strikes quickly. As time has worn on though, I've been leaning more towards Lesnar.

So, here it is. BOLD PREDICTION ALERT! I don't think Overeem will be able to stop Brock taking him down. I envisage Lesnar charging across the cage like a mad man and trying to drive Overeem through the canvas. He'll get him down and beat him up until the ref stops the fight, in the first round.

But whatever happens, be it Brock or Overeem winning, I'll be amazed if it lasts longer than two rounds.

- On a fairly unispiring undercard, the co-main event between bad-tempered Nate Diaz and ruthless Donald Cerrone stands out a mile. For me, that's got fight of the night written all over it. Look for the more-technical Cerrone, another Muay Thai striker, to battle his way to a points win. It's a must-watch battle. You can watch UFC 141 on ESPN in the UK, from 3am tonight/Saturday morning. Enjoy!

- What do you think? Post a comment and let me know!

Can Carl Froch beat Andre Ward?

Mark Heath — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:35:00 GMT

THE last big fight of the year pits our very own Carl Froch as an underdog against American Andre Ward in a dust-up to decide the best super-middleweight fighter in the world.

Pretty much everyone in the boxing trade is predicting a win for the unbeaten Ward (24-0, 13KO) when the pair meet in the Super 6 final in Atlantic City on Saturday night.

(Please visit the site to view this video)

But can Nottingham's Froch get the upset and continue a remarkable streak which has seen him fight, and beat, some of the best boxers in the world?

The answer is, of course, yes. While Ward's speed, skill and general slickness do suggest he's the man more likely to claim victory, probably on points, Froch will not make it easy for him.

The British brawler (28-1, 20KO) is a true blood and guts warrior who is never in a bad fight.

(Please visit the site to view this video)

Froch is at a marked disadvantage when it comes to speed and technique here though.

So how does he win? For me, he has to start fast and get in Ward's face. If he allows the American to box behind the jab and get comfortable racking up the rounds, he's on a hiding to nothing.

Nope, Froch, one of the toughest men in perhaps the hardest sport around, has to try and wear Ward down. Grab him, lean on him and make him work constantly, make him uncomfortable. No-one has ever really been able to rough Ward up, but for me that has to be the gameplan here.

Yes, Froch may have to take a few shots, but he has the proverbial granite chin.And he never seems to tire - could he catch Ward late on?

There is also the mental battle to consider. The deeply religious Ward has seemed unsually tense in the week leading up to the fight, and has taken unkindly to suggestions by Froch that calling himself 'The Son of God' is arrogant and distasteful.

Perhaps, if Froch can ruffle Ward's feathers early on and get him to lose his cool, he can goad him into standing and trading leather in a manner which would favour the away fighter.

Enough talking then, time for a prediction. Will Froch do it?

Sadly, though my heart tells me he can, my head tells me he won't. While Froch will have his moments in what I expect to be a cracking fight, I can't see beyond a close points victory for Ward.

What is without question, however, is that Froch will do himself, and his country, proud.

- You can watch the fight live on Sky Sports. Froch is set to start his walk to the ring at 2.30am on Sunday morning.

In other boxing news, I have no truck with the 'controversy' surrounding Amir Khan's loss to Lamont Peterson last weekend. Khan simply couldn't cope with the pressure from an inspired Peterson, fighting in his hometown, and for me deserved to lose his titles. The rematch will be a fascinating affair.

Watch this: Marius Zaromskis lands a somersault kick....

Mark Heath — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:20:00 GMT

AS modern mixed martial artists continue to develop new skills and tricks, we're seeing more and more attacks that look like they're straight out of a video game or far-fetched film - and I think this might be the best one yet...

London-based fighter Marius Zaromskis, known as the best kicker in MMA, landed a beauty on the unfortunate Bruno Carvalho at the recent Rumble of the Kings event in Stockholm. I don't know if he's got a name for it, but I'm calling it 'Rolling Thunder'....

(Please visit the site to view this video)

If you've seen better, let me know!

In other combat sports news this weekend, two big fights see Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito do battle in a rematch of their classic first war while unbeaten Brit Martin Murray attempts to steal Felix Sturm's middleweight crown in Germany.

I can see Cotto-Margarito being another thriller. Both are agressive, all action fighters, but I fancy a reverse of the result from their first bout, which Margarito won by late stoppage. I just think AM has probably lost a bit more than Cotto has over time, plus the psychological impact of his hand-wrap scandal, and superior boxer Cotto will do enough to take a points decision.

Which leaves us with Murray's quest to dethrone Sturm. I thought Matthew Macklin deserved the victory in his challenge to Sturm earlier this year, but the notoriously questionable fight scoring in Germany saw him drop a controversial decision.

I think if Murray is to claim the belt, he has to stop Sturm. He has the power to do it, but I think Sturm's better technical boxing will carry him through to another points victory - although I have a feeling this one won't be as disputed...

Let me know what you think - and enjoy the fights!

Shogun-Hendo was epic, but did you see Michael Chandler-Eddie Alvarez fight?

Mark Heath — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:57:35 GMT

IF you're any kind of fight fan at all, you'll still be recovering from the incredible Dan Henderson-Shogun Rua fight at UFC 139 - but there was another classic fight on the same night which you may have missed.

While Hendo and Shogun were battering each other at UFC 139 on TVs around the world in what may have been the greatest MMA fighter ever - for the record, I scored it a draw - Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler were duking it out for the Bellator lightweight title in the shadows on MTV2 in America.

Muscular wrecking-machine Alvarez, who many consider to be the best lightweight in the world outside of UFC/Strikeforce, hadn't lost since 2008. And then he met Chandler...

Sit back and enjoy. Oh, and if you've not seen Hendo-Shogun yet, you owe it to yourself to find it somehow...

(Please visit the site to view this video)

UFC on Fox and Pacquiao-Marquez - the best fight night of the year

Mark Heath — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:18:00 GMT

Saturday night in America sees a watershed moment for combat sports - and if you consider yourself a fighting fan, you've got to be watching.

First comes the big debut of the UFC on network channel Fox, with a one-hour show dedicated to just one fight - the battle for the UFC heavyweight title between holder Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior Dos Santos.

It's the first time the world's biggest MMA promotion will be exposed to a huge, national TV audience in the US, and the Velasquez/JDS fight is a great way to start...

(Please visit the site to view this video)

So, who wins? For me, the fight will swing on one question - can decorated wrestler Cain take Dos Santos down, and keep him there? While excellent on his feet, I can't believe Velasquez will want to risk trading punches with JDS too much - Dos Santos is a brilliant striker with super fast, brutally heavy hands, and I think would enjoy an advantage if the fight stays standing.

But if Cain can take him down - which we've yet to really see anyone do - and use the sort of ground and pound attack which wrecked Brock Lesnar, it's his fight. Although JDS has excellent jiu-jitsu, it's hard to pull off submissions when you've got a monster on top of you raining down a barrage of heavy punches and elbows.

I can't see this one going the full five. Both guys are great examples of modern MMA - polite, articulate and respectful, and I think the fight will introduce a whole new fan base to the sport. When it ends though, I believe Velasquez will be the one with his hand raised, after a stoppage in the third or fourth round. I just can't see JDS stopping Cain's takedowns for the whole fight...

You can see the fight for yourself, free of charge on Premier Sports, channel 433 on Sky at around 2am on Sunday morning.

And after that flick over to Primetime (where you will have to pay) to watch the greatest boxer in the world, Manny Pacquiao, take on old enemy Juan Manuel-Marquez in the third fight of their trilogy.

The first fight, in 2004, was drawn - despite Pacquiao decking JMM three times in the first round - while Pac-Man claimed the second by just one point in 2008. I thought he lost.

Unfortunately for Marquez, a lot has changed since that fight. Pacquiao has leapt to another level, destroying Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito while moving up to weltwerweight.

As well as seemingly becoming bulletproof, he's carried his power and speed up the weights to incredible effect.

(Please visit the site to view this video)

This looks like too much of an ask for Marquez. Yes, he's the only fighter to have really pushed Pac in the last few years, but this is at a much-higher weight - where Floyd Mayweather dismantled him - and I can't see how he can win. He's bulked up and obviously fancies he can catch Pacquiao with his excellent counter punches, but for me Manny is now on a different level.

Watching him fight is awe-inspiring these days. I haven't seen a combination of speed, power and accuracy like his for years if, frankly, ever. The only fight that matters in boxing, as has been the case for the past two years, is Pacquiao-Mayweather.

Pac-Man by stoppage somewhere between rounds five and nine.

- What do you think though? Let me know by leaving a comment below!

RIP Smokin' Joe Frazier

Mark Heath — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:02:00 GMT

"I'm happy the guy's in my time, and I'm sure he's happy I'm in his time. He wouldn't be making the money fighting those other guys that he made fighting me."

'Smoking' Joe Frazier, who died yesterday aged 67, once uttered the words above about his old rival Muhammad Ali and in death, as it was in life, it's hard to separate the two.

Ali already had the charisma, gift of the gab and the skill of self-publicising. Frazier was the butt of his cruel jokes and found himself outgunned by Ali everywhere but inside the ring. But it was Frazier who made Ali who he was, and the legend he is now.

He lent Ali money when he was banned from the ring for his stance on the Vietnam war and his relentless, march forward style was the perfect foil for Ali's speed and boxing skill. He was one of very few who could consider themselves the equal of 'The Greatest'.

Their three fights defined the greatest era in heavyweight boxing history. More than the heavyweight title, it was as though they fought for the championship of each other. If you ever get the chance, you owe it to yourself to watch them all.

I still have no idea how Ali rose from the murderous left hook which Frazier landed in the 'Fight of the Century' back in 1971 at Madison Square Garden, but I know we will never see the likes of that bout again - two unbeaten, genuine heavyweight champions trading leather on a night so monumental that Frank Sinatra had to take employment as a photographer for TIME magazine just to get in.

(Please visit the site to view this video)

The final fight in their trilogy, the Thrilla in Manilla, remains one of my favourite fights of all time. It was brutal, exhausting and hard to watch at times. Despite the fact he could barely see, Frazier refused to back down and kept marching forward, winging his famed hooks and getting peppered with Ali's lightning combinations.

When cornerman Eddie Futch retired his brave fighter at the end of the 14th round, he told him words that echo as perfectly now as they did then.

"It's over Joe. But no-one will ever forget what you did here today."

Rest in peace Smokin' Joe. Thanks for the memories.

My picture of 2011 - BJ Penn and Nick Diaz post UFC 137

Mark Heath — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:14:37 GMT

The old adage says that a picture can tell a thousand words - and it's bang on the money here.

Take a look at this image. Nick Diaz, on the left, has just spent 15 minutes trading leather with MMA legend BJ Penn, on the right. Diaz won a classic fight at UFC 137 on points, but both wear the scars and colours of battle.

And yet here they embrace backstage after the fight, revelling in the experience they have just shared, and only they can appreciate.

I love this picture. For me, it embodies everything that makes combat sport so compelling, so true.

It is also the side of fighting that the anti-brigade will never understand. For them, all those who take part in combat sports are mindless thugs who only do it through a perverted, sadistic love of violence.

That is, of course, rubbish. Not only are fighters the best conditioned athletes on the planet, the culture of respect running through the different variations of the sport is second to none.

There may be harsh words and hype before a fight, but only in the very rarest of circumstances will that continue afterwards.

It is why you so often see two fighters embrace so warmly at the end of a bout. They have shared something special, and appreciate being given the chance to test their skills - and their soul - against someone else.

As ugly as some may think fighting is, it's beautiful to me.

- If you haven't seen the Diaz-Penn fight, you owe it to yourself to track it down. What a war.

- What do you think? Leave a comment below, follow me on Twitter @mark__heath or e-mail me at mark.heath@archant.co.uk.

The power of the elbow strike, plus Floyd Mayweather returns to face Victor Ortiz

Mark Heath — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:56:24 GMT

THIS year of matters feet and fistic has seen some truly jaw-dropping KO's - and now we can add Jordan Mein and his 'hellbows' into the mix.

Mein decimated former Strikeforce title challenger Cyborg Santos with standing elbow strikes at last weekend's Strikeforce event. It was pretty breathtaking stuff...

(Please visit the site to view this video)

The use of elbows is becoming ever more prevalent in today's MMA as fighters realise and develop their vast potential. They're hard to practice in sparring - elbow pads are clearly a must - yet their effectiveness when thrown and landed correctly is without question.

Traditionally thought of mainly as a tool to cut opponents and perhaps end a fight that way, a range of HELLbows are now a must have skill in the toolbox for any aspiring fighter as the modern-day MMA athlete continues to evolve and add new tricks to their armoury.

They come, of course, from Muay Thai - the brutal art of eight limbs - and it would be negligent of me not to include an example of them being employed in said science.

The second round of this fight, between Jongsanan Fairtex and Sakmongkol, is one of the most incredible things I've ever seen. Less chin of granite, more of bomb-proof titanium!

(Please visit the site to view this video)

I can't conclude this look without including perhaps the greatest elbow KO ever - delivered by probably the greatest fighter who ever lived, Anderson Silva. Behold the diagonal back elbow......

(Please visit the site to view this video)

So, if you're an aspiring fighter, the message is clear - throw them 'bows!

- In other news this week, pugilist without peer Floyd Mayweather returns to the ring after his 2,678th retirement to face much-hyped Victor Ortiz. It's an interesting fight in that Floyd has to start to slow down and fall off at some point, while Ortiz is among the biggest and strongest fighters he's ever faced and is coming off a great win over Andre Berto.

However, I don't think this is the fight in which we finally see unbeaten Floyd fail. Look for him to take a fairly wide points verdict using his superior speed and defensive boxing.

Marcus Aurelio's flying switch-kick KO...

Mark Heath — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:51:00 GMT

Apologies, friends, for the extended blogging break, but I'm back with another great KO in this year of highlight-reel finishes - and this one's straight from a video game.

Marcus Aurelio, known for his capoeira skills, pulled out a high-kicking beauty against Jose Cornejo at BFL 10 this past weekend.

You don't see a lot of capoeira (a dancing style of martial art) in MMA, namely because it doesn't seem to be massively effective - most fight fans from the past decade or so would probably associate it with Tekken video game character Eddy Gordo, who was ruddy unbeatable as he danced away on the floor beneath your character's pathetic linear punches and kicks.

(Please visit the site to view this video)

But Aurelio's bringing it into real life combat - and unfortunately for Cornejo, he was the recipient...

(Please visit the site to view this video)

Nice. But I don't think it's displaced my all time favourite capoeira finish....what do you think?

(Please visit the site to view this video)

- Big weekend of MMA ahead, with the UFC returning to Brazil for UFC 134. Some huge fights on the card in Rio - Silva/Okami, Shogun/Griffin, Schab/Big Nog all stand out , as does our very own Ross Pearson who has a very tough bout with Muay Thai wrecking machine Edson Barboza.

Should be a great event - and I'll be back next week with my post-event thoughts/highlights.

Enjoy the bank holiday!

WATCH THIS: Forget Kevin Mitchell and John Murray, Wolak-Rodriguez was the real fight of the year

Mark Heath — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:25:00 GMT

Hopefully, most of you reading this blog will have enjoyed the thrilling Kevin Mitchell-John Murray dust-up on Saturday night. It was a gripping, back-and-forth war dripping in drama - but it wasn't even close to being the best fight of the weekend.

Friends, I am here to serve - and if you listen to nothing else I say, heed this advice. Pawel Wolak vs Delvin Rodriguez, shown on ESPN Friday Night Fights, was THE fight of 2011. In fact, it's one of the best five fights I've ever seen, up there with Macklin-Moore, Corrales-Castillo and Ali-Frazier III.

For ten rounds, these two light-middleweight warriors pretty much went toe-to-toe, Wolak relentlessly marching forward in the style of his idol 'Raging Bull' Jake Lamotta, while Rodriguez sought to make a bit of space for his more accurate and technical hooks and uppercuts - the success of which was etched upon Wolak's face towards the end of the fight...

It was incredible. Everything which makes boxing one of my favourite sports was on display - skill, guts, courage and determination. The sweat and blood may as well have been oozing from my screen.

The result, a majority draw, was a fair one. Personally, I thought Rodriguez just edged it with his cleaner work, but no-one deserved to lose. It was, quite simply, a classic. Colour commentator Teddy Atlas got a little carried away and suggested that both fighters could beat a Klitschko, but, considering the wonder of what he'd just seen, Teds can be forgiven.

And now they've got to do it again! The sport is the real winner etc, etc...

But I've waxed lyrical enough. The fight has to be seen to be believed - and so here it is......Enjoy, and let me know what you think!

(Please visit the site to view this video)

When in trouble, throw a spinning backfist!

Mark Heath — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:49:00 GMT

ARTHUR Guseinov was in a spot of bother against Tyson Jeffries at last weekend's M-1Challenge 26 - until he pulled out a bit of razzle dazzle which left Jeffries firmly separated from his senses on the canvas...

(Please visit the site to view this video)

Nice. Understand, the spinning backfist is not your average martial arts punch. It's rarely thrown in sparring, for example, because it's so hard to control the power of the strike. So when you see it unleashed properly in competition - and land with such devastating effect - it's something to savour.

Thus, one can forgive the commentators getting so excited - the 'spinning backfist from Hades' line is among my personal favourites of the year.

And no mention of any spinning backfist business could possibly be complete without a nod to Shonie Carter's now-legendary hailmary KO of Matt Serra back in the early days of UFC. Unfortunately, I can't find a video of it anywhere, but trust me, that's worth seeing...

- Your thoughts please....what's your favourite 'showtime' KO? Log in and leave me a comment below.

Cheers!

Haye vs Klitschko aftermath: Give the Hayemaker a break, plus the KO of the year

Mark Heath — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:24:00 GMT

SO, David Haye lost the big fight with Wladimir Klitschko. Shame. But from the backlash against the mouthy Londoner, you'd think he'd shot the Queen.

Yes, he talked a lot of smack before comprehensively losing a fight he promised he'd win by utter decimation. Yes, blaming a broken little toe afterwards - in a sport in which you get beaten around the head and body - was pretty lame. And yes, the dust-up was far from the fistic fireworks that Haye and Adam Booth vowed would explode in Hamburg.

But some of the fallout from Haye's loss has been ridiculous. One noted American scribe - I still have no idea how he got a job writing about boxing - tweeted after the bout that 'Haye can't fight.' Totally and utterly absurd.

The radio commentary - which I had to rely on as I was on a short break in the Peaks - gave the impression that Haye was being given a beating akin to Apollo Creed in Rocky 4.

When I returned home and actually watched the fight, it became apparent that was far from the truth.

Here's the reality. Haye pushed a dominant, underrated and under-appreciated champion more than he has been in years. He took some big shots from a KO specialist and refused to crumble. Despite the fact that his cause looked lost, he never stopped trying to win.

Haye lost, yes, but his performance was far from the disgrace which some have tried to portray. Beating Klitschko in Germany was always going to be incredibly difficult.

If he decides to fight on - and I hope he does - there's a lot more left in the tank, and he's still more than capable of winning another world title.

In short, don't jump on the hate Haye bandwagon. Aside from running his mouth a bit, he's done nothing to deserve losing your support.

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In other news, there was a huge boxing highlight on the Haye-Klitschko undercard, which you may have missed.

Ola Afolabi, fighting the aged Terry Dunstan for a fringe cruiserweight title, unleashed exactly the sort of nuclear right hand that we all hoped to see Haye detonate later.

It has to be a contender for KO of the year....(skip to the 2min 40secs mark for the punch)

(Please visit the site to view this video)

Awesome. Perfect technique - throwing the right hand over the top of a lazy jab. Kudos.

- What do you think about the Haye fight? Have you seen a better boxing KO in 2011 than Afolabi? Let me know! Just log in and leave a comment...

David Haye vs Wladimir Klitschko preview: Guaranteed knockout?

Mark Heath — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:16:00 GMT

IF you listen to David Haye, Saturday night's world heavyweight title fight between the Londoner and Ukranian Wladimir Klitschko will be over quickly and brutally in the Hayemaker's favour.

Don't believe a word of it. In IBF and WBO belt holder Klitschko, Haye faces by far the sternest test of his whole career. Indeed, if he was to pull off the victory in Hamburg, it would be among the greatest achievements in British boxing history.

So, how will the fight unfold? Let's get to it.

First of all there is the mental battle to consider. Haye's been doing his uptmost to get under 'Dr Steelhammer's' skin, with some of the trash talk perhaps crossing the line from bad taste into something a little more offensive.

Haye's sporting of a T-shirt depicting him holding the severed heads of both Klitschko brothers (see above) at a press conference to announce the aborted fight between he and Wlad in 2009 started a pretty unpleasant war of words, which has continued to this day.

Consider the following HBO faceoff to see who you think is getting the better of the pyschological warfare (be warned, there's a bit of potty mouth of Haye so please don't watch if you're likely to be offended.)

(Please visit the site to view this video)

I firmly believe that Haye has pursued the wind-up approach in a bid to get the normally unflappable Wlad to lose his head in the ring and leave himself open to the dynamite which Haye boasts in his fists.

Wlad, after all, is renowned for his suspect chin, as demonstrated against South African slugger Corrie Sanders in a huge 2003 upset...

(Please visit the site to view this video)

It's worth noting though, that the WK of 2011 is an entirely different animal. He fights tall (at 6ft 6.5ins, he towers over 6ft 3ins Haye), boxes behind an absolute sledgehammer of a jab and, when he does throw the right hand, one imagines it's akin to being hit with a sodden elephant.

He'll be looking to pepper the smaller man with his jab before ending matters with his huge right cross.

And WBA champ Haye, for all his bluster, must know that he cannot afford to carelessly charge in seeking Wlad's head, because he'll get smashed up quickly and find himself KO victim number 50....

(Please visit the site to view this video)

Haye, of course, knows what it is to lose and get stopped. His chin, too, is perhaps less than stellar....

(Please visit the site to view this video)

What Haye must do, then, is box clever. I imagine there'll be a fair bit of posturing and feinting in the first couple of rounds - I think there's a good chance no-one will throw a serious punch in the first minute of the bout - as both fighters look for openings.

If Haye can slip that ramrod jab, unleash his straight right or wicked left hook and shake Wlad, then the fight takes on a whole new face. Haye's power is totally destructive and there's no doubt he can knock Wlad out if he catches him...

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There is also the possibility though that, if Haye feels he's losing the power battle, he may adopt a pick-and-pop, in-and-out strategy. It may even be his main gameplan - his speed and agility are certainly among the few physical advantages he has over his foe.

It could be that, for all his talk of a brutal KO, Haye and trainer Adam Booth fancy that a points victory based on speed and elusiveness is their best chance.

And so we come to a prediction....who will stand alone victorious in that ring on Saturday night?

I've been struggling with that question for months. Both men can win, no doubt.

It is, I believe, as close to a 50/50 fight as you could wish for. Haye is faster and more powerful than any previous WK opponent, while Wlad packs the best jab and the biggest right hand that the Hayemaker has ever faced.

For me though, this fight could come down to sheer size. An old boxing adage advises that a good big'un beats a good little'un, and ultimately I think that may be the most accurate breakdown of this battle.

As much as I'd love to see Haye win - and he'll always have a chance with his fight-changing power - I can see Klitschko dragging him into deep water with his jab, tiring him out by leaning on him with his sheer size and weight and finally ending the fight with a late KO.

So, I'm taking a Wlad win, either on points or late stoppage......but what do you think?

Enjoy the fight!