If all goes to plan... and big title fights (especially at heavyweight) are never guaranteed until both boxers step through the ropes... it all 'goes down' on July 2nd in Hamburg.
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| Back-To-Lay Opportunity: Patriotic boxing fans will help to drive down the price on David Haye |
David Haye (aka
The Hayemaker) will put his professional record of 25-1 (23 KO) along with his
WBA Heavyweight title on the line against one of his fiercest rivals... in the opposite corner will be
Wladimir Klitschko.
At 35 years of age the Ukrainian is five years older than Haye, and with a 55-3 record Klitschko is the more experienced fighter. He is also the current holder of two world title belts.
Klitschko won the IBF Heavyweight title in 2006 with a R7 win over Chris Byrd and unified the IBF and WBO Heavyweight titles in 2008 when defeating Sultan Ibragimov by unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden, New York.
In fact, his brother, Vitali Klitschko, also holds the WBC version of the title.
Haye To Unify Heavyweight Division
By defeating the giant Nikolai Valuev, Haye landed himself the WBA Heavyweight title and he made a successful second defence of the crown by beating Audley Harrison in three rounds last November.
Only the 'brothers Klitschko' stand between him and being classed as the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the world since Lennox Lewis... and, if he beats Wladimir in Hamburg, the Englishman will hold three of the four major belts. That's enough to merit the title and follow in the footsteps of greats such as Lewis, Mike Tyson and of course Muhammad Ali.
Klitschko Odds-On... But Haye's The Bet
The bookies make Klitschko a warm favourite, as short as 1/2 in a place.
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| Klitschko: IBF and WBO Heavyweight Champion |
However, there can be little doubt Haye (a) has a very good chance of winning this contest and (b) will be heavily supported prior to the bout by fiercely patriotic support.
At a best price of 6/4 there's a good argument to say the 30-year-old Londoner is value as a straight win bet.
It's also evident the expected weight of money from home fight fans will drive the price ever shorter and so open up the chance for quick-witted punters to 'back-to-lay' the underdog.
And whether it's boxing, in this case, or football, golf, cricket or any number of sports... this strategy can pay dividends.
When a bet becomes falsely short (not due to its actual chances of success but because of the sheer weight of money which comes from punters who back with the 'heart' and not the head) this is when shrewd operators can secure a big early price... knowing they have a good value position from which to trade in the run-up to the event taking place.