Each day our exclusive MATCH OF THE DAQ service previews the big match of the day – usually a televised game.

As well as the preview we also bring you the head to head records of the two teams as well as a recommended bet on BETDAQ for the match.


Wladimir Klitschko v David Haye
Heavyweight World Title Fight
Start time 22:00, Sky Box Office

HEAD-TO-HEAD

(Max last 10 only)
n/a

PREVIEW

After all the talk – and there’s been plenty of it – Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye will finally meet in the ring on Saturday night in the biggest heavyweight contest since Lennox Lewis beat Mike Tyson in 2002.

In the build-up Haye has undoubtedly got under his opponent’s skin and would be ahead on most observers’ cards when it comes to the obligatory pre-fight slanging match. Now the time has come for the Hayemaker to prove that he is the real deal.

The Briton is the underdog on Betdaq at 2.71 and he has to overcome Klitschko’s height and reach advantage, not to mention his greater experience. The other threat is the one presented by the bout’s location.

Fighting in Germany means, as ex-Heavyweight champ Lewis himself has said, that Haye must surely knockout 1.6 favourite Klitschko in order to take his belts. Haye is 3.15 to win by KO, TKO or DQ on the Daq and 11.5 by decision. In the same markets, Klitschko is 2.34 and 4.4 respectively.

Another reason to expect that this one won’t go the distance is each man’s pedigree when it comes to delivering those knockout blows. Of Haye’s 25 wins, 23 were by KO, as were 49 of Klitschko’s 55 victories.

Haye does have the tools to add Klitschko’s IBF and WBO belts to his own WBA version and he’ll most likely be looking to get the job done quickly, knowing that the longer the contest runs on, the more it plays into Klitschko’s hands.

This is the Bermondsey Bomber’s fifth fight since leaving the cruiserweight division and has shown he can handle bigger opponents, notably when taking the WBA crown from Nikolai Valuev, the seven-foot Russian, in 2009.

At 2.7 on Betdaq, Haye represents the value, but on the basis of the above argument he should be backed to win by KO, TKO or DQ at 3.15. It may also be worth having a several small punts in the round betting at big prices.

RECOMMENDATION: (1-10 points)
Haye to win by KO, TKO or DQ at around 3.15: 3 points
Haye round 3 at around 22: 1 point
Haye round 4 at around 23: 1 point
Haye round 5 at around 22: 1 point

Friday’s Return: -4 points