Klitschko is the IBF, WBO, IBO and Ring magazine champion, and Haye will be defending his WBA belt. The weigh-in was conducted at a sports retailer in the city centre, with Klitschko's supporters largely kept out on his home patch due to the heavy presence of Haye fans. Many of the British boxer's followers sang and chanted, creating a raucous and, at times, unsavoury atmosphere.
Haye does not believe that will have unnerved Klitschko, though. "He's the champion, he's been in this situation many times," he said. "He's stared into the eyes of men who believed they were going to win in the past. He's had enough fights to be able to handle a press conference or weigh-in so he looks confident. But once I start landing my shots and he can't land his, I guarantee he'll start crapping himself.
"The reception [was] tremendous, I don't think Klitschko's ever had to deal with having that type of reception. Every time he's come out everyone has worshipped him and this time round he got a load of boos and jeers."
Haye, who has one defeat and 23 knockouts in his 26 fights, weighed in at 15st 2lb, two pounds more than when he defeated Audley Harrison last November. The 15st 8lb he carried against John Ruiz in early 2010 is the most he has weighed for a fight. Klitschko, who has 55 wins with 49 knockouts and three defeats, was more than two stones heavier than Haye, taking the scales to 17st 5lb.
After the pair had eyeballed each other immediately following the weigh-in Haye was asked what he saw in Klitschko's demeanour. "I saw someone who was ready, hungry and in shape and who believed they were going to win. My prediction is he's going to come out a lot harder than he normally does so he's going to get knocked out quick," he said.
Haye claimed that with Klitschko's superior reach he will need to box him from short range. "Without a doubt you can't allow him to keep you at the end of his jab, you've got to get inside, you've got to let your shots go," he said.
Asked if the 35-year-old likes to bully opponents, Haye said: "Yeah he does, he's used to being bigger and taller with his longer arms so I can't allow him to utilise it.
"This is the biggest fight in boxing, plain and simple. I think the only fight that could match it is Floyd Mayweather against Manny Pacquiao. For various reasons their fight has not happened, and won't happen this year. I'm so proud to be involved in [this] and to be the guy that knocks the other unconscious is going to be a great feeling, to be the main man, at the pinnacle of the heavyweight division."
Haye said it was "unrepeatable" what he had told Klitschko during the weigh-in but the Ukrainian seemed unperturbed. "I've been called a dead man walking before," Klitschko said. "But this dead man keeps walking. And you know what? It's OK the way Haye talks and represents himself. David Haye has been around, talking a lot, and now it is time for the talking to end. I'm angry for the last three years but it has transformed into concentration and motivation now."
Source: guardian.co.uk
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