David Haye says he is “leaning pretty heavily” towards Deontay Wilder beating Tyson Fury in their heavyweight showdown on Saturday.
British challenger Fury faces Wilder at Los Angeles’ Staples Center, with the WBC world heavyweight title on the line.
Fury fights his most explosive opponent just 14 rounds into a comeback that follows an absence of more than two-and-a-half years, and he also represents Wilder’s most difficult challenger.
But former world champion Haye is predicting a stoppage victory for the American.
“This is the most excited I have been about a fight since Anthony Joshua versus Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, and I believe it’s the most important one since that Wembley showdown,” said Haye, a BetFair ambassador.
“I am expecting something on a similar scale as well in LA on Saturday, with two undefeated fighters going head-to-head – it’s guaranteed fireworks.
“Tyson Fury is the outsider here, but he has a history of upsetting the applecart. I’m hearing all the same things now – in fact, I’m saying them myself – – that Fury doesn’t have the firepower to deal with Deontay Wilder, but Tyson can find a way.
“But I am leaning pretty heavily towards Wilder, taking into account how the two of them have lived their lives over the past few years.
“My bet would be Wilder by stoppage. Fury has never faced an athlete like him before. The American reminds me of an NBA player in the way he can just keep going.
“Fury comes from a fighting family and we know he has plenty of heart. He got up off the floor against Steve Cunningham, and he will probably have to do it again here.
“Tyson will be aiming for a points win, but at no point will he be able to get excited even if plenty of rounds have passed. It only takes one Wilder punch to knock him out.”
Haye says that Fury would have ideally faced better opposition than he did in his two comeback fights ahead of tackling Wilder.
But Haye added: “Although we don’t know what he has been doing behind closed doors, hopefully he’s been sparring with guys who can emulate Wilder’s style in some way.
“Fury will need to be at his absolute best as Wilder is the real deal. He has got the right mindset – he believes he is better than anything else on the planet.”