WBA world heavyweight champion David 'The Hayemaker' Haye left for Miami, USA this morning to kickstart preparations ahead of his summer showdown with IBF/WBO king Wladimir Klitschko.
The 30-year-old Londoner will undertake much of his conditioning work Stateside, and will also set up base at Miami Beach's 5th Street Gym, one-time home of the legendary Muhammad Ali.
"The 5th Street Gym is perfect for me, as the facilities are great and the fighters and trainers that work out there are also top quality,” said Haye. “It also helps to know that so many great fighters from down the years have the made the same decision to train at the gym. It's fair to say I'm in good company.”
Haye plans to spend between six and seven weeks in the United States before returning to London to complete the remainder of his training camp. He feels the diversity of locations, as well as the privacy that Miami brings, will stand him in good stead when the time to meet Klitschko arrives.
“People think Miami is busy and loud and full of parties, but it's not like that when I go there,” said Haye. “If anything, Miami is a much better fit for me ahead of a fight, as I'm anonymous over there and nobody really bugs me or wants anything from me. I can just get my head down and train as hard as I need to train for a fight like this. Sometimes it's difficult to avoid the distractions back home.
“By planning my camp this way round, I'm assured a great start out in Miami and will then look forward to doing the bulk of my sparring in London. By the time I get back to London, I'll be in frightening shape and ready to go."
With three full months still to go before they meet, Wladimir Klitschko has been warned...
