The robot has learned to dance

“HONESTLY, I don’t think it’ll go much past four rounds.”

Amid all the big talk and loose words scattered to the media before Wladimir Klitschko defends his IBF and WBO titles against WBA champion David Haye in Hamburg tonight, some pack that little bit more punch.

Hall of fame trainer Emanuel Steward — with 31 world champions moulded in his Chicago gym — has earned any podium he chooses. He came to Klitschko’s aid in 2004 and has been credited with “Americanising” the Ukrainian’s once predictable style.

The 67-year-old believes his man can get this job done quickly. The legendary left jab, the hammer right will both play their parts. But Steward told The Ring magazine this one can be won downstairs.

“The strategy for this fight is real simple; create foot pressure, take his space away, like Wladimir did against Eddie Chambers. Cut him off, cut him off, cut him off. Create tension. Don’t give him time to relax.”

Steward believes Klitschko now has the feet to limit Haye’s options, throw him off balance and counter punch devastatingly. And he insists neither the boxing public, or Haye, have afforded Klitschko the credit he is due.

“The only fighters in boxing that do this effectively off the top of my head are Manny Pacquiao and Wladimir. People don’t see Wladimir’s footwork. That amazes me.”

The younger Klitschko’s methodical dismissals of a series of lesser opponents since he was stopped by Lamon Brewster in 2004 have left many boxing fans unmoved.

A career-defining victory is needed but tonight’s opponent still sees Klitschko as a rather lumpen, stand-up technician.

Haye roared: “It’s going to be fun watch this robot start malfunctioning, that’s what’s going to happen... real fast.”

Steward, however, insists the Briton is in for a surprise.

“Haye gets out of balance when he throws his right. That’s why he never throws combinations, because he’s off balance all the time. He’s too far apart and flat footed. Wladimir is always on his toes. He [Haye] better be careful who he’s fighting this time. In his mind Wladimir is a stand-up, robotic guy. He doesn’t see the footwork, how he cuts off the ring, shortens the distance. If he is comparing Wladimir to Valuev and Ruiz, he’s going to have a problem.”

Earlier this year Steward told Boxing News just how he got Klitschko to float as well as sting.

“When I first had Wladimir I had him doing footwork going from side to side. He said, and he was 27 then after 50 fights, ‘I was doing this when I was 14 and you’re making me do this now?’ I said that was why he was successful in the first place. I also made him rock back and forth, to the right then to the left. You’ll be surprised the effect just practicing that will have.

“When you see him box today people can’t figure him out. He doesn’t look that fast but everyone who fights him says, ‘I couldn’t get in’. Wladimir will get you when you think he can’t punch and he’ll do that from a real simple step that creates a little space. People don’t understand why they can’t get to him — it’s rhythm.”

In an interview with East Side Boxing, Steward raved about the big Ukrainian’s punching power.

“Wladimir is the only fighter I’ve ever worked with that everything can be normal like a big party — everybody is having champagne, on the floors, in the tuxedos, with the music — and the lights go off completely at one time. I mean it’s not like a gradual dimmer switch.

“With a sparring partner he threw a left hook, the sparring partner blocked the punch and with 20 ounce gloves he was still knocked out. He has unbelievable one-punch punching power and that’s why maybe he doesn’t put combinations together because he punches so effectively and with so much power with one punch.”

Haye still insists he will: “knock Klitschko’s head off” tonight. But the man who once blamed his defeat by Brewster on the presence of too much vaseline on his skin, might just prove too slippery.