David Haye fans heading for Hamburg predict victory

These Haye fans say they had spent their yearly holiday money to see the fight

Thousands of David Haye fans are on their way to Hamburg this weekend to watch the most eagerly anticipated fight of 2011.

Haye, 30, takes on Wladimir Klitschko in the heavyweight title unification bout at the Imtech Arena on Saturday.

The British fighter, who is the WBA title holder, will be attempting to win Klitschko's IBF and WBO belts.

One of the many British fans who have made the trip is Imranur Rahman, 24, who has travelled with his brother Emdadur and three mates, Jubhair Kamal, Jiger Patel and Khalid Hussain.

They caught an early flight to Germany from Heathrow Airport.

'Good performance'

With their Haye T-shirts on and banners packed, the group have spent some serious money on this fight.

"The money we paid we could've gone on a five-star holiday for seven nights. It's our yearly holiday condensed in five days, so he better win," Emdadur said.

"I want a good performance, not a brawl, a real show."

Haye has been criticised for suggesting he would send Klitschko in hospital

Imranur booked his tickets as soon as the fight was announced in January.

"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, we had to go," he said.

Haye will certainly appreciate that. In a statement on his website he has praised his fans for ditching summer holiday plans and coming to Hamburg instead.

They will be part of an expected crowd of 45,000 for the fight which is a step up from Haye's last contest, a straightforward victory in November 2010 against Audley Harrison.

And Khalid fully expects Haye to earn the 26th win of his career.

"If Haye can rock someone like [Nikolai] Valuev in Germany, Klitschko won't be a problem.

"We wouldn't be going if we thought Haye could lose. It'll go to points," he said.

But the bookmakers disagree and have made Klitschko the favourite.

'Trash talk'

The build-up to the fight has also been controversial, with Haye's suggestion that he would put Klitschko in an ambulance attracting criticism.

The Ukrainian called it disrespectful and childish and said Haye would lose British support if he carried on with those sorts of remarks.

Jubhair agreed the comments were in bad taste.

"I lost a bit of respect for Haye when he made those comments," he said. "I know trash talk is part of it but there is a limit. I didn't think Haye would say stuff like that."

Khalid, though, thinks it's part of the sport.

"It's a ploy to win," he said. "Half of it is about the physical side, the other is the psychological battle.

"You always have a villain and a hero to promote it. Klitschko is the gentlemen and Haye is the brash trash talking one. That's boxing."

But after all that money, hype and trash talk, what if Haye loses? Jiger is not worried.

"We'll burn the T-shirt," he said. "He'll probably go into hiding after everything he's been saying but a Haye victory is definitely on the cards."