Former undisputed heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis is backing his friend and countryman David Haye, the new WBA heavyweight champion, to beat Wladimir Klitschko, who holds the IBF/WBO titles. Although Lewis is backing Haye to batter Wladimir, he doesn't view a fight against older brother Vitali Klitschko in the same light.

"Of the two, I would say Wladimir is the easier," Lewis told BBC Sport. "Vitali is very tall, lanky and awkward and it took me a few rounds before I could get to him. He knows how to use his reach but one thing David has over all of us is speed and foot speed.

"If he can improve on that then he can really get in and do the same thing he did against Valuev which is hit without being hit. Like I said I see him beating one, but if he fights Vitali it will be very difficult for him."

Lewis was really impressed with Haye's win over the 7'2 giant, Nikolai Valuev.

"He was boxing a guy that was way bigger then him in height and weight and who is really a freak of nature," said Lewis. "But David showed what a smart boxer he is by taking those disadvantages and turning them into advantages by using his speed and punching ability and movement to stay out of harms way.

"This is the art of boxing, the sweet science of hitting without being hit and he displayed that wonderfully and came home with the belt."