The big fight on 5 live: Haye v Klitschko
Occasionally, the blood and sweat drop onto our commentary position. We get that close to a harsh, brutal, often irresistible spectacle. And it doesn't get much bigger than this.
We've been here all week at various events which form part of the build-up to a big fight - interviewing boxers, trainers, sparring partners, pundits and fans. Everyone's got a view on the big one.
The number of TV cameras and reporters in attendance is a guide to the significance and size of a fight. This is a monster. Getting access to the fighters is much more difficult during a week like this. The friction beween the fighters rubs off on the media and the scramble to get the mics in place is invariably unseemly.
At workouts staged by each fighter at a car showroom in Hamburg earlier in the week, I waited to talk to David Haye at the end of is session. I was told by his trainer Adam Booth to move to a particular area of the gym, where he would deliver David to me.
David arrived surrounded by half a dozen security guards of Vlad Klitschko dimensions and the interview was conducted on the move as he made his way out of the building to a waiting car. At one stage, I was almost lifted off my feet as the retinue bounded along as a single unit.
For broadcasting purposes, a line has been installed in our producer Jim Hollis' hotel room. We broadcast short reports from there, and it's also where we put together a preview show last night. George Groves, a Haye camp member and brilliant boxer himself, joined us in the room to give us an insight into their preparations. In effect, Jim's room has become a makeshift studio.
On Saturday, the equipment will be moved to ringside at the magnificent Imtech Arena (Fulham played here in the Europa Cup final) and I'll be joined by the former world champion Richie Woodhall, and Steve Bunce. Richie brings great insight and his readiness to tell it straight makes him, for me, one of the best pundits in sport. Buncie has an energy that matches the mood and atmosphere at ringside, allied to an encyclopaedic back-catalogue of knowledge and anecdotes.
All around us will be crews working for any number of countries. It's cramped, uncomfortable and addictive. The nature of the sport means we get closer than most commentary teams to the action. The playing area at football and cricket events, for example, dictate that the commentators are doing their job from a distance.
This is the biggest fight we've covered on 5 live since Ricky Hatton was beaten by Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas in 2007. And it feels like it.
Mike Costello is 5 live's boxing correspondent. There is full coverage of David Haye v Wladimir Klitschko on 5 live from 9.45pm, on Saturday 2 July.
Comment number 1.
At 17:53 2nd Jul 2011, David Shield wrote:Hi Mike, interesting blog, good to see some of the commentators posting on here.
I'm looking forward to the fight tonight, will be watching in the pub with a ear piece in to hear the Five Live coverage. I agree with your comments on both Richie and Steve. I'm pleased to hear that Richie will be in the Five Live team tonight as I thought he might be involved with the Sky Sports coverage.
I also think you are an excellent commentator Mike, your big fight commentaries are always excellent and your style sp perfect for the sport, your calling of the final moments of fights is always exciting and gripping.
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Comment number 2.
At 11:26 3rd Jul 2011, carrie wrote:What a great commentary!! I thought Mike was going to have a heart attack in the last round. This is a great team and the passion and knowledge they have really reaches out to the listeners.
Fantastic stuff.
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Comment number 3.
At 16:13 3rd Jul 2011, David Shield wrote:Well said Carrie, despite the dissapointing result the coverage last night was as ever excellent.
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Comment number 4.
At 09:08 4th Jul 2011, Pickle wrote:Agree with all the above praise. This genuinely is the only thing I always listen to rather than (pay to) watch. It really is better on the radio. Brilliant insight into every aspect. Five really do know how to do Boxing. Its just everything else....
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Comment number 5.
At 19:35 6th Jul 2011, stirling wrote:Why is boxing still legal in 2011?
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Comment number 6.
At 10:10 7th Jul 2011, Pickle wrote:For the same reason that Formula One racing is. You are not allowed to drive your car at over 150 mph, just as we can't go round beating people up to a pulp. But given rules and a code of conduct, and a sporting arena to do it in... why is boxing any different to other sports? Its only thick ignorant people who dont see a difference between Boxing as a sport and people beating each other up in pubs.
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Comment number 7.
At 13:38 8th Jul 2011, carrie wrote:Pickle your piece was on Radio Four Feedback. Incidentally, Mr Richard Bacon came off badly in the same programme regarding the constant stream of "celebrities" he interviewed interrupting the tennis which is apparently what people wanted to hear.
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