I thought they'd boo but Germans are on my side

Sure, Nikolay Valuev and Wladimir Klitschko aren't my favourite German-based boxers, but, on the whole, I've found the rest of the country more to my liking.

Since touching down in Hamburg on Sunday, I have gone on three or four strolls through the city centre and have enjoyed each and every one of them.

Of course, it helps that daily temperatures over here are upwards of 30°C. But weather aside, the Hamburg locals have been very welcoming during my stay and it has been a pleasure bumping into fans of mine on my travels.

I have yet to meet any of the travelling Brits - they will come out later this week - but have been pleasantly surprised by the German reaction towards me. Rather than boo and hiss my every step, I am finding many of the locals keen to grab a photograph or autograph from me.

Also, I have had plenty come up to me and not only wish me luck, but confess that they will be rooting for me on the night.

I even had some bloke approach me on Monday and hand me a CD of his music, which he urged me to listen to in the final hours before my fight with Klitschko. I haven't quite got round to checking it out yet, but his passion certainly raised my interest.

The purpose of these long and mostly directionless strolls into the city is to stretch my legs, kill time and see the sights. Now and again, we make it somewhat productive and give a reason for the strolls - namely to buy bits and bobs like DVDs to kill time back at the hotel.

For the most part, though, the walks just provide me with a chance to escape the claustrophobia of my hotel room. As amazing and spacious as the room is, you can only stay cooped up for so many hours of a day. Thankfully, last night I was allowed out to play and did my first proper training session in Germany.

It wasn't anything strenuous or particularly revealing, but the stint at the gym allowed me just enough time to go through my paces, work up a sweat and rehearse the moves and punches I will showcase on Wladimir's chin this coming Saturday.

The key is to not peak too early and so, while I was eager to let my hands go and kick through the gears, the buzzword was very much restraint and hold back. I had to stop myself at times. Rest assured, though, there will be no leash on Saturday night. Wladimir gets the full Monty.

Saturday's showdown between Haye and Klitschko is exclusively live on Sky Box Office HD and 3D. Go to www.sky.com/orderboxoffice