By John F. McKenna (McJack)
The manager for the Klitschko brothers, Bernd Boente has confirmed from Vitali’s training camp in the Austrian Alps that talks are ongoing for a showdown between former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-2, 23 KO’s) and WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (43-2, 40 KO’s).
Boente was quoted in The Telegraph saying:
“It’s still the biggest heavyweight fight out there anywhere in the world. We are in talks and we will have to see what the next couple of weeks bring. There is no interest from Wladimir’s side for a rematch, but with Vitali it is a different story. Vitali has always been prepared to fight anyone, but he definitely wants to fight Haye. It feels like unfinished business.”
Haye was soundly defeated in July by Vitali’s younger brother WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko (53-3, 49 KO’s). In that fight, Haye put in a sub par performance with Vladimir winning a one sided unanimous decision.
Haye raised the ire of boxing fans by fighting in a defensive posture, apparently in survival mode. Several times during the contest, Haye flopped to the canvas whenever Wladimir was close enough to do any damage. David made matters worse afterwards by displaying an injured pinky toe, saying that the damaged toe inhibited his performance.
Haye went ahead with his long planned retirement on his 31st birthday on October 13. David however left the door open by saying that he might consider coming out of retirement to fight one of the Klitschko’s. With Vladimir showing no interest in a rematch with the “Hayemaker” the door is open for Vitali. Vitali has long said that he wants to fight Haye after being infuriated by his tactics in the lead up to the fight with Wladimir.
Boente revealed that Vitali has other options if the proposed fight with Haye does not pan out. There is a date in February and a couple of dates in March. Television is one of the major considerations now being discussed and those details still need to be worked out.
Boente went on to say that any announcement regarding when and who Vitali’s next opponent will be, will be made the week after Wladimir Klitschko’s title defense against Jean-Marc Mormeck. Boente made it clear that since David Haye has no title belt he will not get a 50/50 split as he did against Wladimir in July.
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