By James Slater: It really does look like WBC heavyweight king Vitali Klitschko is almost desperate to fight David Haye. Ever since his younger brother’s points win over Haye, 40-year-old Vitali has spoken of his desire to KO the brash Londoner.
Now, less than two months into his retirement, Haye has been given a three week deadline in which he must decide if he wants the fight or not. Fightnews.com has reported how Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions has confirmed that talks have taken place, and that Haye is the first choice of opponent for “Dr. Iron Fist.”
Vitali’s next fight will be in either February or March, in Germany, and there are other fighters being looked at – Haye is Vitali’s first choice, however. So, somehow, the ball is back in the former WBA ruler’s court: Haye now has those three weeks in which to decide what he wants to do.
Meanwhile, according to Gareth A Davies of The Telegraph, Bernd Boente has said the fight will come down to British T.V rights. The Klitscko’s manager told Davies that he, Haye and British TV are currently “talking over the details” on “the very important key for this fight.” Boente said the fight, if it happens, could go out on “free T.V, Primetime or Frank Warren’s BoxNation.”
Boente added that “regardless of whether it is Haye or not, Vitali will announce his next fight the week after Wladimir fights on December 10th.”
Wladimir, as we know, faces Jean Marc Mormeck on Dec. 10th (in a perceived mismatch), and it seems there is a very good chance big brother Vitali will also meet a former cruiserweight champ next – in Haye. Boente made it clear that Haye will “not get 50-50 this time,” referring to the purse split the 31-year-old enjoyed when he fought Wladimir. Haye must have known he wouldn’t get that good a deal anyway, so the main obstacle to making the fight now is the making of a deal with British T.V.
“Without the right offer from British TV, the fight makes no sense,” Boente said. “That’s what it comes down to.”
It also comes down to whether or not Haye actually wants the fight. If he does decide to box again, Haye will have had one of the shortest retirements in all of boxing history!