WBA heavyweight champion David \u2018The Hayemaker\u2019 Haye has branded rival titleholder Wladimir Klitschko a \u2018coward\u2019, following the Ukrainian\u2019s decision not to unify the belts in a 2011 showdown.
\nA bout between IBF and WBO kingpin Klitschko and Haye appeared close to completion earlier this week, but Wladimir instead decided on an April 30 title defence against Britain\u2019s Dereck Chisora on Wednesday.
\n\u201cWe agreed to a date of July 2nd at a venue in Germany with both Sky Sports and RTL and everybody appeared happy with the deal,\u201d said a bemused Haye.
\n\u201cWe made a few concessions to remove past stumbling blocks and were happy to do so, as it finally looked like the fight would get made. \u201cEven through negotiations, though, it was clear Wladimir was looking for the coward\u2019s way out. He would often come up with new obstacles and problems to overcome, and I never once sensed he fancied it.
\n\u201cHe refused to come to England, wanted to pick his own gloves, enter the ring second, box out of the red corner and demanded a German doctor. We bowed to each and every one of his demands. I didn\u2019t want to potentially jeopardise anything this time around.\u201d
\nWith everything in place for a Haye bout, Klitschko nevertheless settled for Chisora. Still adamant the unification clash will happen, Klitschko informed Haye that he plans to deal with both Brits in 2011.
\n\u201cIt should never have come to this,\u201d said Haye, 25-1 (23 KO). \u201cI was available to fight in May and June, yet Klitschko only gave me dates of April 30 and July 2. The April date would be too close to Amir Khan\u2019s next fight, and prove problematic with Sky Box Office.\u201d
\nThis latest twist in the Haye-Klitschko saga has angered the Brit more than any other and, as he now seeks out a title challenger of his own, the WBA champion is resigned to missing out on the fight he says he desperately wants.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WBA heavyweight champion David \u2018The Hayemaker\u2019 Haye has branded rival titleholder Wladimir Klitschko a \u2018coward\u2019, following the Ukrainian\u2019s decision not to unify the belts in a 2011 showdown. A bout between IBF and WBO kingpin Klitschko and Haye appeared close to completion earlier this week, but Wladimir instead decided on an April 30 title defence […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-273268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n