Boxing: Klitschko calls Haye's bluff over threat to retire
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Wladimir Klitschko has rubbished David Haye's threat to retire by the end of the year without fighting him, branding Britain's WBA heavyweight champion "a liar and a loser".
Haye has said he intends to quit on his 31st birthday in October but the Ukrainian, here for last night's Laureus Awards, said: "He won't because he talks of leaving a legacy – and what sort of legacy would that be without fighting either me or my brother, Vitali?
"He is bluffing, just as he always has been. I now hear he says he is going to retire and go to Hollywood to be an actor. I don't believe it. Anyway, he is already treating boxing like Hollywood, the stupid way he conducts himself."
Klitschko, 34, who holds the WBO, IFB and IBO versions of the title, claims that he and Haye, who has pulled out of proposed bouts against both Wladimir and brother Vitali, the WBC champion, in the past 18 months, had been due to meet on 2 July.
"We had agreed the contracts, the money, everything but he has still found an excuse," Klitschko said. "This is because I had committed to fight Dereck Chisora [the unbeaten but inexperienced British champion] in Mannheim on 30 April. [Haye's] reaction is inexplicable. He doesn't want to allow me to fight Chisora before I fight him but I will not be told what to do by a man who has only fought four heavyweights and whose last fight was a farce against Audley Harrison. I was happy to confirm 2 July but he doesn't want that."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments