By Johnny Walker
After WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko thoroughly dominated a very good fighter in challenger Tomasz Adamek last Saturday in Poland, you might think that any heavyweight left on the planet with ideas about getting into the ring with the meaner and tougher of the heavyweight champion Klitschko brothers would have second thoughts.
Former WBA heavyweight kingpin David Haye, however, is not impressed.
In an interview with the German daily Die Welt, the British heavyweight says that in the wake of Klitschko-Adamek, he is ready to prove that he is the fighter to take down the man who has never been knocked out, or even knocked down, in his professional career. He is even ready to forget about his proposed retirement in October to instead try to end the 40-year-old Vitali’s career.
“I’ll knock him out, I’ll smash his jaw,” Haye told the German paper.
“Vitali, I’ll fight you, if you are man enough.
“It doesn’t matter to me where I fight you, I’ll fight you on the moon.”
Unlike most observers, Haye, who watched the Klitschko-Adamek bout with his trainer, Adam Booth, was not in the least moved by Vitali’s dominant performance.
“I nearly went to sleep, the fight was a drag” said the always colorful, trash-talking Haye.
“The only exciting moment was when Vitali was suddenly on the ground in the eighth round.”
Haye also went on to criticize Klitschko’s recent opponents.
“Vitali is clever, he seeks out only dead victims. Opponents like Shannon Briggs, the old, sick and over the hill, or fighters like Adamek, who can do nothing against him due to his physical inferiority,” said Haye.
As for those who claim that Haye is all talk, having already been beaten easily by Vitali’s younger brother, The Ring recognized world heavyweight champion Wladimir, earlier this year, Haye has an answer.
“Wladimir ran away when I tried to hit him,” said Haye. “Or he held onto me and pulled me to the ground. Unfortunately, the referee let everything go, which was cheeky. Vitali has indeed got more balls (than his brother), but he is also a scared rabbit.”
The “scared rabbit,” however, called out Haye after he had disposed of Adamek, and Haye wants to let Vitali know that he is more than ready to get it on.
“No fight heavyweight brings more publicity as Haye against the old Klitschko. I am the most popular heavyweight on the planet, and with me he can earn the most money.
“We could meet in the ring in February or March. That would be an ideal time. But I cannot imagine that Vitali has the courage to do so. If he does, I guarantee he will never again box and can engage in all his politics,” Haye taunts.
“Vitali is an old dog, ready for the retirement home for boxers.”