BRITAIN’S DAVID HAYE said Tuesday he would not be fighting Vitali Klitschko in Ukraine because of death threats he has received from ‘crazy racists’ there.
Haye wants to fight WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko after losing his WBA crown to Klitschko’s younger brother Wladimir in Hamburg last year.
But the 31-year-old said that he was only prepared to box in Germany, where the Klitschko brothers normally fight, and not in Ukraine.
“I’ve never been to Ukraine but I have heard it’s very dangerous for a black man,” Haye told Sport Bild.
“There are crazy racists who have already sent me death threats. So Germany would be the best and safest place for me to beat Vitali and get out of the stadium alive.”
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He continued: “He (Vitali) promised many times that he could fight me, beat me by KO but that’s rubbish.
“Wladimir Klitschko said the same thing and didn’t knock me out in 12 attempts. I’m too fast, sexy and talented to be impressed by a big, slow robot from Ukraine.”
Haye lost the WBA title on points against Vladimir Klitschko in July 2011, in only the second defeat of his career.
He had also talked of hanging up his gloves but got back in the ring on July 14, beating compatriot Dereck Chisora in London.
But Haye is convinced that a bout with Vitali is “the only heavyweight fight that everyone wants to see”.
Haye last week accused Vitali of hiding behind the political process to avoid meeting him in the ring.
“Vitali shouldn’t use parliament as an excuse to run from the biggest and best boxing match,” said Haye, referring to the parliamentary elections scheduled in the eastern European nation on October 28.
The elder of the Klitschko brothers is head of the opposition UDAR party and is currently on the campaign trail after successfully defending his WBC title against Germany’s Manuel Charr on September 8 in Moscow.
Haye rules out Ukraine bout amid racism fears
BRITAIN’S DAVID HAYE said Tuesday he would not be fighting Vitali Klitschko in Ukraine because of death threats he has received from ‘crazy racists’ there.
Haye wants to fight WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko after losing his WBA crown to Klitschko’s younger brother Wladimir in Hamburg last year.
But the 31-year-old said that he was only prepared to box in Germany, where the Klitschko brothers normally fight, and not in Ukraine.
He continued: “He (Vitali) promised many times that he could fight me, beat me by KO but that’s rubbish.
“Wladimir Klitschko said the same thing and didn’t knock me out in 12 attempts. I’m too fast, sexy and talented to be impressed by a big, slow robot from Ukraine.”
Haye lost the WBA title on points against Vladimir Klitschko in July 2011, in only the second defeat of his career.
He had also talked of hanging up his gloves but got back in the ring on July 14, beating compatriot Dereck Chisora in London.
But Haye is convinced that a bout with Vitali is “the only heavyweight fight that everyone wants to see”.
The elder of the Klitschko brothers is head of the opposition UDAR party and is currently on the campaign trail after successfully defending his WBC title against Germany’s Manuel Charr on September 8 in Moscow.
- © AFP, 2012
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David Haye Dereck Chisora fears Manuel Charr Racism staying away Ukraine Vitali Klitschko