Haye weighs options as Klitschko rematch ruled out

Britain’s David Haye has been told he will not get a rematch against undisputed heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko, but may be offered a title fight against brother Vitali.

Haye lost his WBA belt to Wladimir in Hamburg on Saturday night after a unanimous decision and the Ukrainian added Haye’s title to his IBF and WBO belts.

With elder brother Vitali set to defend his WBC title against Poland’s Tomasz Adamek in Wroclaw, Poland, on September 10, Haye may be offered a bout against Vitali for later this year at the earliest.

“There’s no chance of a rematch,” Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente told the BBC.

“Wladimir will now move on, but Vitali has mentioned he would be interested in knocking Haye out.

“The fight could happen later this year or at the beginning of next year.”

Haye has said he will decide his future soon having initially insisted he will retire before his 31st birthday on October 13.

“My cut-off date is in three months, which in boxing terms is not a long time,” he said, having blamed a broken toe suffered in training for his defeat.

Boente has said Hamburg-based Wladimir is interested in fighting the winner of the heavyweight bout between Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora for the British and Commonwealth title on July 23 at Wembley Arena.

Wladimir Klitschko has twice pulled out of a title defence against Chisora.

Haye says he now expects some back-lash from the British media after two years of continuous trash-talk in which he dubbed Klitschko ‘a fraud’ and ‘a robot’.

The Ukrainian champion admitted he was especially annoyed by Haye’s appearance at a press conference in 2009 wearing a t-shirt showing him brandishing the severed heads of both Klitschko brothers.

“I’m expecting the stick and I won’t take it personally,” said Haye.

“You have to respect Wladimir, he boxed beautifully, he went out there and implemented a great strategy and game-plan.”