Thursday 10 December 2009

David Haye questions whether Vitali Klitschko has done anything to warrant lofty reputation -- Telegraph.co.uk

By Gareth Davies, Telegraph.co.uk

The younger Klitschko brother, 38, puts his belt on the line against American Kevin Johnson in Switzerland on Saturday.

And Haye, who won the WBA title from Russian giant Nikolay Valuev last month, is keen to topple both brothers before age catches up with them.

"Vitali is nearly 40 years of age now and the clock is ticking," said Haye. "There are probably one million dudes in America called Kevin Johnson, and beating one of them doesn't make you an all-time great heavyweight.

"I want to knock out both Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, and I don't care what order they fall in.

"Vitali's greatest performance to date is a loss to Lennox Lewis. That's his most memorable fight and the one result on his record that will be remembered in the history books.

"The Klitschkos don't care about being great fighters, whereas I do."

The Klitschko brothers can barely lace a glove in anger these days without being harangued and stalked by Haye.

While the Londoner's antics before his defeat of the Russian giant Nikolai Valuev lacked substance, there is a greater resonance now that the 29 year-old holds a version of the world title.

Haye, on Wednesday, mocked fellow titleholder Vitali, suggesting the 6ft 8in tall Ukrainian should ditch the voluntary contenders and unify the sport's marquee division by fighting a belt holder.

"I'll be watching the fight, but only because I have an interest in meeting Vitali next year," said Haye.

"As far as the fight itself goes, it's one of the most unappealing heavyweight title fights for a while – and that's saying something.

"They may be big in Switzerland, but so are yodellers, and nobody wants to watch them fight.

"The fact that a title fight between a Ukrainian and an American is being held in Switzerland tells you all you need to know about the appeal of this fight.

"Heavyweight title fights should be huge events, not an afterthought in a country most famous for producing chocolate."

Elsewhere, Floyd Mayweather Jr has dismissed the claims of predicted victory by Manny Pacquiao supporters ahead of their scheduled superfight next year in the United States, announcing on Wednesday that he "will knock out" the Filipino idol when they meet on March 13.

Source: telegraph.co.uk





Custom Search

No comments:

Post a Comment