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Klit seems to be bottling it - won't fight in London

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7893143.stm


Haye offers Klitschko German bout
David Haye
Haye 'wants to fight the best' in the heavyweight division

David Haye has offered to fight WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in Germany after prospects of the bout taking place in London faded.

Haye's camp seemed close to agreeing a deal for a June bout in London but the fight itself could now be in doubt unless an agreement is found quickly.

Haye wants the fight so much he would travel to Klitschko's backyard for it.

"David will fight Wladimir anywhere they choose," the 28-year-old's trainer and manager Adam Booth said.

Klitschko, 32, who is based in Germany, boasts 52 wins in 55 bouts.

His last success came on 13 December when the referee stopped American Hasim Rahman's punishment in the seventh round.

606: DEBATE
Will the fight ever take place?

Haye defeated American Monte Barrett last November and has 21 wins inside the limit in 22 fights, with one defeat.

Booth said that in order to persuade the Klitschko camp to sign up to the fight they had offered them the two rematch options they requested.

"In regards to the rematches clause, I am baffled as to why Klitschko co-manager Bernd Bonte seems to have forgotten our last conversation about this," said Booth.

"We said they could have the two rematches they wanted, which effectively means David's next three fights could be in Germany against either Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko.

"David doesn't want to dodge Wladimir and just pick and choose his way through boring, fringe contenders.

"He wants to fight the best and restore some excitement to the heavyweight division. We only hope Wladimir feels the same way."

Londoner Haye had originally been expected to fight Wladimir's elder brother Vitali for the WBC belt.

However, in January Vitali revealed that the siblings had tossed a coin to decide who should fight former undisputed cruiserweight champion Haye.

Vitali, 37, who had announced his retirement in 2005 but reclaimed his WBC title last year, is now preparing for a mandatory defence against Juan Carlos Gomez of Cuba on 21 March.

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"Juan Carlos Gomez". I mean, who? The only names on his opponents list I recognise are Oliver McCall and Samil Sam. OK, so he beat both of them but the rest of his record seems mostly padding.

This is the biggest fight in heavyweight boxing right now - it needs to be made. Why is it at lower weights a man can go from being champ in one division to challenging for the belt in the class above straight away, but even though Haye was undisputed cruiserweight champ he can't get a heavyweight title shot?