Klitschko slams 'unprofessional' Haye

Eurosport - Sun, 21 Jun 14:30:00 2009

After retaining his IBF and WBO titles by stopping challenger Ruslan Chagaev on Saturday, world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko labelled Britain's David Haye 'unprofessional'.

BOXING Klitschko Haye face off ahead of world title heavyweight fight in Germany - 0

Chagaev suffered the first defeat of his career when he was unable to come out for the tenth round after suffering a cut eye and the referee called off the fight to give Klitschko his 53rd win to retain his titles.

But Klitschko had been scheduled to fight British former cruiserweight Haye -- who had taunted the champion by calling him 'Bitchko' -- at the Veltins Arena until a back injury forced Haye out and Chagaev stepped in.

"I am very upset about David Haye, he has a big, bad and dirty mouth, I can not rely on this man, he is immature as a fighter and immature as a person," fumed Klitschko.

"I missed a fight in April to accommodate him, he couldn't deliver Chelsea (Stamford Bridge), so we moved the fight here.

"There is no blame on him physically, a fighter's health is important and boxers get injured.

"But he kept telling journalists then he needed two more weeks to recover, then he needed three, four weeks, I just kept hearing he needed more and more time.

"I have never worked with such unprofessional people, there was no official medical statement from his team.

"If he wants to fight me now, no problem, get in frigging line, I think he will end up on the floor."

With elder brother Vitali holding the WBC heavyweight title, the Klitschkos hold three belts and only WBA champion Nikolai Valuev stands in the way of them dominating the weight division totally.

"Nikolai Valuev was the first boxer we asked when Haye pulled out and he was also the first fighter who said 'no'," said Klitschko.

"Ruslan Chagaev didn't take too long to accept the fight and respect to him for that.

"I will come back to box here and I also want to box at Madison Square Gardens again."

On the night, Chagaev, the WBA heavyweight 'champion in recess' was no match for the might of Klitschko who lived up to his 'Dr Steelhammer' nickname to put the challenger on the canvas as early as the second round.

And Klitschko says his best is yet to come.

"That wasn't my best fight, that is yet to come both for me and my brother," said the Ukrainian.

"I was ready for (Russia's 2004 Olympic gold medallist) Alexander Povetkin, but he pulled out with his injury last year, but I would like to give him a chance again.

"I believe the Klitschko brothers have almost all the belts and I am just enjoying the process, I am not thinking of my legacy, I just want to find the best fighter in the world and beat him."

This was Klitschko's 53rd win to retain both his world titles against hepatitis B sufferer Chagaev, who was forced to call off last month's WBA title decider against Valuev in Finland because of medical concerns.

Chagaev was knocked down in the second round when Klitschko caught him with a straight right which stunned the Uzbeki who sat back on the canvas.

At the end of the ninth round the crowd at the Veltins Arena, home of Bundesliga football side Schalke 04, were on their feet as Klitschko landed several blows to the face and Chagaev was in deep trouble at the end of the ninth.

Klitschko now has an impressive 47 knock-outs from 53 wins fights.

The last of his three defeats as far back as 2004 against Lamon Brewster in Las Vegas when he lost the WBO title he later regained against Sultan Ibragimov in Madison Square Garden, New York, last year.

AFP

Comment 1 - 18 of 58

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  1. haye shows no respect for other fighters and haye will­ not get through his jab then klitschko will knock him­ out.

    From allan, on Mon 22 Jun 11:19AM

  2. I used to like Haye but now I do not.The guy never stop­ talking insulting bragging.
    I hope Klitchko knocks him­ out.What a waste of space Haye is!

    From Tony, on Mon 22 Jun 11:19AM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    most british boxer are not humble,,they talk and talk­ before the fight but they end up kissing the­ canvass!!whatabout mr. ricky??

    From anton, on Mon 22 Jun 2:55AM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Chagaev is not well haye when fit will be a different­ fighter from the uzbeck.

    From iancampbell11, on Mon 22 Jun 12:08AM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    If Haye was that unprofessional then why did Klitschko­ not postpone the fight for 3 weeks? He beat a very dull­ Chagaev who was out of his depth. It should have been­ Valuev v Klitschko especially as Chagaev failed a­ medical in Finland. Maybe Haye should smash Povetkin­ first! Or how about Banks v Haye? 2 ex Cruiserweights­ slugging it out. And lets get Maccarinelli in the­ Heavyweights too.

    From The Xentertainer, on Sun 21 Jun 10:14PM

  6. While it is odd that Haye was dismissed quickly,­­­ Klitschko is correct when he sais that, if it had­ been­­ he who cancelled, Haye would have ridiculed. I­ still­­ think Setanta's financial downfall and­ Haye's­­ sudden back injury is a bit timely though.­ Pity,­­ because the heavyweight division is missing big­ names.­­ The Klitschko brothers will never fight each­ other and­­ only Tyson Fury and David Haye are our real­ possible­­ champions. As for Froch...Bute will be a­ tough­ opponent­ but I see him foghting B.Hop first­ seeing as­ Hopkins is­ calling The Cobra out. And good­ luck to­ Jean Pascal as­ I think he showed what a­ gentleman he­ is when­ magnanimous in defeat. Certainly­ very­ un-Hopkins like.­ If I were a very wealthy­ promoter­ I'd have Froch­ fighting Bute, Kessler,­ Hopkins,­ Abraham, Pavlik then­ Dawson. And retiring.­ But IF­ Froch did get these fights­ and won all of­ them, would­ anyone consider him an­ all-time great? Or­ better then­ Calzaghe? Or even equal­ to Joe?

    PS How­ about Pascal v Dawson?

    From The Xentertainer, on Sun 21 Jun 10:10PM

  7. While Klitschko was a worthy winner, he seemed to be­ uneasy when the smaller man actually threw some punches­ and hit him, not convinced about Klitschko at all, Haye­ has a suspect chin and Klitschko can hit, but haye can­ also bang!! what am i trying to say here, i think­ Klitschko is mediocre and haye is probably the best­ cvhallenger out there, how i long for an Ali, frazer,­ foreman, tyson, lewis!!! The division is dying on its­ feet with these guys, the 2 brothers and the monster­ who cant fight, maybe haye brings a bit or sparkle to a­ drab and mundane division, he needs to shut up and be­ more humble

    From fraser.soutar, on Sun 21 Jun 9:42PM

  8. Haye is a fool to think he is even on the same level as­ the Klitshko`s.
    Gotta also agree that he has to earn a­ shot, y shud he just be no.1 contender?

    From calum_johnstone, on Sun 21 Jun 9:01PM

  9. hayes lucky he got a bad back because he would have a­ bad head now ha ha

    From lynsey2227, on Sun 21 Jun 6:41PM

  10. achraf b, your a fool. just because a man is black­ doesn't mean he is a big mouth. Black guys now­ don't want to box anymore the want to play­ basketball, american football, baseball etc. Boxing is­ no longer a way out of the ghetto. When you hear stupid­ comments like this you realise that we are in a world­ full of idiots. The only reason they are dominating­ this division is because boxing is no longer a means to­ get out of the ghetto. Just imagine these brothers­ fight george foreman in his prime for 15 rounds in the­ heat of africa? can't right.

    From jonathan j, on Sun 21 Jun 6:40PM

  11. is it just me thinking this ? i'snt strange that­ haye pulled out of the fight and soon after it comes­ out that setanta are in deep trouble when it comes to­ money. i'm thinking maybe haye pulled out because­ his payday was in danger.

    From Stewart, on Sun 21 Jun 6:33PM

  12. haye is a big mouth coward.both klitschko,s will nail­ him any time.

    From H, on Sun 21 Jun 5:40PM

  13. I totally agree with Vladimir..Haye has nothing but a­ big foul mouth as most of black fighters do..he needs­ to get his feet wet in the heavy weight and work his­ way up to Vladimir..I doubt it though..I really believe­ he'll get his skinny butt knocked out at his first­ try fighting guys who outweigh him by 50 pounds..he­ should be thankful to be injured(if it's true)­ because he was gonna be taught a lesson in good­ manners.
    Big Raff

    From achraf b, on Sun 21 Jun 5:09PM

  14. I know alot of you guys wont agree, but i think big­ Vlad is right. Haye has to get in line have a few more­ fights at heavyweight and prove he deserves a title­ shot and more to the point be ranked for one rather­ than jump the queue.
    Anyway have a great Sunday guys,­ Peace J.

    From JamesH, on Sun 21 Jun 4:53PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    @#$%s?1st 2nd 3rd andfourh

    From hodgey1972, on Sun 21 Jun 4:38PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    number one................

    From romil, on Sun 21 Jun 3:04PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    second

    From neilsenti55, on Sun 21 Jun 2:45PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    first

    From Csaba, on Sun 21 Jun 2:40PM
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