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Vitali closing in on retirement - Coach

ESPN staff
September 8, 2011
Vitali Klitschko has only lost two of his 44 fights © PA Photos
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David Haye's chances of fighting Vitali Klitschko are fading after the Ukrainian's coach revealed the WBC heavyweight champion is 'two or three fights' from retirement.

Haye, the former WBA title-holder, lost his unification showdown against Vitali's brother Wladimir in July and has not commented on his future plans in the months since.

The Londoner has always asserted he will hang up his gloves before he turns 31 in October, therefore potentially walking away from the sport on the back of a heavy points defeat.

However, with the financial gains to be had with a rematch with Wladmir or a clash with elder brother Vitali, there has always been the belief Haye may yet decide to continue past his retirement deadline.

Tomasz Adamek gets his chance to wrestle the WBC belt from Vitali when the pair clash in Poland on Saturday, though should Vitali, 40, prevail it now looks as though time is running out for former undisputed cruiserweight champion Haye to get the same opportunity.

"Vitali will have two or three fights, I do not think he will have more," Fritz Sdunek told the German Die Welt newspaper.

Adamek will enjoy home advantage when he tackles Vitali, not that Sdunek is at all concerned. He said: "Vitali to lose? Never. Mentally and physically he is so strong that absolutely nothing can go wrong there."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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