• Heavyweight

Haye and Vitali to clash in March 2012

David Haye's retirement appeared to lack conviction © PA Photos

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David Haye is readying himself for another tilt at the Klitschko brothers, with a bout against WBC heavyweight champion Vitali being earmarked for March 2012.

The Brit hung up his gloves - as he always said he would - when he turned 31 last month, although many believed his retirement would be short-lived if a rematch with Wladimir or a fight with Vitali was in the offing.

With the heavyweight landscape now devoid of one of its premier attractions, the number of marquee fights in the sport's blue-ribbon division appears limited. However, according to the Daily Telegraph, Haye is "back in training, starting to get into shape", and the ESPIRIT Arena in Dusseldorf has been touted as a possible venue for a Haye-Vitali showdown in spring next year.

A Haye camp insider told the Daily Telegraph: "David was deeply disappointed with his performance against Wladimir last summer and does not want to go out with that as the final note in his career. Talks have been going on behind the scenes and this could be his swansong fight."

Given Haye's pedigree - he was the unified cruiserweight champion before moving up to heavyweight and becoming the WBA king - and his ability to sell a fight, the Brit remains a viable option for Vitali, depite his heavy points defeat suffered at the hands of Wladimir in July.

Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions - Haye's US handlers - says Haye has a good chance of beating the 40-year-old, should the fight be confirmed in December, as is expected. "Myself and Oscar [de la Hoya] have always said to David and Adam Booth [Haye's manager and trainer], that we believe the style matchup with Vitali gave David a better option of winning."

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