• Vitali Klitschko v David Haye

Where's the contract Vitali? - Booth

Vitali Klitschko is busy preparing for Dereck Chisora © PA Photos

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David Haye's trainer Adam Booth has poured cold water on a possible fight between his charge and Vitali Klitschko, insisting the WBC heavyweight champion is merely using the Briton's name to "get some publicity".

Former WBA king Haye hung up his gloves in October, aged 31, but is expected to come out of retirement if a deal can be struck to fight either Vitali or his younger brother Wladimir, who captured Haye's belt in a one-sided points victory last July.

With a rematch against Wladimir the more unlikely proposition, Haye's camp have focused their attention on nailing down Vitali for a summer showdown, possibly to be held in Britain. The 40-year-old puts his strap on the line when he takes on Dereck Chisora in February, but he has spoken candidly about his desire to do what his brother could not: knock out Haye.

Talks got underway in late 2011 but, as has been the case between the two camps in the past, negotiations hit a stumbling block and broke down, prompting Vitali to arrange a clash with Chisora.

Vitali has said in recent weeks the two camps are "miles apart" when it comes to finalising a deal, but Booth has slammed the Ukrainian and his team for riding on Haye's name and refusing to back up verbal agreements with written contracts.

"Vitali piped up saying he wants to fight and since then I have had communication with them, but the contract from them has been much less forthcoming than the propaganda Vitali has been spouting," Booth said.

"It's in their hands. As far as I am concerned all the points have been agreed verbally, but subsequently Vitali came out and said the fight was 'miles away' from being made. I don't understand why he would say that. Maybe they are just using David's name just to get some publicity."

The teething problems between the two camps have threatened to turn into something more sinister on numerous occasions since Haye moved up to the heavyweight division at the end of 2008, with the Brit instantly souring relations by wearing a t-shirt of him holding the severed heads of both Wladimir and Vitali.

As a consequence of the strained relationship between the two camps, Booth is not surprised no contracts have been signed.

"Until they send the contract and until it is signed, I will try not to waste too much time on it because you have to remember, I have negotiated with them four times now and there has only been one fight," Booth added.

"They probably say the same about us, but they are the hardest people I have ever dealt with."

Vitali is the heavy favourite ahead of his bout with Chisora, while Wladimir returns to the ring against Haye victim Jean-Marc Mormeck a fortnight later in Dusseldorf - two fights that Booth feels emphasises why the heavyweight division is currently struggling to generate much interest.

"Vitali has to get through the Chisora fight, but he won't struggle against him. Neither will Wladimir against Mormeck," Booth said.

"David knocked Mormeck out in seven rounds and he was a blown up light-heavy moving in to cruiserweight. He was past his prime then. Now he is a blown up light-heavy who is a few years past his prime. If they are happy fighting people like that then good luck to them.

"These guys are three stone heavier and five inches taller than their opponents and they expect to be lauded as all-time greats, but I don't buy it. Any fighter who fought someone who was three stone lighter and five inches smaller, and they didn't deal with them easily would be kicking themselves. They would be disgusted with themselves. They wouldn't be lauding themselves."

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