• Heavyweight

Haye: I'll wait a year for Vitali

ESPN staff
July 16, 2012
David Haye disposed of Dereck Chisora in impressive fashion © PA Photos
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David Haye has insisted he is prepared to wait a year for a shot at heavyweight king Vitali Klitschko.

Haye returned from a spell in retirement to produce an impressive five-round demolition of Dereck Chisora.

The Bermondsey Bomber was not slow in pointing out that Klitschko was taken the distance by Chisora earlier in the year.

The Klitschko camp have already come out to say they have no interest in Haye. The Ukrainain's manager claims Haye turned down a shot at his man in favour of Chisora and he is now off their radar.

Klitschko has a fight lined up with Manuel Charr in September and will then turn his focus to the political arena with him being the opposition leader in Ukraine.

Haye is aware of those issues but is prepared to bide his time - claiming the longer Klitschko waits, the better his own chances will be.

"They say you are only as good as your last fight and my last fight was a spectacular one against a very tough, very durable Dereck Chisora - someone who pushed Vitali Klitschko to the wire," Haye said.

"The idea of this fight was to provide a measuring stick to show how I'd perform against the same opponent. The point was proven that I am up there and I would be very confident of beating Vitali.

"My only feeling now is that this display was too good. If I'd struggled on points, the fight would be made. But after a spectacular win I'm not sure if the Klitschkos are in the business of staging difficult fights."

If he has to wait, though, Haye will. He said: "I am 31 and Vitali is 40. The longer the wait to fight me, the worse it is going to get for Vitali. I've had a year out and look what it did for me. I'll wait another year to fight Vitali if I have to.

"I'll chill out for six months and then spend six months getting ready for him if he wants it."

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