• Heavyweight

Haye snubs Fury and touted domestic tournament

David Haye has categorically ruled out fighting domestic heavyweight rivals including Tyson Fury and David Price in the near future.

Haye, the former WBA world champion, will return to the ring on June 29 as he bids to earn another world title shot - although there have been recent reports suggesting he was prepared to join a potentially lucrative tournament involving other Home Nations heavyweight contenders, including Fury, Price and Dereck Chisora - whom Haye beat in his last appearance inside a ring.

Haye, however, has dismissed the prospect of being involved in such an event - saying he is focused only on fights that will accelerate his path to a world title fight with one of the Klitschko brothers.

"I'm done with the domestic scene," Haye told Sky Sports. "Price, Fury and Chisora - again - do not interest me."

Fury, in particular, has been eager to criticise Haye since the 32-year-old's return to the ring was confirmed, perhaps in an attempt to goad the former cruiserweight world champion into a meeting. Despite that, Haye will not consider the 6'7" fighter in the immediate future.

On Fury, he said: "He has been very vocal from the start. He kind of reminds me of myself a little bit when after I had won the world cruiserweight championship I was like: 'I am going to do this and come after you', but you've got to remember that when I was giving it all the verbal I was the first undisputed cruiserweight champion Britain had ever produced, so I was coming from that level, whereas I am getting the same sort of verbal from someone before they have even won a title!

"But you need the villains in boxing and I know a lot of people would want to see him get knocked out, but I will avoid that domestic round-robin."

European champion Kubrat Pulev is the latest fighter to be linked with Haye's return bout in June. The Bulgarian is undefeated in 17 fights as a professional, and recently confirmed that he had started some preliminary negotiations with Haye's camp over the fight in Manchester.

"I'll be back likely in June," Pulev told Sporta. "Yes, it means that we have been in talks with David Haye for the June 29 fight. He is a strong opponent, but what should I do? Fight mediocre guys?

"If I want to develop, I have to face strong opponents, such as David. Haye is a good, very good, fighter, but I don't think he's better than me. I don't care where the fight takes place."

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