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Haye dismisses Briggs' warning over Klitschko

Shannon Briggs was hammered by Vitali Klitschko © Getty Images

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David Haye dimissed Shannon Briggs as an "old-timer" after being warned by the veteran that Vitali Klitschko is a better heavyweight than Lennox Lewis or George Foreman.

Briggs was outpointed by Klitschko in Saturday's WBC heavyweight title fight in Germany after taking a battering for 12 one-sided rounds. All three of the judges scored the fight 120-105 in the Ukrainian's favour.

"I've faced George Foreman and Lennox Lewis but Vitali is better than any of them," Briggs said. "He hits harder than Foreman and has incredibly fast hands."

Klitschko will now attempt to return to the negotiating table with the Haye team, having failed to agree a bout earlier this year as talks collapsed over a financial dispute. "I would like to knock out Haye so that we can claim the only belt missing from the family's collection," he said.

But before he can turn his attention to a battle with Klitschko, Haye must defend his strap against fellow Brit Audley Harrison. The WBA champion is adamant that taking his focus off the Harrison bout, which takes place in Manchester on November 13, will prove fatal to his chances.

"I'm not worrying about old-timers like Briggs," Haye told the Telegraph. "He is years past his best. I am sharper than ever, and I'll get to the Klitschkos when I'm ready. For now, I'm focused on sending Audley Harrison down a one way street with no return."

Klitschko's brother Wladimir defends his belt against Brit Dereck Chisora - a veteran of a mere 14 pro fights - on December 11. Should Chisora cause a significant upset by triumphing, he is contractually obliged to defend the WBO and IBF titles against Vitali.

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