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Chisora has no chance against Klitschko - Haye

Dereck Chisora faces Wladimir Klitschko in December © Getty Images

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David Haye has hit back at Dereck Chisora by insisting that he has no chance of beating Wladimir Klitschko, because he is "neither physically or mentally ready" for the challenge.

Chisora, who faces Klitschko in Germany on December 11 for the WBO and IBF titles, took a swipe at Haye earlier this week by stating that "if you're not fighting the best, you're short-changing yourself".

That clearly struck a nerve with Haye, who has been accused of ducking the Klitschkos in order to face up to the less daunting challenge of Audley Harrison.

Now the WBA champion has written off British champion Chisora - a veteran of a mere 14 pro fights - due to his inexperience. "I hope he can pull it off but he's neither physically or mentally ready," Haye told BBC Sport. "British level and world level is a completely different sport.

"Maybe if Dereck had won a European title and defended that three or four times against good calibre opposition and fought some world-ranked fighters, potentially he'd have a shot. But he's had no real amateur pedigree, had only 14 fights against journeymen and the best he's won is the British title, which is no bad thing.

"He's going to find things are different at world level a bit early in his career. Hopefully he'll get a good payday, that's what it's about, earning some money, because it's going to be a hard, hard night's work for him.

"He's got all the attributes - quick hands, he's young and fresh - but you need to be seasoned to go up against the Klitschkos."

Even if Chisora shocked the boxing world to its very core by defeating Wladimir Klitschko, Haye has said that an all-British unification fight would be impossible to arrange. "He's got a very slim chance but if Dereck is to win he'll be tied up with the Klitschos for a long time, the contracts they make guys sign are ridiculous," he said.

"An all-British unification match wouldn't happen because he'd be tied in to fight the Klitschkos for years - if he couldn't beat Wladimir in a rematch he'd have to fight his brother instead."

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