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Klitschko fears Haye withdrawal

Despite making several concessions to Wladimir Klitschko, David Haye is 'very happy' with his deal © Getty Images

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Steve Bunce column: Prepare for Haye-Klitschko ticketing row

David Haye has laid bare the extent of Wladimir Klitschko's demands during negotiations for their heavyweight unification clash on July 2 in Hamburg.

Having made several concessions to his Ukrainian opponent, Haye will come to the ring first, and be told by Klitschko which corner he will fight out of. On top of this, he faces the prospect of entering the lion's den by travelling to Germany, where the Klitschkos enjoy fanatical support.

The Brit claims that failure to agree to these demands - particularly over who enters the arena first - would have sounded the death knell to his hopes of fighting Wladimir, the WBO and IBF champion.

"I'm very happy - even though I'd say it's definitely in his favour," said Haye, who wears the WBA strap. "It's in his native Germany [where Wladimir and his brother, Vitali, have lived since they turned professional]. He comes to the ring second - as the champion does. He goes to the corner of his choice. He has the gloves of his choice. He has the ref ... Everything else, other than the [50-50 split] revenue, is pretty much his way.

"He said: 'If I don't come out to the ring second, the fight's not happening.' That was a deal-breaker for him: 'I have to come to the ring second, otherwise I'm not fighting you.' I said: 'Come on, dude. Why not flip a coin? Let fate decide.' But, no. This was it for him. [I said:] 'If you really need it that bad, Wladimir, you come to the ring second.'

"This is a fight for the fans and I did whatever I could to make the fight happen. If it wasn't for me bending over backwards ... he'd be fighting someone like Dereck Chisora [who Wladimir was meant to fight on April 30 before withdrawing due to injury]."

As has been tradition during the run-up to the fight, Klitschko also managed to throw a verbal swipe, claiming that he is concerned by the thought of a Haye withdrawal. The pair were meant to face off in July 2009, also in Germany, but Haye pulled out due to injury. "I will not believe this fight until I see David Haye in the corner on July 2," Klitschko told the New York Post. "Thank God, he is going [to the ring] first. Then I'll see he's there, so I can come in."

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