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Haye confirms he's willing to delay retirement

David Haye is in turmoil over whether or not to retire in October this year © PA Photos

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• Profile: David Haye

David Haye has given the clearest indication yet that he will postpone his retirement if offered another shot at Wladimir Klitschko, who beat him on points at the weekend in Hamburg.

The Brit has maintained for years that he will walk away from the sport before his 31st birthday in October, but it seems he has fallen out of love with the idea in the wake of the Klitschko defeat.

Haye still appeals to Wladimir because of a paucity of credible contenders in the heavyweight division, which is short of big names who would guarantee lucrative fight purses. Post-Haye, Klitschko has set his sights on Dereck Chisora, who was reportedly to be paid £50,000 to fight the Ukrainian late last year before the bout fell through.

But while Haye has a compelling case for a rematch - particularly as he fought with a broken toe on Saturday - it appears he has more chance of facing Vitali Klitschko, the WBC champion, after Bernd Boente, the Klitschkos' manager, claimed it would be an easy fight to sell.

Nonetheless, Haye is not giving up hope. "[Wladimir] said I'd be his 50th knockout victory - but he didn't knock me out, and he didn't even knock me down," he told Sky Sports. "If he wants to get his 50th knockout, I'm still here and ready to give him the opportunity. I'd go back to Germany to deal with the situation out there.

"I'd have to seriously consider [delaying retirement]. If there is a date that pops up, I hope it's before October 13, but beggars can't be choosers. If it goes past then, I've broken my promise - but then again, I made promises before the Klitschko fight and I didn't deliver.

"The way I'm feeling today, and it might be completely different tomorrow, if he says November for a rematch, I'd probably say yeah. Knowing me, how competitive I am, I'd say yes.

"But if he says [you need] two fights beforehand, do this, do that, then no. I'd potentially fight Vitali, but Wladimir beat me and I hate that. I hate losing at anything, ping-pong, whatever. Wladimir beat me fair and square and I want to right the wrongs."

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