• Heavyweight

Vitali's election success keeps Haye guessing

ESPN staff
October 29, 2012
Vitali Klitschko's party is believed to have won 15% of the vote © PA Photos
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A cloud of doubt hangs over David Haye's hopes of fighting Vitali Klitschko after the Ukrainian's political party came third in his country's elections.

Klitschko's UDAR (Punch) party won 15% of the vote according to exit polls, underlining its dramatic rise from the status of fringe party into a major player.

The result leaves Klitschko's boxing career hanging in the balance, and he has failed to give assurances over his ring future in recent months.

Haye, the former WBA heavyweight champion, has said that he will only consider lacing up his gloves again if he can agree a date with WBC champion Vitali or his brother, Wladimir.

The Brit claimed earlier this month that "the fight [with Vitali] has already been agreed", but it has been known for a while that Vitali was postponing a decision on his next move until after the elections.

However, if the Vitali bout cannot be agreed, there is a ray of light for Haye, with reports suggesting the WBO, whose heavyweight belt Wladimir holds, is considering installing him as mandatory challenger.

Vitali's most recent bout was a knockout defeat of Manuel Charr during September. He said of the election: "I had said that we had tremendous potential. We must still analyse everything: why we could have won more votes but failed to do so."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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