Promoter: Haye-Klitschko fight still on
The pending retirement of Britain's former world heavyweight boxing champion David Haye was called into question when a promoter announced a fight between Haye and Vitali Klitschko was still very much on.
Promoter Bernd Boente, who represents Vitali and his fellow heavyweight champion brother Wladimir Klitschko, told Sky Sports negotiations are still in progress and that he had spoken to Haye's promoter as recently as Tuesday.
Boente insisted that although Haye was set to announce his retirement Thursday — his 31st birthday — the former world WBA heavyweight champion would fight again if a contest against Vitali could be arranged.
"David Haye's manager Adam Booth always told me that he will officially retire on Thursday, but that he would definitely come back if there is a fight against Vitali or a rematch against Wladimir. So this option is still there," Boente told Sky Sports.
"We are still waiting for some numbers from British TV and then we'll see if the business case is realistic and then we will do the fight or Vitali will fight another opponent in February or March next year," Boente added.
When asked what the chances of the fight taking place were, Boente replied, "If the business case is realistic for both fighters — 100 percent."
He suggested the Haye-Klitschko fight would take place in a soccer stadium in Germany.
Haye lost his WBA title on points in a unification fight against WBO and IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko in July.
Haye has long insisted that he would not fight beyond his 31st birthday and British Boxing Board of Control secretary Robert Smith told The Sun Tuesday that Haye had informed him he would not be fighting again.