David Haye turned down a fight against world champion Vitali Klitschko in favor of his grudge match with fellow British boxer Dereck Chisora, Klitschko said Monday.
Haye has repeatedly described a bout with Klitschko as his dream fight despite losing to the Ukrainian’s brother Wladimir last year, and reiterated his desire to face Vitali after stopping Chisora on Saturday.
In Moscow to promote his September WBC heavyweight title fight with Germany’s Manuel Charr, Klitschko said that Haye had been lined up for the fight.
“David Haye was supposed to be at this press conference,” Klitschko said.
“He had a concrete offer for a fight in September and he refused. He turned down a fight with Vitali Klitschko in favor of one with Chisora.”
Talks on a Haye-Klitschko fight were held in November, with Haye reportedly threatening that the Ukrainian would find himself in a “gunfight” in the mooted July bout, but the negotiations collapsed.
After Chisora lost to Wladimir Klitschko in February, he clashed with Haye at the post-fight press conference, setting the stage for their fight in London.
Haye does not hold a British boxing license after allowing his to expire last year, and the fight with Chisora took place under the auspices of the Luxembourg Boxing Federation.
