Boxing

HAYE IS CHEAP AND IMMATURE - KLITSCHKO

28 April 2009

John Prendergast
johnp@southwarknews.org

World Heavyweight Champ Wladimir Klitschko has dismissed David Haye as cheap and immature, as the Bermondsey man continued to bad mouth him this week.

Speaking exclusively to the 'News' the IBF, WBO and IBO king said he would not rise to Haye's taunting and said he was an embarrassment to the noble art.

The World Heavyweight Champion said: "It just shows how cheap David Haye is, and it is embarrassing to the sport to have such personalities like that.

"I understand he is young and immature, otherwise he would not do it. He had a chance to apologise at the press conference but didn't."

However, while generally unwilling to get drawn into a slanging match, the giant Ukrainian laughed off suggestions from Haye, who stated last week he was saving boxing for the likes of former heavyweight champs Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

Klitschko said: "He cannot touch those icons, or even mention with his mouth those icons of the sport. He cannot compare himself with Rocky Marciano or the others - that has nothing to do with his imagination or dreams. What he is doing is below the belt line and he will be badly punished for it when I take care of my business."

Despite his talk, Haye is well aware of the size of the task that faces him. He said: "I'm not saying he hasn't got any strengths. He is 6' 7", nearly eighteen stone and is a big lad. He is someone who is athletic for his size and faster than the average heavyweight and has a good amateur pedigree and issomeone who has knocked out most of his opponents and had a long reign."

He went on to joke: "S**t I better pull out, he sounds too dangerous. If I go and do the wrong thing it might be a problem, but I won't be doing that."

---

Social Bookmarks:
del.icio.us Digg Newsvine Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon
Wikipedia: social bookmarking

---