The 32 year-old, who defeated Nikolai Valuev in 2009 against the odds to claim his old status as champion, is intent on claiming another reign before he retires, but has no intention of facing the likes of Manuel Charr or Tyson Fury if ‘Dr. Ironfist’ decides to call it a day and relinquish the green belt.
“If I don’t fight Vitali Klitschko that will be it. There is no other motivation. Even if he relinquishes his titles, it’s who you beat to get them,” Haye told the Manchester Evening News.
“I’m never going to box for a vacant title. It’s about beating the champion. In years to come people would look back and say it meant nothing. My love for boxing has always been a desire to prove people wrong and that I am as good as I say I am. I can only prove that against Vitali Klitschko.”
Haye did state on a recent trip to Dubai that he still wants to avenge his loss to four-strap champion Wladimir if he comes through Vitali unscathed, although the fearsome Ukrainians has constantly dismissed any interest in giving the Briton another chance following his defeat in July 2011.
