By William Mackay: World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KO’s) says he plans on retiring this year in 2010 after a fight against WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (23-1, 21 KO’s). In an article at the Dailymail, the 38-year-old Klitschko says “I only have to win one belt [Haye’s WBA heavyweight title]. So this year I will hang up my boxing gloves. And I’ll stop visiting different cities to beat somebody’s face in.”

Klitschko has defended his WBC title three times since capturing the title in an 8th round stoppage against then WBC heavyweight champion Samuel Peter in October 2008. Klitschko stopped Juan Carlos Gomez in his first defense of his title in March 2009, and in September 2009, Klitschko took out unbeaten American Chris Arreola in a 10th round stoppage.

Most recently, Klitschko won a lopsided 12 round decision over previously unbeaten Kevin Johnson in December. Johnson looked like he came only to survive and rarely did little more than jab and lay on the ropes all night trying to keep his head out of range of Klitschko’s big shots.

Vitali, the older brother of IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, is really interested in fighting a unification bout against WBA heavyweight champion Haye. This is the only fight out there that will give the older Klitschko a good payday. Haye supposedly is interested in facing Klitschko, but first must defend his title against mandatory challenger John Ruiz on April 3rd.

If Haye gets through that fight in one piece and retains his heavyweight title, then we could be seeing a bout between Haye and Vitali Klitschko for later on in 2010. Haye says he wants to fight both of the Klitschko brothers so that he can unify all of the heavyweight straps before getting out of boxing in two years, so hopefully Haye opts to take the fight with the older Klitschko brother first rather than put it off.

Haye says he doesn’t care which Klitschko brother he fights first, Wladimir or Vitali. Given the age of the older Klitschko and his history of sustaining serious injuries while training for fights, it would be smarter for Haye to take the bout with Vitali in case he gets hit with another serious injury that might keep him out of the ring for an extended amount of time.

Haye has other options as well besides the Klitschko brothers. There’s also a rematch with former WBA heavyweight champion Valuev that is looming in the future for Haye, including a potential match against 45-year-old Bernard Hopkins. However, the big money comes against either of the Klitschko brothers, and Haye, if he’s smart, will take the fight against one of the Klitschko brothers rather than stringing it along until after Haye has had time to try and milk his title a little while longer against the likes of Hopkins and Valuev. With Haye’s weak chin, he can be beaten at anytime, so he should go for the Klitschko brothers before he gets stopped again.