By William Mackay: Picture credit: Public Address/Stefan Hoyer – WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-1, 23 KO’s) had some choice words to say about his July 2nd opponent IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KO’s) today, blaming him for the dying interest in the heavyweight division among boxing fans and saying he has to personally get rid of him. The two square off at the Imtech Stadium in Hamburg, Germany. Despite Haye’s insults, Wladimir is the favorite in the fight.

Here is what Haye had to say as quoted by thesun.co.uk: “I believe Wladimir Klitschko is solely responsible for killing the heavyweight division, for making sure the heavyweight championship hasn’t been shown worldwide…The average boxing fan has turned off to it. Finally, they have come back to it for this particular fight and that’s because of me – my speed, my athleticism and what I do inside the ring…That is exactly why he needs to be eradicated from the heavyweight division.”

It’s going to be difficult for Haye to eradicate Wladimir from the heavyweight division if Haye plans on retiring at the end of the year. At best, Haye could score a knockout but if he’s not around to keep defending the titles he captures against Wladimir, there is no one out there from preventing Wladimir from immediately moving back in and beating one of the top contenders to recapture his lost titles. And this is only if Haye wins. There’s a better chance that Wladimir will win, but if Haye does win, there will be a lot of pressure for Haye to fight Wladimir’s older brother WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko. Haye will look like a wimp if he doesn’t take that fight and decides to retire with a win over Wladimir.