By John F. McKenna (McJack): In a withering verbal attack on the opponent he vanquished last July WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (56-3, 49 KO’s) said that former Wprld Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight champion David Haye (25-2, 23 KO’s) has no option but to return to the ring to fight his brother World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (43-2, 40 KO’s).

Speaking from his training camp in the Austrian Alps Vladimir was quoted in The Telegraph saying:

“David walks around with a battered ego. He cannot even hold his head high in his own country, because he embarrassed himself when he fought, and showed that he was a chicken for 12 rounds.

“David just didn’t want the challenge after I’d hit him. After all the trash talking, a lot of it below the belt, he disappointed a lot of people in his own country.

“I have a feeling he won’t retire. He’s an athlete and athletes have an ego. That ego is damaged right now. If he is a real man, he will come back. Slowly, I think the reality is dawning on him and he is carrying a terrible embarrassment over what happened against me in July.

“He lost his mind but I delivered some reality rehab to him in that fight. I promised to knock out David and I couldn’t. Vitali said to me straight after the Haye fight that he would have knocked him out if he had fought him when I did. We love each other but we are competitors. For me the chapter is complete. But we just wish David Haye would fight my brother. If he has the guts and ego, which got hammered against me he will be back.”

Wladimir’s trainer Emanuel Steward is quick to caution that Haye will not be an easy opponent for Vitali, pointing out that he is fast and has explosive power. Steward believes that because of their contrasting styles a match between Vitali Klitschko and David Haye would be very competitive.

Wladimir on the other hand feels that Vitali will dominate the “Hayemaker”. Vlad acknowledges that his older brother is stronger than he is and feels that if the fight does happen Vitali will knock Haye out.

An announcement regarding who Vitali’s next opponent will be won’t be made until after Vladimir’s showdown with Frenchman Jean-Marc Mormeck (36-4, 22 KO’s) on December 10.