By Eric Thomas: WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (45-2, 41 KO’s) is currently recovering from a hand injury sustained in training. While Vitali hasn’t said what he’s going to do once his hand is healed, he’s not ruling out a future showdown against former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (26-2, 24 KO’s) as a possible fight for him. Vitali will likely face Bermane Stiverne next because there’s getting around that fight if Vitali wants to keep his WBC title.
Vitali said to BBC Radio Five Live “I think I will box again. My brother [Wladimir Klitschko] showed David Haye a very good fight, with a very good result. Let’s see. Why not? But at the moment, I don’t want to take about major plans. I have an official contender, everything depends on the World Boxing Council.”
Vitali will be out for the remainder of 2013, but he’s expected to defend his title against Stiverne in early 2014. If Vitali still is unable to fight at that point for whatever reason, the World Boxing Council will likely change Vitali’s status to Emeritus champion so that other heavyweights can fight for the WBC belt.
Vitali will then get the opportunity to face the new champion to regain his WBC title. We would be seeing Stiverne vs. Chris Arreola for the vacant WBC heavyweight title if Vitali is unable or unwilling to defend his title in 2014.
David Haye is the biggest money fight out there for Vitali, but he’s been reluctant to take the fight with the British heavyweight ever since Vitali took apart Manuel Charr last year in September in a 4th round TKO.
Vitali had talked about wanting to take the Haye fight, saying that he wanted to knock him out to improve upon the performance that Wladimir had in beating him. However, Vitali seems to have lost interest in facing him. It could be that Vitali is changing his mind about taking the fight with Haye based on his latest interview.
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