BOXING:WBC HEAVYWEIGHT champion Vitali Klitschko has offered to split the difference with David Haye in a renewed bid to make their much-anticipated world heavyweight title unification match a reality.
Klitschko has thrown down a challenge to Haye in the wake of the Englishman’s facile WBA title defence against Audley Harrison, insisting he will accept a “50-50” purse split and would be happy to fight in England.
Previous attempts to line up a clash between Haye and Klitschko or his younger brother Wladimir have been scuppered by arguments over prospective venues and TV revenues.
“I’m ready any minute to sign a 50-50 contract,” said Klitschko. “We are both world champions so let’s fight. Let’s make the fight in the spring time – I’m ready, the question is for David Haye.
“David Haye is a great talker but the question is, is he a good fighter? If he is a good fighter he should sign the contract. I want to fight David Haye because my brother already has two world titles and I have just the one.”
Klitschko would clearly love a fight with Haye to take place in Germany, but he is adamant he will go where the money and public interest is biggest – and that could mean a showdown across the Atlantic. “I hear about the great venue of Madison Square Garden for this fight. But I’m ready to fight in Germany, the United States or Great Britain. Where the most money is on the table . . . let’s fight in this place.”
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