Klitschko calls for ‘little dog’ Haye to commit

FRANKFURT, (Reuters) – Vladimir Klitschko said it was  time David Haye committed to a fight with the Ukrainian, telling  the Briton he “owes it to the fans”.

But Klitschko admitted the fight with Haye, whom he described as a “little dog”, was unlikely to happen soon.

“I am ready to fight against David Haye anywhere in this world,” Klitschko told Reuters on Sunday. “He (Haye) just needs to make the next step. Sign the contract, get in the ring and get the fight.

“I have no respect for this man because he is nothing but a  little dog who just runs away when the big dog turns around.

“It’s not about the money and the business, it’s about pride  (for him). But I think he owes it to the fans.”

Vladimir, the younger of heavyweight boxing’s dominant  Klitschko siblings, holds the WBO, IBF and IBO belts. Vitali,  his brother, is the WBC champion and Haye holds the WBA title. The Klitschkos will not fight each other, meaning that most  boxing followers, and broadcasters, hope for a Vladimir  Klitschko-Haye showdown.

Speaking at the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, where he  will fight Nigerian Samuel Peter on Sept. 11, Klitschko (54-3,  48KO) added: “Right now (Haye) is just not important to me.

Haye (24-1, 22KO) was due to fight Klitschko last June but  withdrew because of injury.

Klitschko said his fight with Peter, made after original  opponent Alexander Povetkin pulled out, would be tough, but that  the Nigerian’s similar style and size meant he did not have to  adjust his preparations.

Klitschko beat Peter on points in 2005.