Haye offered fight with Vitali Klitschko

(Reuters) – Britain’s David Haye, who announced his retirement last month, has been offered the chance to fight WBC world heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko next year.

“Team Klitschko is in negotiations with Haye and has made him an offer,” a management official for the Ukrainian brothers told Reuters yesterday.

“Now the ball is in Haye’s court.”

Ukrainian IBF and WBO titleholder Vladimir Klitschko (R) fights against British WBA champion David Haye (L) in a heavyweight title unification boxing match in Hamburg July 2, 2011. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Haye, who lost his WBA world title to Vladimir Klitschko in Hamburg in July, quit boxing on his 31st birthday in October.

The Briton blamed his defeat on a broken toe and initially demanded a rematch.
On Monday, Haye told the BBC a fight with Vitali was possible.

“I haven’t seen a contract but there are definitely talks going on,” he said, adding a date in March was likely.
Vladimir, who holds the WBO, IBF, IBO and WBA belts, will look to clinch his 50th knockout from 60 professional bouts when he takes on former world cruiserweight champion Jean-Marc Mormeckon in Duesseldorf on Dec. 10.

Vitali retained his WBC title in September with a technical knockout of Pole Tomasz Adamek in the 10th round.