LONDON–David Haye challenged WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko after a stunning fifth-round knockout of Dereck Chisora at Upton Park.
LONDON–David Haye challenged WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko after a stunning fifth-round knockout of Dereck Chisora at Upton Park.The 31-year-old is desperate to fight the Ukrainian, but believes his demolition of Chisora may give Klitschko second thoughts. "It was a scary message,” he said. "I’d be surprised if he wants to fight now."He will no doubt fight some chump and then retire to be a politician. If he wants to fight me then I’m ready.”Haye controlled the fight against Chisora, as he dominated the ring with some fast footwork and caught his opponent with some stinging shots.He floored his rival with a brutal left-hook, right-hand combination in the fifth and, as Chisora stumbled to his feet, he unloaded three more right hooks and two lefts to finish the fight in style.The manner of the knockout was explosive and delighted Haye - who was quick to pay tribute to Chisora."Chisora has one of the best chins I’ve hit,” Haye said. "I was hitting him with shots that would normally put people away - but he kept coming."I didn’t give him much respect before the fight but that is the way boxing is."He gave me a lot harder night than I anticipated. I thought the fight would be over in a couple of rounds."I had to dig deep in there and I had to do what good fighters do to win.”The build-up to the fight was controversial following the pair’s much-publicised brawl after a news conference in Munich in February 2012.The British Boxing Board of Control refused to sanction the contest, meaning the Luxembourg Boxing Federation staged it instead.