Bernd Boente: “Vitali Versus David Haye Is The Fight The Boxing World Wants To See!”

by Johnny Walker

Bernd Boente, the businessman behind the world heavyweight champion Klitschko brothers, has changed his stance on a fight taking place between Britain’s David Haye and one of his charges in the near future.

Before and following Haye’s win over his countryman Dereck “Del Boy” Chisora last weekend in London, Boente had been dismissive of the idea of Haye getting another shot at one of his fighters. But in a new interview with Sky Sports, the German impressario now appears to be warming to the idea of Haye versus Klitschko (either one).

“I have to admit that I was impressed by David’s knockout [of Chisora], his movement and his quickness, but I was mostly impressed by his fantastic jogging shoes that he was wearing inside the ring,” joked Boente (Haye chose to wear trainers instead of the customary boxing boots because of the damp conditions).

One of the things standing in the way of the fight that both Vitali and David Haye say they want very badly is the elder Klitschko’s ongoing political career. Boente sounded less certain than he has in the past that, should Vitali win his political battle in Ukraine in October, the WBC heavyweight champion would retire–thus leaving the door slightly ajar for Haye.

“First of all [Vitali] has to win that fight on September 8 in Moscow against Manuel Charr, and then he’s on the campaign trail for the [Ukrainian] Parliamentary elections October 28, and if he’s elected I guess he will probably quit boxing.”

The operative wiggle-room terms there being “I guess” and “probably,” instead of “definitely.” Rumors have the Klitschko camp already looking to make another fight for Vitali this December.

“I would not even rule out a match between Wladimir and David down the road,” Boente said, “but Vitali’s fight against David would be one of the biggest fights in boxing at all, not only in the heavyweight division.”

“But down the road, let’s see. It could be Vitali [versus Haye], it could be maybe some time next year Wladimir… David is definitely a flashy person, a personality, and he’s always in the media, and yeah, let’s see, why not?”

“I’m sure that the Vitali versus David fight would be a thrilling fight, would be an interesting fight, that would be definitely the fight that the boxing world wants to see.”