'Who's the bum now, David?' Fast Eddie taunts beaten Brit Haye

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Steve Bunce13 April 2012

American fighters Kevin Johnson, Chris Arreola and 'Fast' Eddie Chambers, who was knocked out by Wladimir Klitschko last year, have all expressed an interest in fighting Britain's David Haye.

Haye will speak with his trainer, friend and business partner Adam Booth this week and plot a return to the ring.

The 30-year-old Londoner, who lost a points decision to Klitschko in Hamburg on Saturday night, will first get his broken toe looked at before making plans for his next training camp and a return to the ring - there will also be a drastic reduction in his swollen entourage.

A shortlist of opponents has been compiled for what would be a must-win fight in Haye's career and it is likely to contain the unbeaten Russian, Alexander Povetkin.

But there is already a growing list of fighters who are desperate to get in the ring with Haye, including British heavyweight champion Dereck 'Del Boy' Chisora.

"I know that Haye called me a bum when I lost to Klitschko - I will give him the chance to see just how much of a bum I am," said Chambers.

"I tried to warn Haye that it is hard to get away from Klitschko's jab and that it is hard to overcome his strength.

"Everybody gets in the ring with Klitschko and thinks that they will be too fast and that Klitschko will be too slow.

"I made the mistake and now Haye has made the same mistake as me and paid the same painful price - I will fight him if he wants to continue with boxing."

Haye was brutally exposed at the highest level by a masterful display from Klitschko but he has not put away his heavyweight dreams and hinted today that he would fight on beyond his self-imposed retirement deadline of October 13 when he turns 31 - but only in a rematch with Klitschko.

"My ambition as a boxer was win the world heavyweight title and I managed that," said Haye. "I would like to get it back."

Haye would have to beat one of the world's leading contenders to force his way back into contention and a fight against the Ukrainian's older brother, Vitali, who is the World Boxing Council champion could be on the cards in the future.

Wladimir has dismissed a rematch but Vitali has not ruled out meeting Haye at some point.

"If he can get the right wins and the fight makes sense then it could happen," said Vitali.

Haye was forced to sit in silence and take nearly an hour of verbal abuse after the fight from both Klitschko brothers and the American trainer Manny Steward.

"It was difficult for us to keep silent and we know that a lot of people will be critical of David's performance and we are prepared for that," said Booth.

"David got to the world heavyweight title on his terms and without compromises and he's big enough to take the criticism now. We will sit together, go over what happened in the fight and go over the future. When he is ready, he will make a decision."

Klitschko is convinced that Haye will be back in the ring at some stage and that he will have success, but only at a lower level.

"You are not a real heavyweight and you will never beat real heavyweights but there are men that you can fight, men from the lower level,"
said Klitschko.

Haye's next move will be critical and, in theory, he will have to move fast to fight again.

There is a suggestion that Haye and Booth had made a pact to quit the sport after that date but the injured toe and the fighter's battered pride will push back his retirment date.

"There will be a lot of talking, a lot of soul-searching and every single aspect of the fight will be considered," said Booth.

Booth, Haye and their soon-to-be streamlined team will look at more than just the poor performance in the ring when they meet to discuss their future.

In a bizarre twist, Haye has started to receive challenges from other heavyweights desperate to try to go one better than Klitschko managed in the pouring rain on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Klitschko has set his sights on fighting the winner of the July 23 British heavyweight title fight at Wembley Arena between Finchley's Chisora and Manchester's Tyson Fury.

Chisora starts as the favourite against Fury and the 27-year-old, who was born in Zimbabwe, is desperate to get in the ring with Klitschko, who has pulled out of two fights against him in the last eight months.

"I would let Dereck fight Haye," confirmed Frank Warren, who is Chisora's manager.

"Dereck was ready to fight Wladimir and was actually in Germany at the press conference before the fight when it was cancelled last year.

"People forget that Dereck was right there, right in Wladimir's face and he was not going to back down or run away.

"Dereck has no fear of Wladimir and he certainly has no fear of Haye - I'm not being an after-timer, Dereck had no fear of Haye before Saturday's fight."

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