I’ll make Klitschko lose his head, says brash Haye

DAVID HAYE yesterday goaded Wladimir Klitschko by unveiling a poster depicting him decapitating his heavyweight rival.

Just a week after Klitschko dared Haye to once again wear the infamous T-shirt of him holding aloft the severed heads of the Ukrainian and his brother Vitali, the WBA champion resumed his taunting.

Far from regretting the T-shirt, as Klitschko claims, Haye declared it was a stroke of genius that has been of enormous benefit to his career.

And the 30-year-old sought to reopen old wounds ahead of their showdown in Hamburg on July 2 by unfurling his gruesomely bloody poster at yesterday’s open workout in London.

“In 2009 I came out with the T-shirt showing me with the Klitschkos’ heads in my hands. Now things have changed,” he said.

“Wladimir dared me to wear that T-shirt again but instead, I’ve gone one better. I’ve released an iPhone game called ‘David Haye’s Knockout’. It lets you knock an anonymous Eastern European’s head off. I know it will get under his skin big time when he finds out how popular it’s been.

“Do I regret that T-shirt? Hell no! No way! It was one of the best things I’ve ever done. That decapitation T-shirt was one of the smartest business moves I’ve ever made.”

Klitschko has been on a charm offensive since the fight was announced and many believe he has been winning the PR battle in the build-up to the eagerly awaited unification clash.

In contrast, Haye has been uncharacteristically subdued — until his typically belligerent performance yesterday.

He warned the public not to be duped by the IBF, WBO and IBO champ and stressed the 35-year-old’s education — he has a doctorate in sports science — will be worthless in the ring. “Wladimir’s been going beyond the call of duty trying to be everyone’s friend and as charming as possible,” he said.

“But none of that will help him when the first bell rings. It won’t matter how intelligent he is. The 18 languages won’t help him either. Who cares about all of that? The best fighter wins. Who cares how charming he is?

“He’s clearly changed his personality and tried to get away from the Dolph Lundgren, Ivan Drago Rocky IV character. He’s trying to be more friendly, but it’s an act — he is Ivan Drago. He’s just been sprinkling on some cheese and charm.”

Haye mocked Klitschko’s claim that many British supporters will be cheering him on when the rivals collide at the Imtech Arena. “No one from the UK will be paying hard earned money to go over there and cheer for him, that’s guaranteed,” said Haye.

Haye reiterated that his retirement date of October 13 — his 31st birthday — is set in stone and will not be changed by the prospect of meeting Vitali. “Vitali has to fight in September so it looks unlikely I will meet him,” he said. “If that’s the case then this will probably be my last fight, so I have to make sure I go out with a bang and with my career best performance.”