Haye rejects Klitschko taunts

David Haye has rubbished claims from Vitali Klitschko’s manager he is “afraid” of facing the Ukrainian heavyweight.

The former two-weight world champion has signed up to face Dereck Chisora on July 14 at Upton Park — a grudge match that has been widely derided as it is taking place under a licence from Luxembourg as neither fighter holds a British licence.

And Bernd Boente, who manages both Vitali and his brother Wladimir, said on Monday he had offered a contract to Haye prior to the announcement of the bout between the two Londoners, but claims the Bermondsey fighter turned it down as he was scared of the 40-year-old Ukrainian.