David Haye manager says rematch with Klitschko is 'unlikely'

Klitschko enjoyed a resounding points victory at the Imtech Arena at the weekend to add Haye's WBA heavyweight title to his own IBF and WBO belts.

Much of the talk following the bout has been about Haye's future and whether he will now retire in October as previously stated or prolong his career by taking on the Ukrainian again.

Haye has said he would relish the chance to try and take back the title he lost in Germany. "Wladimir made a statement saying first he would give me a rematch and then his manager said he wouldn't give me a rematch," said the 30-year-old Englishman yesterday.

"If there's a potential rematch in there, well the guy's beaten me and obviously I'd love the opportunity to challenge for his title.

"I came to the table with a title, I don't have a title now, I'm title-less. And every boxer wants the opportunity to fight for a title.

"In boxing anything's possible. He promised everyone he'd knock me out. He said he'd teach me a lesson and knock me out, but he didn't do that.

"He gave it his best shots and couldn't put me out. Maybe he'll want the opportunity to knock me out and finish my career."

Booth says he does not know if Haye will stick to his October retirement deadline but insists that, whatever happens, a fight with one of the Klitschko brothers is unlikely because he would need to sign away his future with clauses while taking a much smaller purse.

Asked about the possibility of a rematch, Booth said: "No. Doing business with them when you don't have equal parity? I'd never do it.

"I speak for David here because I know what he's said to me repeatedly. I don't think he would do it.

"He's not going to have that 'slave contract' that he complained about all the time.

"This fight was equal parity because of everything David managed to achieve."

Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir's brother, is signed to fight Tomasz Adamek in Poland in September and when asked about Haye meeting the bigger sibling instead, Booth said: "It wouldn't be a contract that David would want and Vitali's got to fight Adamek anyway."

Having blamed the defeat in Hamburg on a broken toe immediately after the fight, Haye offered no excuses yesterday other than to admit he "wasn't good enough".

"I got beaten by a guy who's very consistent, very strong, very good at what he does and I'm gutted," he said. "I did my best but unfortunately my best wasn't good enough.

"It's a bitter pill to swallow especially after all the big talk.To go out there and not be able to produce the goods, and I've said I'll produce the goods for so many years now, not being able to do it in such a big fight is really frustrating. I feel I let a lot of people down."

Speaking specifically about the broken little toe on his right foot, Haye added: "Whenever you have injuries, the last thing you do is tell your opponent because he'll aim for that. I couldn't push off my right foot but that's not the reason I lost the fight - he was better than me, pure and simple.

"I came off second best and even if I'd been 100 per cent fit I might not have won.

"He's the best fighter on the planet right now."

Haye also said he will not hide from any criticism that is sent his way, with Frank Warren among those who have already hit out at the Lambeth-born fighter, calling him a "cry baby". "When someone talks as much trash talk as I do, you expect someone to stick the boot in," Haye added. "Feel free to have a pop at me.

"I did the big talk but on Saturday night I didn't walk the walk and you've got to take the rough with the smooth.

"You can't just take the accolades when it's going well. When it isn't going well you've got to take your lumps."