By James Blears

World Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman has given his blessing to a future head to head tussle between Vitali Klitschko and brash David Haye, but warns that quality wise, Haye’s not on the same street.

While Vitali holds the WBC version of the heavyweight title, younger brother Wladimir has the IBF and WBO titles. The only belt that now eludes them is that of the World Boxing Association, which Haye has just captured.

Haye was first due to fight Vitali, but Wladimir stepped in. Then Haye had to pull out due to a back injury, and once he’d recovered he won the WBA version from the towering Nicolai Valuev.

Both brothers are still livid at a t-shirt stunt Haye pulled, showing him holding their severed heads. Vitali in particular has vowed to teach David respect, manners and humility.

But first he has a mandatory defense of his WBC title against Kevin Johnson in Switzerland next month. And David must defend against John Ruiz, at a date to be arranged. However, if both emerge victorious, they are itching to exchange ring blows.

WBC President Jose Sulaiman told BoxingScene.com/Reuters: “If our great champion of the world Vitali chooses Haye in a voluntary defense, we will be more than happy to authorize it. To me, with all due respect to David Haye, Vitali is by far a giant, compared to a little man mountain that to me is David. Speaking the way David does, brings attention to the sport of boxing, but he must prove that he’s ready to climb the big mountain.

“Haye needs Vitali Klitschko, but Vitali doesn’t need Haye. Vitali had picked Haye as a voluntary defense but Haye was afraid of him and went to fight Valuev instead. He chose what he thought was the easier fight of course.”