By Lem Satterfield

WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko is counting down the days to this Saturday's defense against former titlist Shannon Briggs at the 02 World Arena in Altona, Hamburg, Germany. Klitschko (40-2, 38 KOs) still believes Briggs is using his asthma condition as a ready-made excuse in the event that he loses on Saturday. Briggs has been very upset with Klitschko's position on the asthma issue. 

"You know, if he was really sick, then Shannon Briggs wouldn't be fighting. He has great boxing experience. He goes after the knockouts and he's in great condition. His story about asthma is a good excuse to say, 'look at me, I'm a sick boy, and, any way, I still fight.' It's just an excuse that he has just in case he loses the fight," Klitschko said.

On the subject of WBA heavyweight champion David Haye, Klitschko had nothing nice to say. He, along with his younger brother Wladimir, view Haye as a fighter running scared. Neither of the two Klitschkos are under the impression that a future fight with Haye is ever going to happen.

"You know what? David Haye is just chicken, to be honest. He's got a big mouth but nothing more. David Haye is the world's biggest trash talker. But he's smart enough to understand that if David Haye made the contract with Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko, and he got inside the ring with either one of us, then it would be the finish of his boxing career," Klitschko said.

Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor at AOL FanHouse and the news editor at BoxingScene.com. To read more from Lem Satterfield, go to AOL FanHouse by Clicking Here.