By Mark Vester
According to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, a coin toss by his manager made the decision as to which Klitschko would fight David Haye. When David Haye posed in a mocking photo for the UK version of Men's Health magazine, both Klitschko brothers took offense. In the photo, Haye was holding the decapitated head of younger brother Wladimir Klitschko, holder of the WBO/IBF titles.
Last month in Germany, when Haye showed the photo to Vitali in a packed restaurant, a near brawl almost broke out when Vitali, in a rage, grabbed Haye and a shoving match began. Vitali came to a verbal deal with Haye for a showdown in 2009, but Wladimir wanted revenge as well.
"The photo got to me personally. Haye the insulted and threatened the Klitschko family and for that I wanted to punish him," Vitali told writer Thomas Dierenga.
But younger brother Wladimir, who close to a deal to fight Haye on June 20 in the UK, wanted the fight. Vitali will defend against mandatory Juan Carlos Gomez on March 21 in Germany.
"It's my head that Haye held in his hands. Therefore it is also my fight," Wladimir said.
Vitali said that Bernd Boente used a coin toss to settle the issue between the brothers.
"Our manager Bernd Boente came into the office, and it was simple. We will have a coin toss. The coin flew high in the air, landed and and Wladimir was the victor," Vitali said.
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