By Mark Vester
WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko was impressed with David Haye's fifth round stoppage of Monte Barrett. He sat ringside at the O2 Arena in London and watched Haye drop Barrett five times before the fight was stopped. He feels Haye has the necessary tools become a successful heavyweight, but still needs at least two more fights to prepare himself for a world title bout. Haye would like to fight Vitali or his younger brother Wladimir, who holds the IBF/WBO titles.
"He has everything he needs. He has power, speed and good reflexes. Two more fights and he will be ready to challenge for a world title. The heavyweight division has a crisis. Who is the strongest? My brother Wladimir and me - and who else? Heavyweight needs strong names, good fighters. I saw a new heavyweight fighter (in Haye) who can fight for a world title. I was very impressed - it is not so easy to go from cruiserweight to heavyweight, because it is a different (level of) power," Vitali told BBC radio.
Vitali has to make a mandatory defense of his title against Juan Carlos Gomez. Even with the mandatory obligation, he still appears to be desperate for another crack at former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis. Lewis beat Vitali in 2003 on cuts and retired a few months later. Vitali has been chasing a rematch for the last few years. If he can't get Lewis, he would entertain a possible fight with Haye for next summer.
"David Haye makes it brilliant. If I fight Lennox Lewis then maybe Wladimir fights David Haye. If not then I am interested in a fight - maybe next spring or next summer, here in Great Britain or in Germany. I am interested in proving my skills against a new generation."
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