By Ruslan Chikov
The WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko told Russian news reporter, Efim Shanskiy, that he took a fight with European boxing champion Albert Sosnowski on May 29 because other potentials like Nikolai Valuev and David Haye did not want to fight.
"I offered [Valuev] $2.5 million dollars and despite the fact that he recently lost to Haye. When Lennox Lewis, ten days before the fight, asked me to fight him for the most prestigious title in the world - I did not hesitate and I didn't start asking 'how much money am I going to get?' I just said 'yes,'" Klitschko said.
Klitschko called Valuev a coward in a prior interview, and Valuev responded by daring him to make that comment in a face to face manner.
"I won't comment on these kind of things. I think people who read such statements, should just smile. Nikolai is trying to save face, so to speak, to find some justification [for not fighting]," Klitschko said.
Vitali doesn't think Haye is serious about a fight unless the money is very, very high because he knows either Klitschko will win. Further, he doesn't see Povetkin going forward with a mandatory fight against his brother Wladimir.
"Twice he had his chance to fight a Klitschko. Haye knows, nothing good will come of this, whether it's against me or against Wladimir. His main motivation is money and how much he can get for a fight. I'll fight him anywhere. No excuses [from him] because I'll fight him at Wembley Stadium in England," Klitschko said.
"I have a feeling that Povetkin and his team do not want a fight with Wladimir, especially after what my brother did to [Eddie] Chambers. I think they understand this fight will be the end for Alexander. I support Povetkin and I watch his fights, but the promoters and managers can ruin a promising career by throwing him to the lions. I am sure Alexander will be a world champion one day, but he must wait until the Klitschkos are long gone."
