Wladimir: Haye's Behavior at The Presser a Disgrace

Wladimir Klitschko sent a chilling warning to David Haye on Monday: "People have been handicapped and people have died in boxing - it's not something you joke about".

Londoner Haye, Britain's WBA heavyweight champion, stops at nothing to promote himself and his fights and is known as much for his tasteless talking as his undoubted pugilistic ability.

The 30-year-old has added to that reputation in the build-up to Saturday's long-awaited unification clash with IBF/WBO champion Klitschko, pushing the boundary again at today's final press conference by promising a "brutal execution" of his Ukrainian rival.

Klitschko has kept his cool throughout and has vowed to teach Haye some respect in Hamburg on Saturday.

He said: "I'm a very lucky person in that I am healthy enough to perform. "No matter what, it is disgraceful and disrespectful for a man to wish to damage your health.

"This game, this sport, is very intense and unfortunately there have been a lot of cases where people have been handicapped and people have died during and after fights.

"It's not something you can joke about to promote yourself. It's something you do not say. I felt embarrassed at the way David Haye acted in the press conference. Because it also casts a shadow on the sport.

"I'm angry for the last three years but it has transformed into concentration and motivation now."

The 35-year-old, widely recognised as the world's leading heavyweight, added: "I definitely wish good health to David Haye. I hope that after this fight he does not end up in hospital, that he won't be handicapped or whatever.

"It's not funny or cool. It was stupid to mention things like that.

Other highlights of the press conference saw Wladimir's brother, Vitali, take the journalists' microphone and taunt Haye by saying: "Please make sure you come to the post-fight press conference when you lose!"

Haye's response was typically barbed: "No, make sure you come to the press conference and not in the ambulance with your brother."

Swindon trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick, part of Haye's entourage, then approached the stage to confront Emmanuel Steward, Klitschko's coach, over a long-running feud they share. The fighters themselves then shared a traditional face-to-face stare-down before being separated.