Boxing: Haye uses Hitler film in campaign to goad rival Klitschko

(GETTY IMAGES)

David Haye continued his tasteless campaign to wind up opponent Wladimir Klitschko by tweeting a link to a film featuring Adolf Hitler that has mock subtitles added to it referring to preparations for their fight on Saturday.

The Londoner has continually sought to goad his Germany-based Ukrainian nemesis in the build-up to Saturday's heavyweight unification bout in Hamburg with various tasteless comments and stunts.

On Tuesday Haye claimed the E. coli outbreak in Germany posed more of a threat to him than Klitschko's punches. The deadly strain has claimed 48 lives so far and was blamed on bean sprouts from an organic farm in Germany.

"The German E. coli is more dangerous than Klitschko, without a doubt," he said. "I can control what Wladimir does but if I get that E. coli, I'm not sure what my defence for it will be like. But I can defend myself against whatever Wladimir is going to chuck at me on Saturday night."

The goading continued yesterday when the WBA champion tweeted a link to a video in which scenes from the film Downfall, depicting Hitler in his Berlin bunker, have mock subtitles run below them as if the Nazi characters in the film are discussing Haye's training ahead of the fight.

The move is the latest in a line of wind-up tactics from Haye. On Tuesday he claimed Klitschko's trainer Emanuel Steward had approached him about helping him beat his own fighter's brother, Vitali, which Steward quickly denied.

After Haye's team turned up more than 30 minutes late for Monday's press conference, assistant trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick interrupted proceedings to confront Steward over a long-standing argument.

It all started in 2008 when Haye ambushed Klitschko at a London event as he first tried to lure the IBF and WBO champion into a fight. He also riled the brothers by wearing a T-shirt depicting him holding aloft their severed heads.

The Londoner, who refuses to shake hands with Klitschko, recently released an iPhone game where players attempt to knock the head off an eastern European "giant".

Haye's latest stunt yesterday saw him arrive for his scheduled public workout and warm-up before throwing just one shot and leaving the ring after taking a bow.