Boxing: Klitschko: I'd fight Haye on the moon

'I'm motivated to take his belt but I understand David and he's a smart boy,' says Klitschko (GETTY IMAGES)

Vitali Klitschko claims he would fight David Haye anywhere in the world but says a mouth-watering tear-up with Britain's world heavyweight champion is unlikely to happen.

Klitschko holds the WBC version of the title and believes the Hayemaker is afraid of taking on both him and his younger brother Wladimir. But the frustrated Ukrainian, who offered a fight proposal which included a 50-50 purse split to Haye two months ago, has called on the Londoner to stop hiding and use his fists against the best in the division.

Klitschko, 39, said: "I am ready to fight David any place, any time in England, Cardiff or even on the moon. My brother and I offered him a proposal two months ago but we have had no answer. Why? It's mean of David. We don't want to talk with our mouths, let's just talk with our fists. But all boxing fans have to know he is afraid to fight us and is afraid to lose the title. It shows his character.

"David has to come out and say he doesn't want to fight the Klitschkos. He talks too much and is just a trash talker but there is a big difference between talking and doing."

Haye, 29, was scheduled to fight both siblings in 2009 but pulled out with a back injury before facing Wladimir and then talks with Vitali broke down. Instead, Haye beat the giant Nikolai Valuev to claim the WBA title in Germany before a routine defence of his title against John Ruiz in Manchester. But Vitali insists Haye is just boxing clever to bide his time.

He added: "If David is only interested in the money, then we offered a fair proposal where we'll split the worldwide income 50-50. I'm motivated to take his belt but I understand David and he's a smart boy. He is a world champion who enjoys the spotlight but only because he doesn't fight the Klitschkos. He knows the chance of beating either of us is minimal. He will lose against Wladimir or me."

Klitschko was in Cardiff for the WBC Night of Champions alongside a star-studded cast of former boxing greats including Roberto Duran and Carlos Zarate. He said that he expects to tie up a contract soon for his next fight, against the American veteran Shannon Briggs in Hamburg on 16 October. Meanwhile, Wladimir will face a rematch with Samuel Peter in Frankfurt on 11 September.