Haye pulls out of Klitschko showdown

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Haye was scheduled to challenge for Klitschko's IBF, WBO and IBO belts before a sell-out crowd of over 60,000 at Schalke's Veltins-Arena on June 20.

But an injury sustained in training has forced the 28-year-old Briton to pull out.

The nature or severity of the injury is unknown, casting doubt over when the fight can be re-staged.

If it is a relatively minor problem, Haye's attempt to become Britain's first heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis retired in 2003 could be postponed until September.

The development comes as a bitter blow to Haye, who had attracted criticism for his controversial behaviour when promoting the fight.

He attended media events wearing a T-shirt depicting him proudly holding aloft the decapitated heads of Wladimir and his elder brother Vitali.

Renaming Klitschko as "Bitchko", he also derided him as an embarrassment to boxing and rubbished his record.

Haye claimed he was simply selling the fight, yet former British, European and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Sir Henry Cooper was among those who found his conduct distasteful.