David Haye says world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko is already running scared, and that if they ever meet he will stop the Ukrainian inside six rounds.

But Klitschko, who is fighting one of his two mandatory challengers Tony Thompson in July, holds the IBF and WBO belts and says Haye needs to prove himself before the pair can get it on.

"In Vegas everyone was asking when I'm fighting Klitschko," Haye said. "It's the fight everyone wants.

"No-one has even heard of Thompson and (Alexander) Povetkin, who ducked me in the amateurs by moving up to super-heavyweight. But these are the guys he's fighting and it's just a joke.

"He holds the most heavyweight titles and I'm the fastest fighter with the best knockout record so we should fight as soon as possible.

"He's just hiding behind the mandatory defences. This would be the biggest fight in the heavyweight division since Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson.

"But he's just scared and I can see it in his eyes. I reckon I'll knock him out in six rounds."

However, in a head-to-head confrontation, Klitschko hit back, saying: "For now, in the heavyweight division you are a nobody. You have to prove yourself."

But Haye responded: "I don't have anything to prove. You've got to fight the best fighters out there - and the best fighter is me.

"Who's Tony Thompson? What have Thompson and Alexander Povetkin ever done? These people are bums. Fight the main man, that's me. There is no need to hide behind these mandatory bums. No-one knows who they are."

The last word was left to the 32-year-old Ukrainian, who said: "I'd hardly heard of David Haye until I arrived in London but he's been following me around.

"I understand he is young and enthusiastic but I am committed to my mandatory defence against Tony Thompson and I'm focusing on that."


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