David Haye has given fellow Briton Tyson Fury a 1 in 20 chance of pulling off an upset against world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko on Saturday.
Fury (24-0, 18 KOs) challenges Ukrainian Klitschko (64-3, 53 KOs) for the IBF, WBA and WBO world titles at the ESPRIT arena in D?sseldorf and is the first Briton to fight the Ukrainian since Haye in July 2011.
Haye (26-2, 24 KOs), 35, was widely out-pointed by Klitschko in a world title unification clash and then blamed a toe injury on his defeat.
Defeat cost Haye his WBA title and he has since only had one more fight – a stoppage win over Dereck Chisora in July 2012 – before twice pulling out of fights against Fury in 2013 due to a cut and a shoulder injury.
Haye had been retired until earlier this week, when he announced he will box for the first time in three and a half years against Australian Mark De Mori (30-1-2, 26 KOs) at London’s O2 Arena on January 16.
While Haye would relish a rematch with Klitschko, 39, he sees little chance in him ever fighting 27-year-old Manchester traveller Fury.
The former world heavyweight and cruiserweight champion also sees little chance for Fury in ending Klitschkos reign of nine years and six months as world champion.
“Is he going to beat Wladimir Klitschko, who is a consummate professional inside and outside the ring? I don’t really give him a shot. I only give Fury a 1 in 20 shot,” Haye told reporters on a conference call.
“He has never beaten any one world class. Dereck Chisora is the best person he’s beaten. You look at Klitschko and it is a whole different story.
“This is Tyson Fury’s first introduction to world heavyweight boxing. To have your first introductory fight against Klitschko means it is going to be a very hard night’s work for him.
“To go from fighting the Chisora’s of this world to go in with a strong, healthy dominant world champion, will be a step too far.
“The only way Tyson Fury would ever be on my radar is if he ever did become world champion, which he could possibly become if he wins on Saturday night.
“If that’s the case then he will be the man to beat – but I very much doubt that will happen, so he is not on my radar.
“I think the guy is clouded in bad luck. He brings too much negativity.”
Haye’s hopes his comeback will result in another crack at Klitschko and says his lay-off could be beneficial.
“My aim is to regain the heavyweight championship of the world,” Haye said.
“Ever since I lost to Wladimir Klitschko I’ve wanted to do it again and I believe I can take his power.
“I’m 35 and he’s nearly 40 and I feel I’m fresh because I’ve not been punched in the head fort he last three and a half years. When I hit him [Klitschko] on the chops I saw his eyes roll in his head.
“Whether it be Wladimir Klitschko, Deontay Wilder or Ruslan Chagaev. I just want that heavyweight strap around my waist. I want to win all of the belts.”
