David Haye wants a Battle of Britain with Tyson Fury. But the former two-weight world champion claims his rival’s camp have already rejected the chance of a domestic showdown.

Haye makes his boxing comeback against Manuel Charr at the Manchester Arena on June 29.

It is his first fight for almost a year in his bid to become a heavyweight world champion for a second time.

Fury is also looking to climb to the top of the sport – and last month insisted he would end Haye’s career if the pair ever fought.

Haye has previously stated that he is not interested in a fight with the undefeated former British and Commonwealth champion, but has since had a change of heart.

“We made contact with Tyson Fury’s people the day before his fight with Steve Cunningham,” said the 32-year-old.

“He was making all kinds of noise, saying he wants to do this and end my career.

“I remember thinking to myself, ‘Surely he should be focusing on Steve Cunningham.’

“My manager Adam Booth contacted Mick Hennessy and said, ‘We were just wondering whether Tyson was serious?

“‘He’s screaming and shouting, but is he genuinely serious about fighting David?’

“Tyson’s promoter Mick Hennessy said they were going down another route against Kubrat Pulev. I think Tyson uses my name to get publicity because no one would want to write about him fighting Cunningham.”

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Haye versus Fury would be a massive domestic showdown with the potential to fill a stadium.

It is also a fight that television broadcasters believe could command a pay-per-view audience.

Fury is desperate to secure a world title shot against either of the Klitschko brothers and victory against Pulev would make him the mandatory challenger for Wladimir’s IBF belt.

It is understandable that he would rather concentrate on a final eliminator with the Bulgarian, rather than set up a domestic fight with Haye.

But the 24-year-old has not shied away from calling out potential opponents as he looks to make his mark in the sport.

 

And his targets haven’t been limited to fellow boxers, with UFC champion Cain Velasquez entering his line of fire in recent times.

“What he does is pick out people with a big profile, like Cain Velasquez,” added Haye.

“He’s never going to do the UFC and he probably knows he’s never going to fight me, but he uses my name to get column inches, which is fair enough. But sooner or later people get bored of it. I contact him, saying would he be interested in it and it was a straight up no. He might be up for it, but he’s going to hide behind his promoter.

“His promoter says he’s got a different strategy – some guy called Pulev. I’ve never seen him before, but if that’s the route he wants to go down, fair enough. It’s one thing saying it, it’s another doing it.

“There’s a lot of heavyweights out there like Tyson who say they want the biggest fights, they want to win titles, they want the mega fights for the fans – but when it comes down to it, they either price themselves out or come up with a different route that avoids the big names.”

Haye believes he remains the pre-eminent British heavyweight despite the emergence of Fury and David Price.

He hasn’t fought since knocking out Dereck Chisora last July, but will get the chance to emphasise that point on his third visit to the Manchester Arena.

He previously successfully defended his WBA heavyweight title there against John Ruiz and Audley Harrison.

“There’s nobody else out there who has beaten anybody of any note,” he said.

“There haven’t been any big heavyweight wins while I’ve been away. I don’t think there is anyone who has come close at the moment.”

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