David Haye declared he wants to face Vitali Klitschko next after his fifth round demolition of British heavyweight rival Dereck Chisora in London on Saturday.
The former world heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion managed to do what Vitali failed to do in the last defence of his WBC heavyweight title in February: stop Chisora.
Haye, 31, lost a version of the world title to Vitali’s younger brother Wladimir a year ago and was criticised for his passive performance and post-fight excuse of a broken toe.
But Haye felt an amount of redemption after twice leaving Chisora slumped on the canvas at Upton Park, the home of West Ham football club, from left hooks and hopes it will earn him another crack at a Klitschko.
Wladimir, who holds three of the world title belts, insists he is not interested in a rematch with Haye for the moment.
Vitali, who holds the other world title belt, was linked with a defence against Haye earlier this year.
But WBC champion Vitali’s next challenger on September 10 is Germany-based Syrian Manuel Charr, who gate-crashed the Haye-Chisora post-fight press conference to announce he would be prepared to fight Haye once he beats the WBC champion.
Haye, however, expects Vitali to prevail and hopes to face the Uk-rainian later this year or in 2013.
“I would like to regain a version of the world heavyweight championship,” Haye told a news conference.
“If Vitali beats this gentleman (Manuel Charr) I would love to challenge him for his title. If it’s not meant to be, so be it. I’ve proved my punching power against someone who pushed Vitali to the wire.”
Vitali, 40, may well retire after facing Charr to pursue a full-time political career, which would leave Haye trying to convince Wladimir, 36, to give him a rematch.
Haye rediscovered his knockout power – he has stopped 24 of 25 opponents – against Chisora and was well ahead on all three scorecards at the time of the stoppage, with one judge scoring it 40-36 and the other two seeing it 39-37.
But Haye had to take some shots from Chisora, who kept marching forward until he was caught by a brilliant left hook in the fifth round. Another quick right sent Chisora stumbling backwards on to the canvas.
He got to his feet at the count of seven but after a ferocious onslaught, he was left open and Haye seized his chance with a swinging left hook to the jaw.
This time, referee Luis Pabon waved the contest over as Chisora sluggishly got to his feet.
But after the distasteful pre-fight trash-talk the two Londoners embraced in the ring.
Haye then paid tribute to Zimbabwe-born Chisora, who has lived in London since the young age of 16.
“It was tough,” he said.
“I thought it would be easier than it was but I trained for it to be tough. I trained for the best Dereck Chisora and that guy turned up.
“He stepped up a level here and took some amazing shots and landed some amazing shots. It felt like a great fight.
“After sharing the ring with Dereck I have a new-found respect for him.”
Chisora, 28, will pay Haye £20,000 for him to donate to a charity after the pair had a bet on their fight for the minor World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organisation international heavyweight titles.