Wlad: Door still open to Haye

Wladimir Klitschko has told Sky Sports that he hopes talks will remain open with David Haye regarding a fight with he or his brother.  "I think that David became a better person and I hope that he is more reliable than he used to be. "  Wladimir Klitschko Quotes of the week Haye 'retired' after receiving a 12-round bashing at the hands of Wladimir last summer, but unsurprisingly came back less than a year later to beat Dereck Chisora at Upton Park earlier this month.  That impressive stoppage victory once again sparked speculation that the 'Hayemaker' could be in a position to get it on with WBC champion Vitali Klitschko, or even face Wladimir in a rematch.  The Klitschkos' manager Bernd Boente told Ringside that the door did indeed remain open to Haye despite previous talks ending in stalemate.

Boente had offered Haye a date with Vitali on September 8, only for the Briton to agree to a fight with Chisora in the meantime.  And while Team Haye were apparently happy to accept the September clash as well, Klitschko was not in agreement and signed to defend his title against the unknown Manuel Charr.  But with any Haye vs Klitschko fight certain to generate interest around the globe, Wladimir confirmed that talks will remain ongoing.  "It's very difficult to follow what David Haye wants - retirement, not retirement - fighting or not fighting Vitali or me, fighting someone else," the IBF, WBO and WBA champion said.  "Eventually he was fighting me which was great following all the talk, and I think the chances are there (for another Klitschko fight).  "And as I said, I think that David became a better person and I hope that he is more reliable than he used to be.  "We'll see the next step. The next step is for Vitali to fight. It's very important for him to win the fight and then we'll continue to talk."

Does Alexander Povetkin have a chance against Wladimir Klitschko?

n terms of world championship belts, only two fighters have any logical claim on challenging heavyweight top dog Wladimir Klitschko: his big brother Vitali, the WBC champ; and Alexander Povetkin, the WBA "regular" (read "fake") beltholder. Since Vitali and Wladimir have long and loudly proclaimed they will never fight each other, that makes Povetkin the sole, rightful challenger to Wladimir's place as boxing's biggest, baddest man. Yet is the Russian Vityaz ready to duke it out with Dr. Steelhammer?

Boxers to look out for at the London 2012 Olympic Games

London, Great Britain, 24 July 2012 – With just a few days to go until the biggest show on Earth gets underway in the British capital, we look at the men and women in each of the weight categories who can have a real impact at the London 2012 Olympic Games. In the second of this four part series, we examine the Light (60kg), Light Welter (64kg) and Welterweight (69kg) men.

Men Lightweight (60kg) 2008 Olympic Title holder: Alexey Tishchenko (RUS) 2011 AIBA World Champion: Vasyl Lomachenko (UKR)  It is hard to look beyond arguably the world’s best Olympic pound for pound boxer, Ukrainian superstar Vasyl Lomachenko (photo), for this one. After taking the Featherweight (57kg) gold in 2008, the last four years have geared up towards the London 2012 Olympic Games for the powerful 24-year-old. He was the leading light in Beijing where he took the Val Barker Trophy, awarded to the outstanding fighter in the whole tournament. Last year, he was crowned AIBA World Champion for a second time so many expect him to once again take centre stage. Cuba’s Yasnier Toledo Lopez will be the main challenger, along with Italy’s 2009 AIBA World Champion Domenico Valentino and Brazilian Robson Conceicao, who pushed Lomachenko all the way in the Round of 16 in Baku. Road to London II participant Evaldas Petrauskas from Lithuania created the sensation in 2011 when he took bronze in the Azeri capital and could have a major say in what happens in this weight category. Belarus’s elegant southpaw Vazgen Safaryants is a clever operator and can surprise a fair few. So if Lomachenko wants to take gold, he will not have it easy, guaranteed.

Women's boxer Taylor named as Ireland's flag bearer

The four-times world lightweight champion has played a major role in women's boxing, winning a place at the Olympics for the first time in London where she is Ireland's best hope of a gold medal. One of the country's most popular athletes, the 26-year-old's appointment to the role was well-deserved, according to Irish Amateur Boxing Association chief Tommy Murphy. "It's a great honour for Irish amateur boxing and we are absolutely delighted that Katie has been chosen to be the flag bearer for Ireland for the opening ceremony for the London Olympics," he said in a statement after the Olympic Council of Ireland confirmed the decision.

Muhammad Ali to lead host stars in Olympic opening ceremony

Boxing hero Muhammad Ali has been asked to lead a parade of sporting greats that will include David Beckham and distance running legend Haile Gebrselassie in the Olympics ceremony. “The idea is to get a parade of stars for the opening ceremony and Ali would undoubtedly be the greatest star of all,” “There is a question mark over him purely because of his health. He is frail, but would love to be involved. He has great affection for Britain,”. The 70-year-old, who has Parkinson’s disease, but is still full of incredible spirit, is poised to take centre stage at Friday’s opening ceremony at the stadium in East London. Top Hollywood actors such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Posh and Becks are all due to attend Olympic charity events this week. America’s First Lady Michelle Obama will be at the opening night and is to meet 1,000 kids at a London event. She said the visit was a “dream come true”. Ali, who won gold at the Rome Games in 1960, will also be guest of honour at a party held at Victoria and Albert museum today.

Boxers fighting fit for London Olympics

Boxing has traditionally been Ireland's strongest sport at the Olympics and hopes are high that the London Games will see another healthy medal count.  Paddy Barnes, 25, hopes to become the first Irish boxer to pick up a medal in two Olympic Games.  The Belfast light-flyweight won a bronze medal in Beijing four years ago but stressed he has not been "feeling any pressure" as the games beckon.  "I've my own expectations, I've my own dreams," said the 2010 European Champion.  "I'd love to be the first Irish boxer to come home from the Olympic games with two medals. It would just be a dream come true and a lifetime ambition for me."  And he said he thrived on the pressure of expectation now heaped upon him ahead of the London games.

"Every championship I go to now after the Olympic (Beijing) games I've always been under a bit of pressure because of the bronze I won, and it shows I can get on top of the pressure after winning the Europeans and the Commonwealth Games," he said.  "So I don't really fall to pressure, I take it as it comes."  He said he never doubted he would qualify for the Olympics - but this time he knows exactly what to expect.  "Last time I was in Beijing you were walking past 10,000 athletes, big stars and you are a bit star struck. This time now you just know we are all here to do the same job," he said.  "In Beijing you could say I was only just a kid. I had very little international experience. This time around I have four years international experience. You can't buy that experience."  Barnes is one of two Belfast fighters on the Ireland boxing team.  Michael Conlon, 20, a flyweight from the Falls Road in Belfast is preparing for his first Olympic Games.  "It's been unreal. Two years ago I could not imagine it. I did say I was going to do it," he said.  "It's just been great to be living a dream. I'm not putting pressure on myself at all, so I'm going out there just to do my best."

Danny Green defeats Danny Santiago

Three time world champion Danny Green scored a fifth round TKO against opponent Danny Santiago

Santiago came out firing in the early rounds, but simply could not withstand the power of Green's punches, falling for the fourth and final time of the bout 2min 47sec into the fifth before the referee waived it off.  The win takes Green's record to 32 wins (28 by knockout), five losses (2KO) and no draws.  Santiago now has an unenviable record of having been stopped in all six of his defeats, with his record moving to 31 wins (19KO), six losses for six and one draw.  Green Machine boxing trumpeted the fight as Green's last at Challenge Stadium and post-win, the WA fighter would not be drawn on whether it was the last of his career.  "I'm just going to relax and enjoy it," Green said.  "I think I can say I've proudly represented my state and my country as well as I possibly could ... I almost died here a few times.  "This one's for you guys, as always.  "I've worked my ass off, I've had broken bones in almost every part of my body, but I've done it for you guys and I hope so much you know that."  Santiago praised Green and urged his opponent to continue at the lighter weight, with Green dropping from cruiserweight to a catchweight of 84.9kg.  "I came and I gave it all I had, he's very strong fighter," Santiago said.  "I know he says it's his last fight here, but I hope it's not his last fight ... he hits like a mule." Green has now been encouraged to chase a world title figtht with WBA light heavyweight champion Beibut Shumanov.  Speaking earlier this week, Green confirmed he had already held discussions with Shumenov and WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly.