By Mark Staniforth
Just when you thought heavyweight boxing could not get more unedifying, WBC champion Vitali Klitschko has apparently revealed that he would consider giving Londoner David Haye another shot at the heavyweight crown.
Haye, of course, is still wanted for questioning by German police over his part in the brawl with Klitschko victim Dereck Chisora in Munich last month, and does not currently own a boxing licence.
The Klitschkos are plumbing increasingly new depths to find opponents - witness the domestic-level Chisora, who at least had a go, and the pitiful Jean-Marc Mormeck folding against Wladimir last weekend.
Nobody is suggesting it is the Klitschkos' fault that they reign in the worst era in heavyweight boxing history, and in which the only genuine challenger to each other is just that - each other, in the one fight that can never happen.
But handing Haye another shot would send out a simply appalling message from the sport - for the utterly dismal manner of his challenge to Wladimir last time out, but more for his behaviour in Munich.
Haye has heaped nothing but shame on the heavyweight division since he swanned out for a press conference with Wladimir wearing a tasteless tee-shirt bearing the image of the Klitschkos' decapitated heads.
He was moronic throughout the whole pre-fight week and his pleasant, private intimations that his outbursts were all in the name of hype simply don't wash: tell that to the kids who see in his obnoxious behaviour a blueprint for their own futures.
One would have hoped that the intelligent and articulate elder Klitschko would understand the damage to the sport's image a fight against Haye would engender, and insist on looking elsewhere.
Instead, the saving grace may come in the form of the sport's sanctioning bodies. The German authorities will certainly not licence Haye without the say-so of the British Boxing Board of Control.
Understandably, they have refused to answer hypothetical questions over Haye's imminent attempt at re-licensing. But when it inevitably comes, it is incumbent on the Board to show their backbone and reject his bid.
Most predictions are that Chisora will get a year-long ban when he faces his misconduct hearing at the Board on March 14, and few who witnessed his behaviour in Munich would deny he has it coming.
But Haye played his own full part in bringing boxing into disrepute. If his appearance at the post-fight press conference was a planned promotional ruse for that future fight with Vitali, it backfired badly.
Instead of garbling an apology in between tweeting cheesy snaps of himself heading off to Las Vegas to party, Haye could have helped his cause by showing rather more genuine contrition.
Haye is not, as he seems to think, untouchable. The sport has created far greater and certainly more respected champions, and has fought hard to overcome the tragedies and controversies which have often threatened to sink it.
The great and good of British boxing congregated on a panel for BBC Radio Five Live two weeks back, during which they spoke encouragingly of the amateur code making great strides towards being reintroduced to the school curriculum.
The Board's general secretary, Robert Smith, was among those who insisted the future looked bright.
First, Smith's organisation must act swiftly and decisively to prevent one man dragging it back towards the dark ages.
Mark Staniforth covers boxing for PA Sport.
