DAVID Haye’s hopes of facing one of the Klitschko brothers before the end of the year are effectively over after the Ukrainian heavyweight champions lined up alternative opponents.

After former world champion Shannon Briggs claimed on Thursday he will take on WBC king Vitali, the Klitschkos revealed yester-day IBF/WBO holder Wladimir will meet former victim Samuel Peter in a rematch.

Last year, Haye’s negotiations over a fight with Vitali fell through and a back injury forced him out of a challenge to Wladimir. Instead, he managed to wrest the WBA title from Nikolay Valuev before setting his sights on a showdown with one of the brothers some time this year.

But talks have again proved fruitless with the Englishman and his manager-trainer Adam Booth unable to reach an agreement with the Klitschko camp.

The developments leave Haye searching for a viable opponent for the second defence of his WBA title. In April he beat American John Ruiz, but there are few lucrative options aside from the Klitschkos.

Northern Echo Sport understands Haye’s fellow Londoner Audley Harrison has not been discounted following his European title win earlier this year, while Polish former cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek would represent a credible alternative.

Wladimir will face Peter in Frankfurt, Germany on September 11 after a clash with Alexander Povetkin fell through. Nigerian Peter, formerly the WBC champion and currently ranked at two by the IBF, knocked Klitschko down three times before losing a unanimous decision in their 2005 fight.