Hopkins (left) successfully defended his middleweight crown for 10 years

Britain's WBA heavyweight champion David Haye has dismissed the prospect of facing American Bernard Hopkins.

Hopkins avenged a 17-year-old defeat by Roy Jones Jr on Saturday - and promptly declared he wanted to face Haye.

"People will think the punch in the back of my head made me a little crazy, but I want Haye," said Hopkins, 45

But Haye, 29, told BBC Radio 5 live: "I think he just wants a big pay day, to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world he can demand big money."

The Londoner, who defeated American John Ruiz in Manchester on Saturday added: "Bernard Hopkins is one of my idols. Looking back at his fights over the last 20, 25 years, he's always been a great fighter.

"But now he's 45 years of age, he fought another 40-year-old on the same night as me and it was a dire fight for everybody there in attendance."

Ex-middleweight champion Hopkins beat Jones, 41, by unanimous decision in an ill-tempered Las Vegas bout.

The non-title fight erupted into life in the sixth round after Hopkins took a blow to the back of the head.

606: DEBATE Could Hopkins take on Haye?

When the pair met in 1993 Jones beat Hopkins on points and the cagey start to the belated rematch suggested the full 12 rounds would be needed once more.

Indeed, the action was in stark contrast to the display put on just hours earlier in Manchester as Haye dropped Ruiz twice in the first round and twice more later on to stop the durable American for only the second time in 55 fights.

However, as the Las Vegas contest reached its mid-point, the contest finally sparked into life as Jones spun out of a clinch and landed a short punch to the back of Hopkins' head.

Hopkins dropped to his knees for several minutes but when the round resumed, he attacked Jones with a furious flurry and the two men continued to exchange punches as the bell rang, with security guards having to restore order.

Hopkins went down on two other occasions, albeit from another rabbit punch and a low blow, while an accidental head butt in the 11th round opened a gash on Jones' left eyelid.

"It was kind of rough," said Hopkins, who improved his record to 51 wins, five defeats and one draw. "Roy's a veteran. He was tying me up. I was tying him up. It was a good fight."

Former super-middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight title holder Jones, whose record slipped to 54 wins and seven defeats with his sixth loss in 11 fights, admitted he may now choose to call time on a glorious career.

"I'll go back and talk to my coaches and my dad and if we think I still have it, we'll keep going, and if not, we'll call it a day," he said.

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