David Haye has said that it was "never an option" to pull out of his summer title bout with Wladimir Klitschko.

The Englishman lost the Hamburg fight on points after being dominated by the Ukrainian, only to reveal immediately afterwards that he was suffering with a broken toe.

"It was never an option to pull out of the fight no matter what was wrong," said the 31-year-old, who has since retired from the sport.

"I had to go through with it. It was not an option. Certain fights you can pull out of and certain fights you can't, and in that fight it was not an option."

Haye also indicated that may make a return to the ring to fight one of the Klitschko brothers.