David Haye has become something of a nemesis to the Klitschko brothers in recent times, but if they think that Britain’s WBA heavyweight champion is going to be spending his weekend worrying about them, they have another think coming.

Vitali Klitschko defends his WBC heavyweight title against Kevin Johnson, an unbeaten American, in Berne tomorrow night, but other things have Haye’s attention right now.

“I’ll probably Sky-plus it,” Haye said. “I’m not going and I doubt I’ll stay in to watch. There are probably a million guys called Kevin Johnson, and beating one of them doesn’t make you an all-time great heavyweight. When he faces a bigger test, I’ll pay more attention.”

Haye began the year a mere thorn in the sides of the Klitschkos — the younger brother, Wladimir, is WBO, IBF and IBO champion. But since taking the only other recognised belt from Nikolay Valuev last month, Haye knows that the Klitschkos now need him as much as he needs them.

Johnson was a possible opponent for Haye’s heavyweight debut last year. “We made them an offer, they wanted double, but Monte Barrett came in and was a better opponent anyway,” Haye said. “It’s worked out for Johnson because he has now got his payday, but I don’t think he is much of a challenge for Vitali.”

What is holding more of Haye’s attention than the goings-on in the Swiss city this weekend is the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, for which Haye has been shortlisted. Despite having grabbed a portion of the world heavyweight title, Haye says he was surprised to be nominated, not least because the BBC does not screen his sport.

“When Joe Calzaghe won [Sports Personality of the Year], the BBC had showed a recording of his win over [Mikkel] Kessler,” Haye said. “My win over Valuev wasn’t shown by the BBC or any terrestrial channel, which was very disappointing.

“But I’m surprised I was nominated because I don’t really see myself as their kind of ‘personality’, when you consider all those things with the decapitated heads [Haye’s T-shirts that antagonised the Klitschkos]. The winners all seem clean-cut and stereotypical role models. I’m a role model, sort of, but I like to have fun with it.”

While we are talking, Haye has to break away to give a live radio interview. “Gave them my usual drivel,” he says with a self-deprecating laugh when he returns. He is warming to his role as a media personality.

Certainly Haye is much more famous since his win over Valuev. “It makes getting around much more difficult because I’m always signing autographs,” he said. “I’ve had old women coming up to me saying, ‘Aren’t you David? You beat Goliath. I went to the pub to see that.’ And I’ll just go, ‘Really?’ I still find that quite surprising.”