Heavyweight contender Tony “The Tiger” Thompson denies having formally reached out in an attempt to negotiate a bout with Tyson Fury, whom ex-beltholder David Haye claims to have signed a deal for a Sept. 28 matchup in England.

Haye believed that Fury had intentions of trying to meet Thompson.

“Word around ‘Camp Fire’ is Fury is looking to duck me and fight Tony ‘The Tiger’ [Thompson],” said Haye. “Let’s hope they are just rumors.”

But Thompson (38-3, 26 knockouts) told RingTV.com that he was not aware of any negotiations. Instead, Thompson is enjoying a well-earned vacation, having risen from a second-round knockdown to secure Saturday’s fifth-round stoppage of David Price (15-2, 13 KOs), whom the southpaw had also knocked out in the second round in February.

“I haven’t heard anything about that. I haven’t heard anything about that. Not yet,” said Thompson, a 41-year-old married father of seven. “I’m on the golf course, man, down here in Virginia Beach. Just until Thursday, and then I’m back up to my house, and then, back up to Williamsburg for the weekend.”

Thompson’s initial victory over Price had helped him to rebound from a sixth-round knockout loss to RING champion Wladimir Klitschko in July of last year. Thompson also suffered an 11th-round stoppage loss to Klitschko in July of 2008.

A free agent, Thompson expressed the desire for a new promoter after vanquishing Price, even if it meant fighting in England, as he did, twice, against Price in Liverpool.

“We’ve talked to a few people, but I’m not going to name any names at this moment because I would rather that it be the right moment for them,” said Thompson.

“But a few people have reached out to me, and right now, we’re just sitting back, my wife, Sydnee Thompson, who is my manager, and we’re just mulling the offers, man.”

Thompson said he would next like to face WBC titleholder Vitali Klitschko, who turns 42 on July 19 and who may be nearing retirement.

“I want to see Vitali this time,” said Thompson. “But I’m interested whoever is going to get me closer to that title, or whoever is going to pay me the most.”

Photo: Scott Heavey-Gettyimages

Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]