By Edward Chaykovsky

44-year-old former WBO heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs is roasting David Haye. He claims the former two division world champion backed away from a promised fall fight.

Briggs had a verbal promise for Haye, that a fight would take place in the fall if he appeared on his undercard back in May. Briggs appeared on the card and secured an easy knockout win Haye appearing in the main event with an easy knockout of his own over Arnold Gjergjaj at The O2 in London.

But according to Haye in a recent interview with BoxingScene.com's Declan Taylor, Briggs refused to move forward with the deal unless it was a "pay-per-view" showdown.

Briggs denies Haye's claim and says the London fighter used his name to gain attention.

"David backed out, he's not a man of his word," Briggs exclusively told Sky Sports. "It boils down to basically him being an opportunist.

"He took advantage of me fighting on his card. Then afterwards, he went looking for another fight, an easier fight and some would say a more lucrative fight. But the truth of the matter is, I don't think there's a bigger fight for him financially out there right now."

He feels Haye is staying away from any dangerous opponents while building a win streak that eventually lands a crack at IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. The WBO recently ordered the winner of Joseph Parker vs. Andy Ruiz, which takes place in December for the vacant WBO belt, to face Haye within 120 days.

"I think it's simply down to the fact he doesn't want a dangerous opponent right now. He's going to pad his record, get a couple of wins, and hopefully get a title shot against Anthony Joshua," Briggs said.

"I built up a big event where a lot of people were interested, especially in the UK. The momentum was there. I fought on his card, I did as he asked, on my end. For him to back out, to pursue possibly a Tony Bellew fight, or I've heard he's in talks with Joshua.  We know and I know personally that David is afraid of me."