By James Slater: Though fight fans will not, as they have said “believe it until both guys are actually in the ring,” reports from Germany say the heavyweight unification clash between Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye has been agreed, is on and will happen in Germany on either June 25th or July 2nd.
As fans know, it was announced yesterday how the April 30th defence “Dr. Steel Hammer” was to have made against unbeaten Brit Derek Chisora is now off – with this fight now being called off for a second time. As soon as this news broke, speculation was rife that Wladimir’s real reason for pulling out was not his reported abdominal muscle injury, but because a deal with the WBA champ had been made. Now, with Mail online quoting German publication Welt am Sonntag’s Klitschko comments (“I am really pleased that we have closed a deal on this fight,” Wladimir said), fans are extremely excited. It does indeed look like the fight we have been reading about, talking about and arguing about for something like three years now, will FINALLY take place.
Yesterday, via his Twitter page, Haye said “So Klitschko V Chisora is off…Ha Ha, Ha. God must truly be a boxing fan! (as my prayers have been answered.) My path is finally clear.” Haye also reportedly told good friend Amir Khan that the fight was “looking very good for July.”
The Mail online article reported that more details will follow soon, and it will be interesting to find out which venue the potential blockbuster will go ahead in. Haye, of course, has boxed in Germany before, and he has said he will not be fazed by facing the Ring Magazine, WBO, IBF, IBO champ in his adopted homeland. You can be sure, though, that Haye, after all his trash-talking (to say nothing about those now infamous severed heads T-shirts!) will be given one helluva hostile welcome from the Klitschko faithful when he touches down in Deutschland.
June 25th or July 2nd – both Saturday nights; one of which will indeed be all right for fighting! This one, in the opinion of many, cannot come quick enough.
At this time, though, a thought should be spared for British and Commonwealth ruler Derek Chisora. It really does seem now as though he last not one, but two chances of shocking the world by defeating Klitschko. “Del Boy” has also wasted a number of months training for a fight that will not happen. Fans are already suggesting the unbeaten 26-year-old should now face fellow unbeaten Tyson Fury, in what would be a big all-British showdown between the two best and most well known 20-somethings in the country at the weight.
It will perhaps be something of a poor consolation for Chisora if he does indeed get the Fury fight, especially when he could have been fighting for three world titles instead. The sport is unfair at times, and right now, Chisora, Klitschko and Haye know that better than anyone.