THE LONG-AWAITED world title fight between David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko now looks almost certain to go ahead as the two parties have finally reached an agreement on the terms.
Though contracts are apparently yet to be signed, the fight is likely to take place in Germany on either June 25 or July 2. The contest is expected to generate in the region of $100million (€71.3m), according to reports in The Guardian.
Haye, the WBA champion, and Klitschko, holder of the WBO and IBF belts, have been involved in a frustrating saga that has seen several proposed fights scuppered by a combination of injury and a failure to reach terms.
However, their three-belt unification clash in the summer will see the two split the purse down the middle, as Klitschko told German paper Welt am Sonntag.
I am really pleased that we have closed a deal on this fight. The terms were right. It’s a fair deal, it’s a 50-50 split. That’s what they wanted and that’s what I wanted.
Haye was quick to get some early media blows in, delivering some of his trademark bluster in what will no doubt be a protracted campaign to generate interest and revenue.
I have the heart of a lion, whereas Wladimir has the heart of a hyena. He cries and squeals and slips into the wilderness at the first sign of danger.
Wladimir has proven this over the years and I’m certain he will want no part of this lion when it finally comes time to go to war.
The Londoner, who won his title by defeating Russian giant Nikolai Valuev on points in 2009, believes his style is well-suited to the younger Klitschko brother.
Klitschko is ready-made for me. I eat tall, chinny eastern European heavyweights for breakfast.
Wladimir is a fighter that doesn’t like to fight and he has admitted that fact in the past. Unfortunately for him, I am a fighter that loves nothing more than fighting.
The bout is expected to be a much needed shot in the arm for heavyweight boxing, after the last decade has failed to live up to the golden years of Hollyfield, Tyson and Lewis.
The only real loser appears to be Dereck Chisora. The British fighter has been denied yet another payday as Kiltschko has pulled out of their April 30 meeting, again citing the abdominal problem that scuppered their previous fight.
