ONE OF BOXING’S most-anticipated fights has been a long time in the making and, when the date was finally set yesterday after months of negotiation, neither WBA Heavyweight Champion David Haye nor IBF/WBO champ Wladamir Klitschko wasted any time in talking up their prospects.

Yesterday, Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente announced that the wrangling and paperwork had finally been concluded, allowing two of the division’s most feared fighters to come together for a unification bout on July 2 in Hamburg.

Unsurprisingly, it was the Briton who landed the first blow in the war of the words, telling the Press Association that Klitschko “will freeze like an iceberg when I hit him on the chin, panic, [and] attempt to run for cover.”

His big brother will be mopping up the tears with a white towel.

The choice of venue for one of the year’s most attractive fights had been the main stumbling block in negotiations between the two camps, but Haye assured reporters that the choice of Hamburg’s Imtech Arena wasn’t really of any great importance to him.

“Personally, I wasn’t bothered where the fight ended up, Haye said. “I’d fight Wladimir anywhere, so long as the location comes with a ring and a referee that can count to 10. By the time I’ve finished with Wladimir, he won’t know where he is anyway.”

“I’ve been training for this fight since the end of 2010 and it’s nice to now have a concrete date to work towards.”

The British fighter will go into the unification bout as a slight underdog but he’s hoping that a large contingent of travelling supporters will give him plenty of encouragement and momentum on the night.

“Hamburg is an accessible city for a lot of British fans, so I’m expecting a huge turn-out for what is undoubtedly the biggest boxing event of the year.”

We’re going to have an army of Brits invading Germany on July 2 and I can’t wait to sample the atmosphere.

I think every city in mainland Europe and beyond wanted to stage this fight, and that shows just what an appealing event it is.

Klitschko was quick to respond to his opponent’s barbs. “I am very happy that Haye finally dares to step into the ring with me. He already ducked out of two fights with me and Vitali and is only trash talking and producing stupid t-shirts,” the Ukranian said.

“Now he has to prove in the ring what he has got. I have been waiting for this fight for more than two years.”