• Boxing

Klitschko talks are on, no deal yet - Haye's manager

David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko appear to be on a collision course for July 2 © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Klitschko pulls plug on Chisora fight
  
• News: De La Hoya expects Haye to KO Klitschko
  
• News: Haye goads Chisora over Klitschko fight
  
• News: Haye ready to fight Klitschko in 'his backyard'
  
• News: Klitschko camp 'very positive' Haye fight will happen
  
• News: Booth raises hopes of Haye-Klitschko showdown
  
• News: Haye suggests Klitschko deal is close
  
• Profile: David Haye | Wladimir Klitschko

David Haye's manager Adam Booth has confirmed he is in negotiations with the Klitschkos - but insists a deal remains some way off.

Booth's admission confirms speculation that surfaced last week when Haye hinted a heavyweight unification battle could be on the cards, most likely on July 2.

The Haye and Klitschko camps were locked in talks earlier this year, but they were unable to agree a deal, with Haye blaming Wladimir's last-minute revelation that he intended to fight Dereck Chisora on April 30.

According to Haye, the Chisora news scuppered the fight for two reasons - because Klitschko would be unwilling to return to the ring so soon afterwards, and because it meant the WBA were urging him to face mandatory challenger Ruslan Chagaev.

But Klitschko always maintained that the July 2 date remained on the table - and now it seems that the two long-time rivals may finally step into the ring together, although Booth is eager to sound a note of caution.

"It's still a bit premature at the moment, we're still swimming through the quagmire of boxing negotiations," he said.

Haye added in The Sun: "We are back on. We are trying to make it happen. We went a long while with nothing from their side, then all of a sudden we got a phone call from Klitschko's camp. They made contact with us, which I believe now shows they do want this fight to go ahead."

Although Haye has said that his preference would be to fight WBO king Wladimir, reports suggest that he is not ruling out a clash with Vitali, who defends the WBC crown against Odlanier Solis on March 19.

Haye will retire from the sport in October at the age of 31.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.