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Haye doubts severity of Klitschko injury

David Haye will look to add the WBO and IBF titles to his WBA strap when he fights Wladimir Klitschko © Getty Images

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David Haye is adamant that Wladimir Klitschko's injury problems will not scupper their world heavyweight title fight this summer.

Klitschko has twice been forced to withdraw from dates against Dereck Chisora, citing a muscle injury on both occasions, and there have been concerns he will not be fit to face Haye on June 25 or July 2.

But WBA champion Haye is not worried, as he feels the Ukrainian is set to step up the intensity of his training in the coming months. If Klitschko is forced to miss the clash, Haye wants brother Vitali, who wears the WBC strap, to step into the breach.

"I don't expect that [he will be forced to miss the fight]," Haye told Sky Sports News. "With me he's going to take his training very seriously, he's going to make sure that there's going to be no injuries that can affect this fight.

"And if there is any problem then his brother's going to jump in. But I've got a feeling whatever injury Wladimir has or is carrying will be fine by the time he gets in the ring with me.

"If for some reason Wladimir isn't able to compete on that night then his brother should step up. I think that's the fair thing to do. First up is Wladimir, then his brother."

Meanwhile Bernd Boente, who manages the Klitschkos, has revealed that several venues are being considered for the fight - not all of which are in Germany, where Wladimir and Vitali enjoy a fanatical support.

"It is not 100% that it's going to be in Germany," he said. "The stadiums in Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen and Kaiserslautern are available and very interested in staging it.

"But there are two or three other options that we are exploring in other countries. Honestly, that is only to maximise revenues.

"I can't tell you where they are but they are all in Europe - but not England. Las Vegas and the United States was never an option because this fight has to be prime time in Europe, especially because the fight is pay-per-view."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.