• Boxing

Klitschko has no fitness fears ahead of Haye fight

ESPN staff
March 23, 2011
David Haye will have to topple the giant figure that is Wladimir Klitschko © Getty Images
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Wladimir Klitschko is confident he will be able to begin his preparations for his fight with David Haye in a fortnight.

A deal has been agreed for Haye to put his WBA belt on the line against IBF and WBO king Klitschko. The date and venue for the fight have to be finalised, but it is likely to be in mainland Europe on June 25 or July 2.

Klitschko is currently on the easy list with an abdominal injury, his brother Vitali will step in if he fails to recover, but he is confident of being fit to take on Haye.

"I'm still recovering after my injury and in a couple of weeks I will be fit and ready for the preparations," Klitschko told Radio Five.

"I'm very happy that David Haye eventually signed the contract, it will be the third time we've tried to fight each other.

"He says we have no skills and have fought basically no-one...I think he chose me as the younger brother because he does not think I'm so tough. But he will get knocked out."

Should he fail to recover, Wladimir is confident his brother will be a more than able deputy.

"If I can't perform then my brother will step in the ring because he's been in this division a very long time," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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