• Boxing

Haye 'conceded a lot' in Klitschko deal

ESPN staff
April 20, 2011
David Haye won the WBA heavyweight title on foreign soil © Getty Images
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David Haye has been forced to make a glut of compromises in order to guarantee his July 2 showdown with Wladimir Klitschko, according to trainer Adam Booth.

After months of wrangling, it has been announced that the clash will take place in Hamburg, and that the Ukrainian, who holds the WBO and IBF titles, will come to the ring first.

But Booth insists Haye is not fazed by the prospect of entering the ring on foreign soil, having claimed the WBA crown from Nikolai Valuev in Germany and defeated Jean-Marc Mormeck in France during his cruiserweight days.

"We had to concede a lot of points," Booth told Sky Sports. "They wanted home advantage, and we considered Germany to be their home territory, because that's where they ply their trade - but David doesn't care about where it is, all he cares about is getting to Wladimir's chin.

"They said if they couldn't bring their own doctor to work in the corner with Wladimir, then they wouldn't come to England. And that was against Boxing Board of Control regulations and safety procedures they have in place.

"We have made enough concessions to make it happen. There was a big compromise on our part, and some on their part. But it was David who made virtually all of the compromises."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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