• Boxing

Haye must play a waiting game to face Klitschko

ESPN staff
June 30, 2010
Wladimir Klitschko beat Eddie Chambers in March © Getty Images
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David Haye will have to wait until next year to take on WBO and IBF heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko after the Ukrainian's promotions company, K2, won the purse bid for him to fight Alexander Povetkin.

Povetkin has been the IBF's mandatory challenger for two years after outpointing American Eddie Chambers, who was beaten by Klitschko earlier this year, in January 2008 and finally appears to have earned a shot at the Ukrainian.

The 30-year-old Russian boasts an unbeaten record since turning professional after winning Olympic gold in Athens in 2004 and has fought four times since beating Chambers to become the IBF's number one contender.

The fight has been pencilled in for either September 11 or 18 in Frankfurt, although Klitschko's adviser Shelly Finkel says those details are still open to change.

"We don't know exactly when or where yet because we are waiting to hear from the soccer league in Germany to tell us which dates the stadiums are available," Finkel said. "I think this is a great fight, the best one out there for the heavyweight division at this point. With Haye not available, I don't know any other fight in the heavyweight division that would be better."

The deal means WBA champion Haye must look to Klitschko's brother and WBC champion Vitali for a unification fight this year, although rumours suggesting an agreement for Haye to fight fellow Brit and current European champion Audley Harrison before the year is out continue to persist.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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