Haye-Klitschko 'must be on'

Trainer says London's O2 Arena to host heavyweight showdown

Last updated: 11th February 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Haye-Klitschko 'must be on'

Haye: Exciting fighter

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David Haye's chance to relieve Wladimir Klitschko of his IBF and WBO heavyweight belts will come at London's O2 Arena, according to the Ukrainian's trainer Emanuel Steward.

Steward has revealed that contractual details are all but complete for the showdown, which looks set to take place on June 20.

"Wladimir called me last night to said 'Emanuel, what size ring do we want, to put in the contract," Steward said.

"I said '20 foot' and he said 'that's all I need to know because we're finishing up the contract'.

"So based on that it must be in its finalised stage and it must be on.

"It will probably be in the O2 Arena and I'm quite sure it will be a big sell out. That's where it needs to be."

Haye, formerly the undisputed world cruiserweight champion, was initially linked with a tilt at the WBC title currently held by Klitschko's elder brother Vitali.

However, Wladimir told a German newspaper last month that the siblings had flipped a coin to see who would meet the Londoner.

Steward also poured scorn on accusations his fighter was running scared of Haye, saying that delays in finalising the fight were down to the challenger.

"It's never been a case of anybody being afraid of David Haye, just that he wanted to negotiate as if he was the champion and that was the problem," he added.

"But I guess that's all sorted out, I knew it would.

"I think we're in for a very exciting fight. It's the first fight (Klitschko) that he will have fought with someone that he's going to be excited about.

"It's a high-interest fight because of David Haye. He's a colourful guy and an exciting fighter and he's going to make Wladimir have to fight and I like that."