Wladimir Klitschko will face Ruslan Chagaev in Gelsenkirchen on June 20 after the Uzbek fighter stepped in for David Haye.
Uzbek fighter steps in for Haye
Wladimir Klitschko will face Ruslan Chagaev in Gelsenkirchen on June 20 after the Uzbek fighter stepped in as a replacement for the injured David Haye.
Haye withdrew on Wednesday but rather than cancel the fight, Klitschko sought a new opponent with all 60,000 tickets already sold at the venue.
Klitschko, who holds the IBF, IBO and WBF heavyweight crowns, will face the WBA champion with the winner collecting the Ring Magazine heavyweight crown, vacant since Vitali Klitschko's retirement in 2005.
"It is sad that David cannot compete," Klitschko said in a statement. "However, I am looking into the future and forward to fighting against Ruslan. He is WBA Champion, very experienced and a tough challenger.
"For my preparation, I have to change my sparring partner from orthodox to southpaw."
Chagaev is the WBA champion-in-recess. He had been due to fight Russian Nikolai Valuev in Finland for the WBA title on May 30 but the fight was called off.
"Last week my fight against Valuev was cancelled," Chagaev said in a statement. "Now I am fighting against Vladimir Klitschko in front of 60,000 spectators
"I am looking forward to the arena in Schalke, the crowd as well as Klitschko's three belts which I will take home with me."
