Schalke to host big fight

Wladimir Klitschko will defend his IBF and WBO heavyweight titles against David Haye in the Schalke 04 football stadium in Gelsenkirchen.

Football stadium named as venue for heavyweight contest

Wladimir Klitschko will defend his IBF and WBO heavyweight titles against David Haye in the Schalke 04 football stadium in Gelsenkirchen. The arena, which is capable of seating nearly 62,000 fans and also has a retractable roof, will host a boxing match for the first time on June 20. "I've always wanted to fight in a football stadium before such a large audience," said the Ukrainian-born Klitschko, now based in Germany. "This fight will get world-wide attention," Klitschko told German newspaper Bild. "The Schalke stadium is a worthy venue and the atmosphere will make both boxers produce their best performance." The fight is being billed as 'Knockout in Shalke' based on the two fighters' fearsome reputations. Klitschko has claimed 46 of his 52 wins by KO while Haye has stopped 21 of the 22 opponents he has defeated.