By Michael Rosenthal from the Ring.
Vitali Klitschko and David Haye have agreed to terms on a Sept. 12 fight, according to Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, Haye’s U.S. promoter.
The heavyweight fight, in which Klitschko will defend his WBC belt, will take place in Germany and be televised on HBO in the U.S. and Sky Sports pay-per-view in the UK.
“I always say that a done deal is a signed deal but we’re just waiting for the paperwork. They have reached an agreement,” Schaefer said.
Klitschko, rated behind only his brother, Wladimir, by THE RING, will be making the second defense of the title he took from Sam Peter last year. He is coming off a ninth-round TKO of Juan Carlos Gomez in March.
Haye, rated No. 7, was supposed to fight Wladimir Klitschko on June 20 but had to pull out because of a back injury.
Schaefer said Haye always preferred the prospect of fighting Vitali over Wladimir, although his handlers didn’t necessarily agree. Haye is a big puncher and Wladimir’s chin has always been suspect.
“We’ve thought from a style standpoint, from a winning point of view, Wladimir was a better matchup, but David always pushed more toward Vitali. He got his way,” Schaefer said.
Klitschko (37-2, 36 knockouts) and Haye (22-1, 21 KOs) have knocked out 57 of the 62 opponents they’ve faced, although Haye has fought mostly as a cruiserweight.