Wladimir Klitschko
Klitschko finds replacement for Haye
Published 07 June, 2009, 12:57
The team of WBO and IBF Heavyweight World Champion, Wladimir Klitschko, say they’ve found a substitution for David Haye, who was supposed to meet Klitschko on June 20 in Gelzenkirken.
On June 3, Haye announced he wouldn’t participate in the title bout citing a back injury.
Since than, the Klitschko team have been looking for Haye’s replacement. Two Russians – WBA champ Nikolay Valuev and IBF mandatory challenger Aleksandr Povetkin were reported to be on the list. The latter allegedly agreed to the fight on June 20, while Valuev said he was ready to meet Klitschko later in the year.
On Saturday, it was announced that the WBA ‘champion in recess’ Ruslan Chagaev would fight Klitschko, Russia's Sport Express newspaper writes. Chagaev’s bout with Valuev was called off on May 29, a day before the event, due to a Chagaev illness. The Uzbek, though, said he was fit to fight.
Hopefully, there will be no such obstacles for the Klitschko vs Chagaev bout.
”It’s a pity Haye can’t fight me. But at the same time I’m glad I will meet Chagaev in the ring,” said Klitschko.
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