Klitschko business official: Wladimir to face Haye; Vitali gets Adamek
According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Heavyweight champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko will each fight anticipated bouts in the coming months.
Wladimir will defend his IBF/WBO and Ring Magazine world championships against WBA champ David Haye on either June 25th or July 2nd in a bout that has been brewing for a couple of years while Vitali will defend his WBC strap against Tomasz Adamek providing Adamek gets by Kevin McBride this Saturday in Newark, New Jersey.
“It’s pretty simple: Wladimir was the first one in 2009 who wanted to face Haye after Haye attacked him first, verbally in London at a press conference for a charity cause,” said Klitschko manager Bernd Boente. “From the beginning it was always going in that direction. From the contract side it’s possible it could change but, as of now, they made the decision between themselves.”
There still remains a possibility that Vitali (42-2, 39 KOs), who is coming off a first-round knockout of mandatory challenger Odlanier Solis on March 19, will also fight June 4 against an opponent to be determined in Germany.
“Maybe Vitali will fight then, but it depends on the TV situation in Germany,” Boente said.
“It will be Wladimir fighting Haye and Vitali is fighting Adamek, but Adamek has to win or he’s out,” Boente said.
Boente and Adam Booth, Haye’s manager and trainer, were in New York last week meeting with American television executives about deals for the U.S. rights to the fights. HBO is the likely outlet, Boente said.
“There is interest in America but, in the end, my gut feeling tells me HBO is the station,” Boente said. “Last week we went to HBO, to Epix and to Showtime. It’s not written in stone, but I think we are back in business with HBO.”
“June 25 or July 2, but it really depends on the stadium deal,” Boente said. “We are still not sure which one it will be in. It could still be outside of Germany, but it has to be agreed on by Adam Booth and myself. This is a true 50-50 deal.”