Haye set for Klitschko showdown

David Haye envisages “an army of Brits invading Germany” after his massive unification showdown with Wladimir Klitschko was today confirmed for July 2 in Hamburg.

The WBA heavyweight champion finally agreed terms last month to meet IBF/WBO holder Klitschko on either June 25 or July 2, with several venues in contention to stage the bout.]

Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente today confirmed that the 57,000-capacity Imtech Arena in Hamburg, where Klitschko was once based and still enjoys massive support, beat competition from rival German locations and venues in Switzerland and Ukraine.

“It’s great to finally find out the date and venue,” said Londoner Haye, who won the WBC cruiserweight title on away turf in Paris and the WBA heavyweight crown against Nikolay Valuev in Nuremberg, Germany.

“I’ve been training for this fight since the end of 2010 and it’s nice to now have a concrete date to work towards.

“Hamburg is an accessible city for a lot of British fans, so I’m expecting a huge turn-out for what is undoubtedly the biggest boxing event of the year.

“We’re going to have an army of Brits invading Germany on July 2 and I can’t wait to sample the atmosphere.

“I think every city in mainland Europe and beyond wanted to stage this fight, and that shows just what an appealing event it is.

“Personally, I wasn’t bothered where the fight ended up. I’d fight Wladimir anywhere, so long as the location comes with a ring and a referee that can count to 10. By the time I’ve finished with Wladimir, he won’t know where he is anyway.”

While various European venues were considered, the fight was never going to be held in Britain for economic and logistical reasons.

Klitschko and his brother Vitali, the WBC champion, are huge draws in Germany despite being of Ukrainian nationality, while Switzerland would have held its own financial appeal.

The Klitschkos’ manager Boente confirmed the negotiations and final decision - which was made yesterday – had been carried out in partnership with his opposite number Adam Booth, Haye’s manager and trainer.

“The fight will be July 2 in Hamburg. It is confirmed 100%,” Boente told Press Association Sport.

“We had different options and held negotiations in other countries. Switzerland was in play, Ukraine and different options in Germany.

“But it was always the case that Adam Booth and myself discussed all these things such as the different business options on the table, as partners, and then made the decision together yesterday that we’d go to Hamburg.”

The venue, which hosts a Take That concert two weeks later, is the home of Bundesliga football team Hamburg.

“I think the capacity will be something in that range because while we have more seats on the pitch, we are losing some seats because of the huge rigging, etc,” Boente said.

Klitschko, 35, has been undergoing protracted rehabilitation from an abdominal injury suffered in December but Boente insists the slightly later date was unconnected.

“The date had nothing to do with Wladimir’s stomach injury,” he said. “The arena could not do the week before.

“We had only two dates from (broadcasters) Sky and RTL, the key players here, and it was either June 25 or July 2.

“So it was always dependent on the stadium. In Hamburg, only July 2 was possible because of various concerts. I think two weeks later Take That play the same arena.”

The unification fight is undoubtedly the biggest in a flagging heavyweight division for years, pitting the taller, orthodox Klitschko – who has a record of 55 wins (49KOs) and three defeats – against quick, power-punching 30-year-old Haye (25-1, 23KOs).