I'm too quick for Klitschko, warns Haye

David Haye believes he is tailor-made to beat Wladimir Klitschko when they meet in Hamburg on July 2.

The WBA heavyweight champion finally agreed terms last month to meet IBF and WBO holder Klitschko in a huge unification clash.

Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente confirmed yesterday 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.

Haye admits he is excited to have a tangible date to work towards and is characteristically confident.

“I’ve said from day one that I am Wladimir’s toughest opponent to date, and I stand by that,” he said.

“Wladimir has a history of being knocked out by fast punchers, and I punch faster than every other heavyweight in the world.”

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

“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.”

The Klitschkos’ manager Boente confirmed the negotiations and final decision - which was made on Tuesday – 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 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).

Wladimir Klitschko said: “I am very happy that Haye finally dares to step into the ring with me. He already ducked out of two fights with me and Vitali and is only trash talking and producing stupid T-shirts.

“Now he has to prove in the ring what he has got. I have been waiting for this fight for more than two years.”