By Mark Vester

Former cruiserweight champion David Haye has revealed that he signed the contract to fight the seven-foot WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev on November 7 in Germany. Haye was close to a deal to face WBC champion Vitali Klitschko on September 12 in Frankfurt, Germany. The venue and television was secured but Haye had other plans and withdrew from the Klitschko deal. Sky Box Office will televise the fight with Valuev in the UK.

"I have a big grin on my face. I have finally signed a contract to fight Valuev on November 7. All that needs to be confirmed is the site. But I feel wherever the bout takes place it will be a complete sell-out and I just can't wait to start training again," Haye said to Pat Sheehan of The Sun.

Haye would have fought younger brother Wladimir Klitschko for the WBO/IBF titles in June, but withdrew with a back injury. Haye claims to have turned down the deal with Vitali over the amount of options that Klitschko's promotional company, K2, was demanding. According to numerous reports, the deal to fight Klitschko would have given K2 several future fight options on Haye. As per the deal, K2 would also control the opponents and the dates of Haye's next few fights.

"The reality was that I would not have been in control of my own destiny for quite a long while if I had signed the contract the Klitschko management group were putting in front of me. Basically they would have been able to tell me when and who I fight for quite a while to come. This way, when I beat Valuev later this year I will again be in control of my own destiny," Haye said.

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