By Robert Morales

News of a contract being signed last week by David Haye to fight heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev for Valuev's heavyweight championship was intriguing for a couple of reasons: One, it meant he had backed out of a proposed fight with another champion, Vitali Klitschko. Two, Richard Schaefer was out of town vacationing in Mexico with his wife and kids.

Schaefer is CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, which co-promotes Haye. BoxingScene.com spoke with Golden Boy matchmaker Eric Gomez on Sunday and asked him if Haye had authorization from Schaefer to sign to fight Valuev. The bout is scheduled for Nov. 7 in Germany.

"Richard was on vacation," Gomez said. "He was taking calls sparingly, but I don't know if Adam Booth spoke to Richard or not. I heard about it in the media."

Booth is Haye's manager as well as an executive in Hayemaker Promotions.

Well, BoxingScene spoke to Schaefer on Monday from the Golden Boy offices in Los Angeles. He chose his words very carefully, but one got the impression he might very well have been unaware of the signing of the contract at the time it was consummated.

"The fact is David Haye really wants to fight Nikolai Valuev," Schaefer said.

Schaefer said he reached out Monday to Chris Meyer of Sauerland Event, which co-promotes Valuev.

"And I have talked to David Haye and to Adam Booth today and we are trying to work things out," Schaefer said.

Schaefer was asked if Haye needed the permission of Golden Boy to sign a contract for any fight.

"The fact is we do have promotional rights, contractual rights," Schaefer said.

Schaefer would not comment directly on whether this fight could be canceled if Golden Boy is not satisfied with the language of the contract.

"I don't really want to go there," Schaefer said. "I just want to leave it at those comments."