By Ruslan Chikov

The manager for WBA heavyweight champion David Haye, Adam Booth, has advised WBO/IBF/IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko to move forward with a mandatory defense against Alexander Povetkin. The IBF gave Klitschko and Haye until May 17 to reach an agreement. The deadline has passed and the 30-day period has begun for Klitschko and Povetkin to reach a deal before a purse bid is ordered. Both parties continue to discuss a potential fight but Booth says it will take several weeks to work out the finanical details, fight date and location, so Klitschko should fight Povetkin while the parties negotiate. 

Quoted in Bleak Sport, Booth said a lot more time is needed to get a deal done.

"The talks are at an early stage. Right now I'm talking with [Klitschko adviser] Shelly Finkel. As of this point a deal has not been reached. We shall see how the things play out but there is still a lot to be discussed - including the distribution of the money. We have to meet with representatives of the American network НВО and the coordination of all of these formalities will take some weeks," Booth said.

Booth said the problem with the IBF is not their problem.

"This is a problem for Wladimir, not David. We can spend months negotiating and while this is ongoing Klitschko can fight Povetkin. Haye understands that to conquer America, it can only come with a victory over the Klitschko brothers," Booth said.

"The next opponent for David will be one of the Klitschko brothers. However, they are just as interested in us. Wladimir wants the big fight. And the fight with David can be a grand event that can create interest all over the world."