By Rick Reeno

Bernd Boente, manager of WBO/IBF/IBO/WBA heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, has denied the information being circulated by Shannon Briggs, who claims a deal has been brokered to face Wladimir on a date in the fall.

Klitschko returns to action on April 25th, when he faces undefeated Bryant Jennings in an HBO televised main event from New York's Madison Square Garden.

According to Briggs, a deal was already reached to face Klitschko on a date in September.

"I have a date with Klitschko set for September, if not sooner," Briggs told Buncey's Boxing Podcast. "His people have confirmed that - we've got a date. We're looking at September. We're looking at Hamburg, but hopefully we can change that venue to somewhere in America. That's what we're working on. Hopefully it can happen, if not in September then July or August. I feel great, I'm in phenomenal shape. I'm looking forward to fighting soon."

Briggs has done an excellent job of gaining publicity by methodically pursing Klitschko, in multiple countries, with unexpected confrontations. That's the good news. But the bad news, however, is that Briggs has yet to beat a credible opponent in the top ten. Briggs needs a victory of note to convince the public, and the cable networks, that he's not going to be massacred in the fight. 

Boente told BoxingScene.com that Briggs' entire story is fabricated. Should Wladimir come out successful in April, their next order of business is a mandatory obligation to the WBO's top challenger, Tyson Fury, or a unification fight with newly crowned WBC champion Deontay Wilder.

There have already been discussions between Boente and Fury's promoters, Frank Warren and Mick Hennessey, to stage a fight in 2015.

"Rick, there is absolutely no truth in his story. First of all, Wladimir has a tough opponent coming up in the month of April with Jennings. Should everything go well, we are looking for a fight against either Fury or Wilder. But that also depends on the promoters on the other side of the table," Boente told BoxingScene.com.