By Rick Reeno

Bernd Boente, manager of WBO/IBO/WBA/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 53KOs), is hoping to lock down a deal for an HBO televised defense against undefeated challenger Bryant Jennings (19-0, 10KOs) in the coming days. The target date is April 25th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Boente denied that he made any statements to a media outlet in Ukraine regarding a May title defense in Kiev. 

A few weeks ago, Boente believed that a deal with Jennings was practically locked up. But then, unexpectedly, Jennings' promoter Gary Shaw merged his company with the newest promotional player, Roc Nation Sports.

"Everything was resolved. We had a deal. Now we are starting all over again more or less, because before we spoke with Gary Shaw  and now Gary Shaw is just an employee in Roc Nation and he has no say anymore [in the negotiations]. Everything was clear in December, more or less shortly after Wladimir' fight, but only because Shaw sold his company everything had to start over again and that's a bit disappointing," Boente explained to BoxingScene.com.

"Nevertheless we are in negotiations and hope to finalize a deal. HBO wants to promote the fight and the arena wants to promote the fight, so therefore it is necessary to move quickly. And should we not sign an agreement, it's also important to move to another direction. We are still in negotiations and as long as there are people negotiating there is a chance to sign an agreement, but once they stop it's over. Both sides, I believe, want the fight and hopefully we sign an agreement."

"We hope that we will sign an agreement by mid this week and if that is not the case then we have to think about other possibilities. As I've told you before, we have other possibilities lined up. But because we all equally, including Wladimir, want to fight in New York and that Wladimir makes an appearance there again - we prefer to go this way."

Regarding the other possibilities, Boente says there are numerous venues all over Europe - not necessarily just in Germany - who are very interested in staging Wladimir's next fight.  

Among the possibilities is a fight Tyson Fury, who is Wladimir's mandatory challenger under the WBO. Even if Klitschko-Jennings gets finalized, the winner would have to face Fury next.

"We have different alternatives. They contacted us from Fury's side for a fight. [Frank] Warren and [Mick] Hennessey, the two promoters for Fury contacted us, and that is a possibility. But our first priority is to make that fight happen in New York," Boente said.