By Rick Reeno
After what appeared to be a done deal, boxing fans were stunned when David Haye announced on Wednesday that he declined a fight with Vitali Klitschko, and instead agreed to face WBA champion Nikolai Valuev. Klitschko-Haye was set down for September 12 in Frankfurt, Germany. The television deals were in place. A stadium that seats 55,000 fans was secured. Haye's date with Valuev is said to be November 7 in Germany.
As early as Tuesday, Klitschko's adviser Shelly Finkel was under the impression that a deal was in place and everything was ready to push through. Then all of a sudden - David Haye and his team vanished without a word. Finkel was later notified by letter that Haye was not going to fight Klitschko. Very little information as to why was provided.
