By Ruslan Chikov
The IBF's championship chairman Lindsey Tucker says a deal is still possible for a unification between WBO/IBF/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and WBA champion David Haye. The IBF gave them a deadline of May 17 to make a deal. Right now Klitschko has to negotiate with his mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin. If there is no deal for Klitschko-Povetkin by June 17, the sanctioning organization will send the fight to a purse bid.
Tucker says Klitschko still has the option to make a request for a unification if a deal is reached with Haye, but at this point in time there is no guarantee the request will be approved. Tucker thinks there is a very strong chance that Klitschko will make his mandatory defense against Povetkin.
"If Klitschko and submit his request, there is no guarantee that he will receive approval. Wladimir could still reach a deal with Haye and it is possible the unification will get priority over the mandatory defense. [Klitschko-Povetkin is not a sure thing] but the possibility of it happening is very high," Tucker told sportbox.ru.
