Klitschko's Manager: I'm Positive The Haye Fight Happens

By Mark Vester

Bernd Boente, manager of heavyweight champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko is confident that a unification bout with David Haye, the WBA's champion, will happen in 2011. Haye was scheduled to make a mandatory defense of his title on May 21. BoxingScene reported last week that promoter Frank Warren has now secured Haye's date from Sky Sports. Haye is leaning in the direction of facing either of the Klitschko brothers on July 2.

Both of the brothers have upcoming defenses, with Wladimir defending the WBO/IBO/IBF titles against Dereck Chisora on April 30, and Vitali meeting WBC mandatory challenger Odlanier Solis on March 19.

"I'm very positive, I'm very, very positive that the fight of Vitali or Wladimir, against David Haye, will happen," Boente told BoxingScene.com's Misko Ceperkovic. "I'm very positive the fight between David Haye and Wladimir or Vitali will happen in Europe. I think it should happen in a stadium. This is one of the two top fights that can be done in boxing. The fight other fight can't be done right now, between Mayweather and Pacquiao, because of some personal problems that Mayweather is facing."