Wlad-Haye is close according to Schaefer

Klitschko-Haye, Pavlik-Mora still not done The intriguing heavyweight showdown between IBF/WBO titleholder Wladimir Klitschko and former cruiserweight bomber David Haye has still not been finalized, but it’s close, according to Schaefer. “I haven’t talked to Shelly Finkel (Klitschko’s U.S. representative) today because he’s in Germany for Vitali’s fight, but we talked yesterday and the deal should be signed and finished any day now,” Schaefer, who represents Haye, said Wednesday. The fight is still scheduled for June 20 and Germany is still the leading candidate for a site. “England would have worked, too, because David draws well in London but the appropriate venue was not available for June 20,” Schaefer said. “I would have liked to the fight at Madison Square Garden but with Bob (Arum of Top Rank) doing a (Miguel) Cotto show the previous Saturday, that was a problem with the arena.” Kelly Pavlik’s talked about middleweight title defense against Sergio Mora is close but still far from a done deal, according to Dunkin, who manages the middleweight champ. “We still don’t have a contract, still haven’t sat down with Bob and talked about money,” Dunkin said. “Arum is back in town from the Philippines tomorrow and we’ll talk then. Bob wants Mora as an opponent. He thinks Mora can make for a big main event in Atlantic City and he thinks he can sell Mora to the public.” That’s debatable. Mora won the first season of The Contender reality series that was shown on NBC and he shocked the boxing world by upsetting Vernon Forrest for the WBC 154-pound title last year, but most hardcore fans and boxing writers are lukewarm (at best) on the East L.A. native, who looked flat in losing his title to Forrest in their rematch last September. The major networks are cold on “The Contender” winner, which is why Pavlik-Mora will headline a Top Rank-produced pay-per-view if it’s made. “HBO and Showtime were only interested in Kelly fighting Forrest, which didn’t work out,” said Dunkin. “(John) Duddy wanted too much money. He wanted seven figures, at least $1.5 million, which ain’t happening. (Marco Antonio) Rubio made $350,000 against Kelly. Mora would make a little more, but not much more; that’s why he’s the leading candidate.” Glad to see whatever it was, was patched up.