Wladimir Klitschko

Wladimir Klitschko to defend titles against Haye

Wladimir Klitschko to defend titles against Haye Hamburg - Ukraine heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko is to fight Britain's David Haye on June 20, his management confirmed Thursday.

The bout will take place in Europe but a venue has yet to be established.

"The contracts are being signed today," Klitschko manager Bernd Boente of the Hamburg-based Klitschko Management Group said.

Several venues in Germany would like to stage the bout in which Klitschko will be defending his WBO and IBF titles against former cruiserweight champion Haye.

Klitschko seeks new opponent after Haye bout in doubt, says report

Klitschko seeks new opponent after Haye bout in doubt, says report Hamburg - Ukraine heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko is looking for a new opponent after doubts have emerged over a planned fight in June with Britain's David Haye, Germany's Bild newspaper reported Wednesday.

Bild quoted Klitschko's manager Bernd Boente as saying the two sides had been close to a fight deal "but then there were increasingly more demands" from Haye's management.

Wladimir Klitschko lines up Rahman for title defence

Hamburg - Wladimir Klitschko will defend his IBF and WBO heavyweight titles against former champion Hasim Rahman in Mannheim, Germany, on December 13.

Confirming the fight on his website, Klitschko said: "Hasim Rahman is a very strong and experienced opponent who I definitely won't be underestimating."

Rahman, who will be 36 when the fight takes place, knocked out Britain's Lennox Lewis to win the world title in 2001, but was in turn knocked out by Lewis in a rematch later that year.

Wladimir Klitschko, 32, had been looking for a replacement after Russian mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin pulled out with an injury he suffered during a training session in his home town Kursk.