Klitschko deciding on Haye for July, or Chagaev for June

Setanta reports that Wladimir Klitschko is currently deciding on whether to wait until July 11 for fight David Haye, or to go ahead with his June 20 date against Ruslan Chagaev -- a fight that would be for The Ring world heavyweight championship, and would crown the first lineal champion since Vitali Klitschko retired in 2005.

David Haye will be ready to fight Wladimir Klitschko on July 11, though Ruslan Chagaev could meet the Ukrainian instead on June 20.

Both Haye's manager Adam Booth and Klitschko's equivalent Bernd Bonte spoke to Steve Bunce's Boxing Hour about Haye's pull-out from their scheduled bout due to a back injury.

Booth insisted Haye will be ready to take the ring three weeks later than the scheduled date, but Bonte says Klitschko, at present, would rather meet Chagaev - though the terms of this fight still need to be negotiated.

"It is still a possibility but our first priority is Chagaev, but that fight is not a done deal," Bonte told Setanta Sports News.

"The important question is are RTL happy to go on July 11? Are HBO ready to go three weeks later?

"The stadium will be okay for July 11. Chagaev would be a big fight. It would be for The Ring belt. I have got confirmation from The Ring [magazine]."

As much as I prefer Klitschko-Haye to Klitschko-Chagaev, the promoters are right to worry whether or not HBO would have that date open (they likely could make room, but three weeks is short notice) and the Ring title part makes the alternative attractive for everyone. It'd be nice to once again be able to call someone "heavyweight champion" instead of "WBC/WBO/WBA/IBF/IBO titleholder."

I'll admit that it does sort of bother me that Chagaev is apparently not healthy enough to fight in Finland, but by German standards he's OK to potentially bleed all over or whatever.