Ruslan Chikov reports at BoxingScene.com that there are ongoing talks between the camps of Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye once again, with the target being of course a major world heavyweight championship fight, and probably the single biggest fight that can be made in that division today.
Both sides are said to have spoken with HBO about the fight, and the talks reportedly went "very well." Emanuel Steward, Klitschko's trainer, says that the goal is a September date, so long as that works for getting a venue, plus the right date for HBO and networks in the UK and Germany.
Klitschko (54-3, 48 KO) and Haye (24-1, 22 KO) nearly fought on June 19 of last year, before Haye pulled out claiming an injury. In reality, it was most likely the crash of Setanta Sports, the UK cable channel with which he had a deal to televise fights. With no TV money on his side, the fight made no sense. Instead of waiting for Haye, Klitschko fought Ruslan Chagaev for the vacant Ring Magazine world heavyweight championship, and won with ease.
Haye would later in the year negotiate with Wladimir's brother, Vitali, and a September date was allegedly set for their fight. Then, out of nowhere, Haye signed instead to fight Nikolai Valuev in November. Vitali fought and dismantled Cristobal Arreola in September, and Haye got by Valuev to win the WBA title.
Wladimir has fought just once since the Chagaev bout, as he needed surgery that put him on the shelf for months. But he returned this spring with a typically dominant performance against Eddie Chambers. Haye recently battered John Ruiz into retirement.
Last year, Haye complained of the contracts being offered to him by Team Klitschko, as he would have been required to fight too many times against the brothers should he beat Wladimir (or Vitali). With a title in his grasp and his standing now as the United Kingdom's biggest active boxing star, Haye does have a bit more to bring to the table on his end this year. Overall, if this mega-money fight is made, he'll look fairly smart for doing what he did. No doubt, he won't be getting the same offers he got last year.
And of course, we hope this fight is made. Wladimir-Haye is the biggest and best fight there is at heavyweight now, with Vitali-Haye being second in line. Simply put, the Klitschkos and Haye have built up some bad blood, gotten the media talking about the fight(s) for a while now, and made it a must-see.