Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye Agree to One-Off, No Rematch, No Options Fight

Let's hope this time, they mean it.

Both Adam Booth, manager/trainer of WBA heavyweight champion David Haye of England, and Bernd Boente, manager of The Ring magazine-recognized world heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine, have confirmed that a fight in Germany between their respective charges is set for either June 25 or July 2.

All that remains is the signing of the contracts and an official announcement to be made in the coming week.

"We have a deal. We're happy with it, they're happy with it," Booth told Sky Sports.

Boente told ESPN.com: "This week it will be finally signed and announced, but it is not signed.  The fighters have to sign.  Adam Booth has to sign. I have to sign. Wladimir [has to sign]. As long as it's not signed, it's 99 percent."

This fight is a one-off, a 50-50 purse split with no rematch clauses, no options on future fights.

"The points are agreed to, and I think both sides are happy," Boente said. "No options, no rematches. One fight. If we want to do another one and sit down afterward and see if it makes sense, we will do that. But this is a straight one-fight deal."

Haye, 30, is coming off an embarrassing farce against fellow Brit Audley Harrison, a bout in which he was accused of carrying the man also known as "Fraudley" for three rounds before knocking him out, this in order to cash in on a bet he later bragged he had placed on himself.

Various YouTube videos later appeared with Haye appearing to cue Harrison on when to hit the canvas.

Klitschko, 34, last fought in 2010, when he annihilated former WBC world heavyweight champion Samuel Peter, knocking him out in the tenth round after beating him to a pulp.

Those cheering this matchup finally being made might also pause to spare a thought for the two men who got shafted in this deal: Dereck Chisora and Ruslan Chagaev.

For the UK's Chisora, this was the second time he has seen a scheduled fight with Wladimir fall through (ostensibly due to an stomach "injury" that didn't stop Klitschko from playing golf soon after it happened).

The Uzbek Chagaev, meanwhile, was the victim of constant rumors regarding his health status emanating from the Haye camp and from others like German boxing promoter Kalle Sauerland, rumors that appear to have led to Chagaev being blackballed from boxing at a high level ever again.

Boxing is a cruel business, however, and no doubt neither Klitschko nor Haye will lose much sleep over these issues, as the hype for this heavyweight unification superfight becomes deafening.

Haye now says he wants to fight Wlad and then Vitali Klitschko before he retires this fall upon turning 31, but of course a fight with the WBC heavyweight champion (assuming Vitali gets by Cuban challenger Odlanier Solis on March 19) depends on Haye first being victorious against Wladimir.

As usual, Haye has wasted no time at all in launching a scathing attack on Wladimir, not even waiting until his signature graces the 50-50 contract now waiting for him to rev up his mighty motor-mouth.

"I have the heart of lion," Haye is quoted as saying today in The Guardian, "whereas Wladimir has the heart of a hyena. He cries and squeals and slips into the wilderness at the first sign of danger."

No doubt Haye has #tiger blood and #Adonis DNA as well. 

All he needs is to replace Booth with Charlie Sheen for this fight and cosmic perfection will no doubt ensue.

"Klitschko is ready-made for me," Haye continues. "I eat tall, chinny eastern European heavyweights for breakfast. Wladimir is a fighter that doesn't like to fight and he has admitted that fact in the past.

"Unfortunately for him, I am a fighter that loves nothing more than fighting," Haye, who actually fights very infrequently, contends.

And to think he's still got almost four months before the actual fight takes place.

Fasten your seat belts—and don't forget your earplugs!