Boxing story by sport.co.uk, Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:06:36 GMT



Wladimir Klitschko has confirmed that he will fight Ruslan Chagaev instead of David Haye, after the British heavyweight pulled out of their forthcoming contest citing injury concerns. The IBF, WBO and IBO champion was due to face Haye in a 60,000 sell-out showdown at Schalke 04 FC's Veltins Arena.
Haye had hoped that the fight could be restaged three weeks later after withdrawing from the original date with a back injury sustained in training.



But Ukrainian Klitschko was keen to retain the date and will now face joint WBA champion Chagaev instead.



Problems with television broadcasters and further doubts over Haye's fitness also helped convince the Klitschko camp to draft in the 30-year-old.



"It's unfortunate that David Haye can't compete. But now I'm looking ahead and I'm excited about a particularly sporting challenge with Ruslan Chagaev," Klitschkno told the BBC.



The Uzbekistani, unbeaten in 26 fights, jointly shares the WBA crown with Russian Nikolai Valuev.