The Wladimir Klitschko-David Haye heavyweight title fight is finally on. Both boxers confirmed Sunday the fight should take place on June 25 or July 2 in Germany.
"I am really pleased that we have closed a deal on this fight," Klitschko told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.
"The terms were right, it's a fair deal -- it's a 50-50 split. That's what they wanted and that's what I wanted," Haye told the BBC. "Here it is -- end of June, beginning of July. Let's get ready to rumble."
Klitschko, citing a nagging abdominal injury, canceled his title defense Saturday against England's Dereck Chisora for the second time, a move that eliminated a significant hurdle standing between him and Haye.
Klitschko was supposed to make his 10th title defense against Chisora on April 30 at SAP Arena in Mannheim, Germany.
Klitschko, 34, originally was supposed to fight Chisora on Dec. 11, but withdrew four days before the fight after suffering the injury during his final workout hitting the pads with trainer Emanuel Steward.
Klitschko (55-3, 49 KOs), underwent a CT scan and was diagnosed with a two-inch tear on the left side of his abdominal muscle near the bottom of his rib cage.
After the fight with Chisora (14-0, 9 KOs) was called off in December, Klitschko and England's Haye, 30, renewed negotiations for their fight, which is by far the most significant fight that can be made in the heavyweight division.
Haye (25-1, 23 KOs) has trash-talked with Klitschko and his older brother, fellow titleholder Vitali Klitschko, for the past few years. He also has previously pulled out of fights with both brothers, further stoking public interest.
Wladimir Klitschko and Haye finally hammered out a deal earlier this year to fight July 2 in Germany. However, when Klitschko insisted on still facing Chisora on April 30, Haye objected and called off the fight.
Haye said nine weeks between fights for Klitschko was too short of a window to promote such a big fight. He also was concerned that Klitschko could either lose or get injured.
Klitschko's manager, Bernd Boente, said the fight against Haye could take place at one of the three soccer stadiums in Germany -- Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen or Kaiserslautern.
"I'm firing on all cylinders, I can't wait to get Wladimir in that ring. It's the fight I've wanted for so long," said Haye, who would also like to fight the older Klitschko brother, Vitali, before retiring.
Vitali defends his WBC heavyweight title against Odlanier Solis on March 19 in Cologne, Germany.