The fighters have agreed in terms to fight for the vacant RING magazine heavyweight championship on June 20, the same day Klitschko was supposed to fight David Haye, Klitschko’s manager told RingTV.com. The venue also remains the same, a 60,000-seat soccer stadium in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

Only two formal steps remain: the lawyers' approval and the fighters’ signatures.

“There are no further obstacles,” Bernd Bönte said. “We’ll exchange contracts probably tomorrow but we’ve agreed to the numbers. There are no further problems.”

Haye pulled out of the fight on Wednesday with a back injury. Chagaev was scheduled to fight Nikolai Valuev last Saturday in Finland but was shown to have a hepatitis B antigen in his system and was not allowed to fight.

Nigel Collins, Editor-in-Chief of THE RING magazine, also confirmed that Klitschko, rated No. 1, and No. 3 Chagaev will fight for the championship.

“THE RING magazine will recognize the upcoming bout between Wladimir Klitschko and Ruslan Chagaev as being for the vacant RING heavyweight championship of the world,” Collins said. “Usually, we require a match between the No. 1 and No. 2 contenders to fill a vacancy. But in certain circumstances, we will recognize a match between No. 1 and No. 3, and this is one of those circumstances.

“Wladimir is THE RING’s No. 1 heavyweight contender, and his participation is mandatory, but as the No. 2 contender is his brother, Vitali, and the brothers have stated many times that they will never fight, a match between Wladimir and No. 3 contender Chagaev meets THE RING’s criterion.”

The agreement is a relief to Klitschko and his camp.

They considered Haye’s request to postpone the fight until July 11 but decided it was too risky. Had they agreed and Haye still hadn’t recovered, Klitschko would’ve had to wait months for his next fight.

Now, neither Klitschko nor a crowd expected to approach the 60,000 limit will be left hanging.

“Are we relieved? Absolutely,” Bönte said. “The alternative would’ve been to postpone the fight for three weeks. We considered it but Haye could’ve come back and said he has back problems again. Then we would’ve had to wait until after summer vacation. Wladimir might not have fought again until September.

“Everyone on the team is very happy that this fight is on.”

The Klitschko-Haye fight, which probably was more attractive universally than Klitschko-Chagaev because of Haye's charisma, was to be televised by HBO in the U.S. However, HBO has rejected the new pairing, according to Shelly Finkel, Klitschko's U.S. representative.

Almost certainly another network will pick up the fight here.

The Klitschko-Chagaev matchup is unusual in that the replacement fighter is more-accomplished – and perhaps better -- than the original opponent.

Haye is a former crusierweight champion but has fought over the cruiserweight limit of 200 pounds only four times. Chagaev (25-0-1, 17 knockouts) is the WBA’s heavyweight “champion in recess” and a former two-time world amateur champion.

Plus, he’s left-handed. Klitschko had been preparing for an orthodox opponent in Haye.

“I think this opponent is even better (than Haye),” Bönte said. “He’s a world champion, he’s unbeaten. He’s beaten guys like (John) Ruiz and Valuev. He was a top amateur, a former amateur world champion. He even beat Felix Savon, the three-time Olympic champion.

“This is a big challenge. I think you see that Wladimir isn’t afraid to fight anyone – even on short notice. I think it shows his class.”

Bönte also said that the THE RING championship adds luster to the event. Klitschko vs. Haye was not for the THE RING title.

“Wladimir told me that he’s absolutely thrilled that this is for THE RING championship, especially because the last one to hold that title was his brother, Vitali, before he retired,” Bönte said.

Chagaev, an Ukbek who lives in Hamburg, Germany, has fought the majority of his fights in his adopted country. Bönte said the postitive test for the hepatitis B antigen in Finland won’t stand in the way of this fight.

“A doctor in Berlin, at one of the most-reputable hospitals in the world, was asked by a journalist after the fight with Valuev was called off whether someone could be infected by Chagaev,” Bönte said. “He was told the chances were as high as you walking out of your home and having the sky fall on your head.

“Plus, Wladimir has been inoculated against hepatitis. That’s normal for youngsters in Europe.”


http://www.ringtv.com/blog/744/klitschk ... agreement/

This is a fight I would have really wanted to see.
Unfortunitely the circumstances are not the best. Chagaev has been inactive and not impressive since beating Valuev in 2007. Additionally, Chagaev is coming off a serious injury that sidelined and kept him out of the gym. His only fight in 17 months, against unranked Carl Davis Drumond he suffered a bad cut and had to settle for a 6th round technical decision. Add all this to the fact he was diagnosed with hepatitis which cancelled his rematch with Valuev.
And whats with the German boxing commission? Chagaev is not allowed to fight elsewhere but the German commission overlooks this? Reminds me that this is the commission that allowed Klitschko to fight a rematch with Brewster. Brewster got the title shot in Germany in spite of the fact he hadn't fought in 16 months, lost his last fight and worst of all was still under medical suspension in the U.S.

Anyways, not to rain on Klitschko's parade, one interesting fact is that Klitschko trained to fight a smaller, hard punching right handed fighter. Now adjusting to Chagaev's southpaw stance will be his biggest challenge. Don't expect Klitschko get anywhere close to Chagaev in this one. A fight from long distance will be his game plan!

What i do not understand-Chagaev was refused medical clearance for it is rumoured Hepatitis?
Now he is to fight? What's going on?

Wlad seems to like to have a few advantages! Hard to pick Chagaev even if I wanted to. And I do.

I dont feel Chagaev is totally without hope in this fight.

I know Valuev is slow and ponderous but at least Chagaev got inside and threw combinations which is exactly what he will have to do against Klitschko. Chagaev is quite good technically and i cant see him just waiting on the end of Wlads jab. Obviously Wlad is miles better than Valuev at fighting on the outside but Chagaev was a good amateur.
I feel Klitschko wins but Chagaev might make it close for a few rounds.

Still nowhere near as exciting as Haye- Klitschko.

Agreed 100% Hitman. Chagaev does have a chance here and will make a fight of it.
Just wonder what will happen the Klitchko-Haye fight now? What with Povotkin as a mandatory etc.

IMO if Haye really wants to fight he should fight Valuev. Both men have been training for a fight. Haye claims he'll be ready by July 11th. And Haye wouldn't have trained any different, as he's been using Kali Meehan as his partner, right?
Neither would Valuev have to adjust all that much, even though Chagaev is southpaw and Haye a righty.

This way Haye would still be fighting for a title.
Also his name is David... COME ON!!! David vs Goliath??? Doesn't get any better for a headline than that!


Winner of Wlad vs Rulsan will fight Povetkin.
Vitali will fight Maskaev.
Winner of Valuev vs Haye will fight Ruiz.

That takes care of the mandatories by November.
Come January or February of 2010 all three guys would be free to fight each other.
Meaning Haye would immediately be right in there with a Klitschko again, cause they'll beat Chagaev and Maskaev respectively most likely.

Only this time! Haye would be a belt holder. He'd have an all new level of respect. And he'd have an all new contract, probably devoid of brotherly rematches...

Could it possibly work out any better?
Sheesh if Evander Holyfield can soundly outwork Valuev in a stinker, shouldn't the new cruiser sensation be able to do the same?

It's perfect!

lol , fighting klitschko is nothing like fighting valuev and vice versa. theyre not just huge guys, wlad can move around and punch and valuev cant. klitschko by boring UD

Chagaev being southpaw means Wlad needs to change the game plan quick time.
Terms such as "Know Thy Enemy" and "All that Glitters is not Gold" come to mind

With Arreola and Haye lurking-one envisions the David Attenborough scene where the 2 male lions come to claim the pack from the old alpha male lion.

There's always someone lurking on the bushes

Totally off the cuff here:
Anyone remember when Lindell Holmes fought Sugar Boy Malinga back in 1990? Fight took place in Lazio, Italy and Rudy Battle was the ref. Reason i mention this fight (Holmes W UD for IBF Sp Middle belt) was that Holmes had these bright white shorts on and the sick thing was it looked as if Holmes had a brown stain near his rear-like he had s**t himself. Sorry to mention this-but it was a weird sight and anyone who saw it knows what i mean.