By John F. McKenna (McJack): The MailOnline is reporting that World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (43-2, 40 KO’s) will defend his title against Britain’s Dereck Chisora (15-2, 9 KO’s) on February 18, 2012 in Munich, Germany.

Vitali’s decision to fight Chisora does not mean that he will not at some point fight former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye. “Dr. Ironfist” had hoped to fight Haye in March, but that fight was pre empted when his brother Wladimir’s fight with Jean-Marc Mormeck had to be postponed from December 12 to March 3 due to Wlad’s surgery due to kidney stones. Fighting Chisora in February would leave the door open for Vitlali to fight Haye in June or July.

Vitali believes that Chisora should have been given the decision in his fight with Robert Helenius (17-0, 11 KO’s) for the vacant European title on December 3 and describes Dereck as an interesting opponent.

It is thought that Vitali wants to have at least two fights in 2012 before making the decision on whether to retire. Vitali, who turned 40 last July, has stated on several occasions that he is not interested in breaking George Foreman’s record of being heavyweight champion at the age of 45. But he also indicated that he would let his fans decide on whether or not he should continue his career. More than likely if he is victorious in his next two fights Vitali’s fans will elect for him to continue.

Wladimir Klitschko, speaking of a potential showdown between Vitali and David Haye had this to say:

“It’s David’s call but he has no chance to beat Vitali. Haye has been around us for two years. We never know what he wants and neither does he. In reality I closed this chapter by winning virtually every round against him. But he is in a difficult situation. After so much trash talk it is embarrassing now for him to walk down the streets in his own city because he let down so many of his countrymen.

“He is a diva who became a chicken against me for 12 rounds. He didn’t come to fight and he embarrassed himself. But he has an ego so he will come back out of retirement.
But he should remember what everybody tells me, that Vitali is the harder, stronger brother. For sure Vitali will knock him out. My bro’ was in the best form of his life, at 40, against Tomasz Adamek in his last fight which was so impressive. But even I am curious to see what he is going to say and do.”

It is ironic that even though officially he lost to Robert Hellenius in Finland on Deccmeber 3, Chisora is the one who gets a title shot at Vitali Klitschko.