By Richard McNamara: I like many fans am beginning to wonder if the only meaningful fight within the heavyweight division is ever going to take place. Are you getting that deja vu feeling that this could be another Pacquiao v Mayweather? It’s frustrating that negotiations have broken down and that TV schedules and dates are playing a major role in effectively putting another spanner in the works. But after reading certain articles posted on this site I thought I would break down what’s actually happened, so follow if you can, as this gets a little complicated.

Klitschko and Haye had reportedly agreed in principle to fight one another but needed to find a date that worked for the European television networks who were going to broadcast the fight, namely Sky Sports in the UK and RTL in Germany, the date of the 2nd of July had been agreed. Sky Sports refused to broadcast two PPV events in the same month of April because they are scheduled to show Khan v a yet to be confirmed opponent and RTL had no space in their schedule to fit the fight into May/June hence the 2nd of July. That was fine with Klitschko and Haye bar one thing, Klitschko felt he would have gone nine months without a fight so he decided to reschedule the Chisora bout for April the 30th and in his words use it as a tune up fight.

This did not sit well with Haye and his advisers who doubted that Klitschko could and would fight twice in 9 weeks. This is a valid point and we as fans do need to ask ourselves if a fighter who fought only once in 2009 and twice in 2010 can fight twice in 9 weeks? The Haye camp also had worries that he might get cut or even injured and with the potential money to be made this would be a disaster. Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, Haye’s U.S. representative was quoted in the press ( Los Angeles Times) as saying Klitschko’s decision to fight Chisora was “a deal killer.”

Klitschko and his handlers have stated that he still intends to fight Haye on the 2nd of July and that they are more than happy for Haye to take a warm up fight before then, however the problem with that from Hayes perspective is Sky are committed to Khan in April and can only offer Haye a date in May or June. Haye has been quoted as saying “I now need to look for a fight of my own beyond April. Amir Khan has that month tied up with his bout, presumably Wladimir is expecting me to fight in either May or June and then face him in early July, it’s ridiculous.” Whether you are a fan of Haye or not you have to understand where he is coming from. Hayes not the most active fighter himself of recent years and a fight of this magnitude will require not only a dedicated training camp but more importantly if Haye is to stand a chance he needs to be fit and injury free, so not only too much money at stake, but too little time to recuperate if injured.

So where do we stand? Well Haye has been quoted as saying “ “If the fight doesn’t happen now, it never will, I’m done with the Klitschkos. I know I can retire later this year with my head held high, knowing I did everything in my power to make these fights happen. I’ve had defining fights and beaten the best in the world at cruiserweight, but without me, Wladimir can never say he’s done the same as a heavyweight.” Whether you believe this statement is personally down to opinion but one thing is for sure, Haye will do everything in his power to fight at least one of the Klitschko brothers, he has to and for two reasons. 1. The enormous payday it will guarantee and 2. The opportunity to prove he’s the best heavyweight in the division. If successful it will allow him to retire with some form of legacy at a young age and with his faculties in tact as well as a very rich man. So to end it all, this fight will happen if Haye chooses to not a fight in April. If decides to go elsewhere then we will all be left wondering what if? And let down by the sport and politics again! But please, this is not about either fighter being scared.