By Jim Dower: IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KO’s) backed out of negotiations today with WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-1, 23 KO’s) in order to take a fight on April 30th against Dereck Chisora (14-0, 9 KO’s). However, Wladimir still intends on fighting Haye on July 2nd after the Chisora bout. Haye and Wladimir had been in negotiations for a fight in April or May, but were unable to come to terms for the fight.

The fight against Chisora won’t impact an eventual fight with Haye, but rather it will only delay it a little longer. Haye, of course, can always choose to fight Wladimir’s older brother Vitali Klitschko in the meantime while waiting for Wladimir.

Speaking to Reuters, Klitschko said “It’s going to be a very exciting year. David Haye said he doesn’t want to fight Vitali because Vitali is hitting too hard. He said he wants to take the little brother. It’s the truth. The fight is going to happen. We found a date, July 2nd. I want to stay active because I fought in September, so I’m definitely going to fight on April 30th against Dereck Chisora, another British guy that I was supposed to fight in December.”

Haye wants to retire in October, but he should have plenty of time to fight Wladimir and then if Haye wins that fight, he can likely get in a fight against Vitali before then. Haye punches very hard and has quick hands. A fight against Wladimir has a chance of ending quickly without Haye taking a lot of punishment if he wins. If Haye takes punishment and loses to Wladimir, then it matters little about a fight against Vitali because it won’t be happening. For Haye, the fight against Wladimir is a do-or-die bout.