The much-anticipated showdown between David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko scheduled for June 20th is off according to an ESPN report, with David Haye withdrawing from the bout due to a hand injury. This is a disastrous turn of events for a division desperately needing it’s biggest fight since Lennox Lewis retired. David Haye of England is widely believed to be the biggest threat to the Klitschko Brothers’ stranglehold over the heavyweight division, however due to the quick sell-out of the event, it’s very possible that Klitschko could face a fill-in opponent on June 20th, casting doubt on a possible rescheduling of the fight.
Wladimir Klitschko holds the WBO and IBF heavyweight belts. David Haye is the former WBA and WBC cruiserweight champion, having vacated his belts to campaign at heavyweight.
This is the second heavyweight championship bout to fall apart over the last week. The Ruslan Chagaev-Nikolai Valuev were scheduled to fight Saturday, May 30 for the WBA belt but the bout was called off in the 11th hour.