Boxing: Haye abandons Klitschko bout

The undisputed cruiserweight champion, David Haye, has an injury (AFP/Getty Images)

The world heavyweight title fight between Ukraine's Vladimir Klitschko and David Haye on 20 June will not go ahead because of an injury sustained by the British challenger, Klitschko's management said yesterday.

"We are in the unfortunate position of having to cancel the fight because of an injury to David Haye," said Klitschko's spokesman, Klaus-Peter Dittrich.

The Ukrainian, who holds the IBF, WBO and IBO belts, was due to fight Haye at the Bundesliga club Schalke 04's stadium in front of an estimated 60,000 crowd. Over 40,000 tickets had already been sold with Klitschko proving to be hugely popular in Germany.

Haye, who became undisputed cruiserweight champion last year, had irritated the Ukrainian at a joint news conference in April with a T-shirt depicting himself holding the heads of Klitschko and his brother Vitali, the WBC heavyweight champion.

There were no details of a new date yet but Dittrich said Klitschko's management was looking for a new opponent. "We want to keep that fight night [20 June] on and at least Klitschko will fight on that evening," he said.