After nearly three years of speculation and failed negotiations, Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye announced that contracts have been signed for a heavyweight unification bout, which may occur on either June 25 or July 2.

Haye, the WBA titlist, released the news on his official website, www.hayemaker.com, expressing long-awaited enthusiasm.

“This is the fight I have been chasing for nearly three years now, and it’s a huge relief to know it has come off and will soon become a reality,” Haye said. “It was looking a little scary at one stage, as both Klitschkos seemed intent on avoiding me, but now the stars have aligned and they’ve both seen the light.”

RING, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion, Klitschko, confirmed Haye’s release through the Team Klitschko page on Facebook.

Although Klitscko is recovering from an injured abdominal muscle, the Ukranian heavyweight is expected to be fully recovered by the time training camp opens. However, if he is unable to fight, his brother, Vitali, is reportedly willing to take his place.

Either way, Haye is confident this fight will be the one of the biggest boxing fights to occur in the past decade.

“This fight needs to happen for the good of boxing, and I’m just delighted we’ve both been able to put our differences aside, forget all the nonsense and put on the kind of fight that the fans deserve,” Haye said. “I have no doubt this will soon snowball into one of the biggest fights the sport has seen in the modern era – especially in this country.”

The bout, which will probably take place in Germany, is also being considered for several other sites in Europe. However, it has been confirmed that the fight will not occur in the United Kingdom or United States.

—Alex Neely

» The highly anticipated bout between David Haye and either Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko appears it may occur on July 2, according to Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente…

The highly anticipated bout between David Haye and either Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko appears it may occur on July 2, according to Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente.

“I’m very positive. I’m very, very positive that the fight of Vitali or Wladimir against David Haye, will happen,” Boente said. “I’m also very positive the fight between David Haye and Wladimir or Vitali will happen in Europe.”

Boente believes the heavyweight bout, which has garnered nearly a year of speculation and trash talk, has reached a fervent magnitude that supersedes most boxing fights.

“I think it should happen in a stadium,” Boente said. “This is one of the two top fights that can be done in boxing, and the other fight between [Floyd] Mayweather and [Manny] Pacquaio can’t be done right now.”

Although Haye (25-1, 23 KOs) is scheduled to defend his WBA world heavyweight title on May 21, the bout would either be rescheduled or cancelled if the Klitschko negotiations move forward.

Both of the Klitschko brothers have upcoming title defenses of their own, with Wladimir (55-3, 49 KOs) defending the WBO/IBO/IBF titles against Dereck Chisora on April 30, and Vitali (41-2, 38 KOs) meeting WBC mandatory challenger Odlanier Solis on March 19.

—Alex Neely