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

It’s All Up To The Hayemaker Now » WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO insists he is ready and willing to fight David Haye on July 2. • Fight fans are desperate to see WBA champion Haye step in the ring with Klitschko, who holds the IBF and WBO heavyweight titles… GAVIN GLICKSMAN, www.thesun.co.uk

An Opportunity For Boxing Amid NFL And NBA Labor Woes » On Sunday I sat through what was about as enjoyable a Super Bowl as I could hope for, so I didn’t have my usual complaints about the average NFL game containing a mere 11 minutes of action. Most of the rest of America certainly feels stronger about the sport than I do, though. As a result, I honestly wonder what would happen to the American sports fan if the next NFL season was abbreviated or outright canceled because owners and players couldn’t arrive at a new deal out of their labor negotiations, as many fear is possible… Tim Starks, queensberry-rules.com

Tim Bradley: Devon Alexander Fight ‘Was A Little Bit Personal’ » WBO and WBC junior welterweight (140 pounds) champion, Tim Bradley, shared his thoughts in this Q&A with FanHouse concerning his HBO televised, Jan. 29, unanimous, technical decision victory that dethroned southpaw WBC titlist Devon Alexander and may have set him up with bigger and better opportunities… Lem Satterfield, boxing.fanhouse.com

Prior to a heavyweight championship fight against one of the Klitschko brothers, former light heavyweight (175 pounds) and cruiserweight (200 pounds) champion, Tomasz Adamek will pursue his sixth win at heavyweight when he takes on Kevin McBride.

The bout between Polish-born Adamek, of Jersey City, N.J. and Ireland native Kevin McBride, will likely be held during April either in Katowice, Poland or Newark, N.J., according to Adamek’s promoter, Kathy Duva, Main Events CEO.

“I was on an airplane all day [Tuesday] coming back from Germany for meetings with Klitschko’s people, and while I was there, they worked out the details with McBride,” Duva said. “But we don’t have the site in place yet. If it is in Poland, it will be on April 16. If it’s in the United States, then it may take place on a different date.”

Although Main Events received verbal agreements from both fighters, Duva cautions that nothing is official yet.

“We just have to sit down tomorrow [Wednesday] and go over the plans of both deals and decide together what we’re going to do.”

Famously known for battering an aged Mike Tyson, McBride (35-8-1, 29KOs) recently lost four straight bouts before defeating Franklin Egobi in Bethnal, London by split decision last October. The 6-foot-6 heavyweight, who now resides in the hometown of Rocky Marciano (Brockton, Mass.), lost his last high profile fight against Andrew Golota at Madison Square Garden in 2007.

Adamek (43-1, 28 KOs), on the other hand, made his debut at heavyweight when he defeated Golota by technical knockout, after dropping him twice in the first and fifth round.

The 6’2” heavyweight has not lost since February of 2007, when Chad Dawson defeated the now 34-year old for his WBC light heavyweight title. Since then, Adamek has been on a tear, winning 13 consecutive bouts (five as a heavyweight), and is now scheduled to fight either Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko in September for the heavyweight title.

If successful over McBride and his subsequent title fight, Adamek would become the first fighter ever in history to hold belts in the light heavyweight, cruiser weight and heavyweight division.

— Alex Neely

Tomasz Adamek © Howard Schatz

Young brothers, Vitali (left) and Wladimir Klitschko.

Wladimir Klitschko: David Haye A ‘Liar’ » Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko blames David Haye for their title unification fight being scrapped, scoffed at the notion that he would follow through with plans to retire by the end of the year and is on the verge of finalizing a deal to face top contender Tomasz Adamek in the fall instead of revisiting a deal with Haye… Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Vitali Klitschko To Fight Odlanier Solis In March » Vitali Klitschko will defend his WBC heavyweight title against undefeated Cuban fighter Odlanier Solis on March 19 in Cologne… Source: The Associated Press

Bradley Eyeing Big Paydays • Unification The First Step To Greatness For Light-Welterweight » Timothy Bradley’s dream is to fight the best in the world, but he insists he must earn the right to do so. The 23-year-old WBO light-welterweight champion is aiming at potential showdowns with the likes of Amir Khan, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao in the future… Source: www.skysports.com

Jacobs Fighting For More Than Just A Belt » Daniel Jacobs, the 2009 ESPN.com prospect of the year, was an elite amateur but just missed making the 2008 U.S. Olympic team. • Making the Olympic squad was a dream for the 23-year-old New Yorker, who is one of the best prospects to come out of the Big Apple in years and hails from the same Brooklyn neighborhood that has produced many fighters, including former heavyweight champions Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe. • After his amateur disappointment, Jacobs turned pro at the end of 2007 and now, three years later, he’s set to face Russia’s Dmitry Pirog at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay on July 31 (HBO PPV, $49.95)… Dan Rafael, espn.go.com

Wladimir Klitschko Trying To Line Up Samuel Peter » FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Wladimir Klitschko’s management is trying to line up Samuel Peter of Nigeria for the IBF heavyweight champion’s next fight. • Klitschko also holds the minor WBO and IBO belts and was slated to fight Russian Alexander Povetkin in Frankfurt on Sept. 11. But Povetkin never signed the contract and Klitschko’s camp is looking to sign former WBC champion Peter… Source: www.usatoday.com

James Toney-Randy Couture Bout Pits Boxing Purists Vs. MMA » Jon “Bones” Jones takes on Vladimir Matyushenko in San Diego on Sunday, Aug. 1, in a UFC- sponsored card televised on Versus. • On Saturday, Aug. 7, middleweight champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva will defend the belt he has had since 2006 against No. 1 contender Chad Sonnen, at UFC 117. • Ho-hum. • The fight to watch, the fight that will catch the attention of even mainstream media, is on the card of UFC 118, set for Aug. 28 in Boston. • It’s not B.J. Penn trying to reclaim the lightweight title Frankie Edgar took from him in April, even though that is the top fight on the card. The fight to watch is James Toney going against former UFC heavyweight titleholder Randy Couture… Chuck Yarborough, www.cleveland.com

Jacobs photo by Howard Schatz; Peters photo courtesy of AP

Mike Jones Ready To Take Next Step On Road To Title » He’s the “MJ” you don’t know. But you will soon enough, if Mike Jones’ career plan works out… Bob Velin, www.usatoday.com

Haye All Bark, No Bite » Ducker David Haye is a joke at this point. I mean, how can you possibly take him seriously? He vigorously called out Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko for about the past two years with some of the most childish antics I’ve ever seen… Dan Rafael, espn.go.com

Boxing’s Next Battle: Blood Testing Vs. Urine Testing » United States Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart calls American sports “war” — a landscape full of desperate athletes who will do anything to win. • The Nevada boxing scene is no exception, Tygart said, and with a possible “Fight of the Century” looming between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas, Tygart believes his own battle to convince the Nevada Athletic Commission to adopt blood testing into its drug-screening policy has never been more relevant… Roman Stubbs, www.rgj.com

Mike Jones photo by Chris Sembrot; Haye photo by MEN’S HEALTH

Philly Heavyweight Chambers To Get Title Shot » Don’t count Philadelphia boxing out yet – heavyweight Eddie Chambers is getting his shot at a world title… Don Steinberg, www.philly.com

Klitschko Will Not Underestimate Arreola » “He is young, undefeated, has a powerful punch and is confident. I won’t underestimate him but I have no doubt that I will leave California as world champion.” —Vitali Klitschko • Source: www.secondsout.com

Boxing’s Month From Hell » “You play football and basketball, but you don’t play boxing.” —Buster Mathis Sr. • This July, all the boxing news of note has been in the obituaries. Death has visited the sport like a plague, shocking even the most callous observers… DAVE ZIRIN, www.thenation.com

‘Thrilla In Manila’ A Can’t-Miss For Boxing Fans » I had a chance over the weekend to watch an advance copy of HBO’s documentary “Thrilla in Manila,” which will debut on the pay network at 5 p.m. Saturday before the Winky Wright-Paul Williams fight at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. • The story of the classic third and final fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975 is told from Frazier’s perspective, and the insight is fascinating… Lance Pugmire, latimes.com

Boxing Helps Teenager Put Life On The Streets Behind Her » Jeannine Vides sat in a folding chair, her elbows resting on her thighs. • She bobbed her head to music as her legs rocked. She was fidgety and nervous. Her eyes were fixed on an empty boxing ring at a Council Bluffs convention center. • She took a few deep breaths. • Despite her nerves, she knew she’d be all right. She could handle anything. She was a fighter… LEIA BAEZ, www.omaha.com

Brief-Boxing-Klitschko To Fight Briton Haye In Schalke Stadium » BERLIN, April 7 (Reuters) – Heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko will fight British contender David Haye in Bundesliga club Schalke’s soccer stadium on June 20, the Ukrainian’s manager said on Tuesday… Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Martin Petty, uk.reuters.com

(Photos: Vides by ALYSSA SCHUKAR/THE WORLD-HERALD; Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier by Associated Press)