Source: Klitschko, Haye nearing deal for unification fight

Representatives for IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and WBA champion David Haye are close to an agreement to match Haye and Klitschko in a unification fight, an industry source told SI.com. The fight will be held in Germany in either June or July.

On Friday, Klitschko withdrew from next month's scheduled title defense against Dereck Chisora, citing an abdominal injury. The decision to withdraw clears the way for a summer bout with Haye, who reportedly was unhappy with Klitschko's insistence on taking the fight with Chisora in the first place.

Klitschko, however, has steadfastly refused to tie his future to Haye due to Haye's unpredictability. In June 2009, Haye pulled out of a signed fight with Klitschko less than three weeks before the date, citing a back injury. Klitschko eventually replaced Haye with former champion Ruslan Chagaev. Klitschko beat Chagaev in a lopsided, nine-round technical decision.

Since then Klitschko has doggedly pursued a fight with Haye. He has called him out in the press and produced a YouTube video daring Haye to get in the ring with him.

A Klitschko-Haye fight would be the biggest fight in the heavyweight division since Klitschko's brother, Vitali, lost to Lennox Lewis in 2003. The fight would draw a crowd of more than 60,000 at a German soccer stadium and generate interest from televisions outlets in the U.S., where it would likely be shown on HBO, and abroad.