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Kitschko vs. Ibragimov deal near
A unification fight between IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and WBO champion Sultan Ibragimov is close to being finalized, Klitschko's manager Bernd Boente told SI.com on Friday.
We are still waiting on the last signatures from Ibragimov`s people," said Boente in an email. "Hopefully we can get it done -- we all would love the unification." The fight would take place on February 23rd at Madison Square Garden.
Considered by many as the best of the current heavyweights, Klitschko is at the top of the independent IBO rankings. Ibragimov won by unanimous decision against Evander Holyfield last month.
Chris Mannix is a senior writer at Sports Illustrated covering the NBA and boxing beats. He joined the SI staff in 2003 following his graduation from Boston College. Mannix is the host of SI’s “Open Floor” podcast and serves as a ringside analyst and reporter for DAZN Boxing. He is also a frequent contributor to NBC Sports Boston as an NBA analyst. A nominee for National Sportswriter of the Year in 2022, Mannix has won writing awards from the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Pro Basketball Writers Association, and is a longtime member of both organizations.