Haye 'will get knocked out' either way

Boxing: Wladimir Klitschko expects to start preparations for his fight against David Haye in a couple of weeks.

Boxing:Wladimir Klitschko expects to start preparations for his fight against David Haye in a couple of weeks.

Londoner Haye will put his WBA title on the line against IBF/WBO holder Klitschko on June 25th or July 2nd.

The Ukrainian's elder brother Vitali, who beat Odlanier Solis in the first round of their recent fight, will step in should Wladimir's abdominal injury fail to heal in time.

The injury twice forced Wladimir to pull out of a proposed fight with Dereck Chisora, but Klitschko junior is focused on beating Haye and is optimistic he will be in top shape for the bout.

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He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I'm still recovering after my injury and in a couple of weeks I will be fit and ready for the preparations."

However, the back-up plan is still on the agenda as he added: "If I can't perform then my brother will step in the ring because he's been in this division a very long time.

"I'm very happy that David Haye eventually signed the contract, it will be the third time we've tried to fight each other. He says we have no skills and have fought basically no-one...I think he chose me as the younger brother because he does not think I'm so tough. But he will get knocked out."