WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has reached a preliminary agreement to fight Britain's WBA champion David Haye, the Ukrainian was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
Klitschko easily retained his WBC world heavyweight title on Saturday, winning a unanimous points decision against American challenger Kevin Johnson.
Haye won the WBA belt from Russian Nikolai Valuev in November and must next fight the WBA's mandatory American challenger John Ruiz before any fight with Klitschko.
Media have widely reported the Ruiz fight could be in March or April.
‘In the near future I plan to fight Haye and take the title,’ Ukrainian daily Fakty quoted Klitschko as saying.
‘The preliminary agreement has already been reached.’
Haye said last month he was hoping for a ‘mega-showdown’ with the Ukrainian.
Klitschko's younger brother Vladimir holds the WBO, IBO and IBF heavyweight belts.
