Klitschko ready for Chagaev fight

06-18-2009 | AFP

The heavyweight champion is ready to defend his title against David Haye

Panama Star Klitschko, 33, had been scheduled to fight David Haye, who has stepped up from the cruiserweight division, on Saturday, but injury forced the Brit out of the fight and Chagaev, 30, has stepped in as a late replacement. Chagaev himself was forced to call off his WBA-title fight against Nikoli Valuev in Helsinki last month after the local boxing authority refused to let the Uzbecki fight because of a risk of Valuev catching the virus.

Chagaev's doctor insists there is only a small risk to another boxer while Klitschko says he has no problem putting both his IBF and WBO belts on the line against Chagaev - the only man to beat Russian giant Valuev.

"I am inoculated," said Klitschko. "Since I often travel in my role as an UNESCO Ambassador, I am often in the tropical institute getting injections."