Having beaten WBO challenger Eddie Chambers, double world heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko says he is now ready to face mandatory IBF challenger Alexander Povetkin to defend his titles.
Klitschko, who turns 34 on March 25, knocked out Chambers of the United States with five seconds left of the 12th round in Duesseldorf on Saturday night to retain his WBO belt and IBF titles.
IBF challenger Povetkin is now set to face Klitschko, who picked up his 54th win and his 48th knockout against Chambers, and the Ukrainian is ready to fight the undefeated Russian soon.
"I was not injured during this fight and I could get back into the boxing ring next weekend, but it takes time to prepare for a bout," said Klitschko, who was rarely troubled by Chambers.
"We will see who my next opponent will be, but I believe Alexander Povetkin is my official IBF challenger and we can quickly start the discussions for that fight."
The younger of the Klitschko brothers was last beaten in 2004 when he suffered a fifth-round technical knockout against Lamon Brewster.
Between him and his older brother Vitali, the WBC heavyweight champion, the pair hold three belts.
Vitali will defend his title against Poland's Albert Sosnowski in Gelsenkirchen, west Germany, on May 29.
But both brothers are keen to taken on Britain's WBA heavyweight champion in a unification bout after Haye has constantly taunted the Ukrainian siblings.
Haye defends his WBA title against John Ruiz on April 3, but the brash Brit could not resist a jibe at the the Klitschko brothers' expense when asked by German daily the Sueddeutsche Zeitung what nickname he would give them.
"I see them really as brother and sister," said Haye.
"And I will let you decide which one is which."
Vladimir Klitschko's planned fight with Haye in June 2009 fell through because of the Londoner's back injury, while Vitali's scheduled bout with Haye last year did not happen for financial reasons.
But not before Haye had called Vladimir 'Bitchko' and wore a t-shirt in a press conference showing an image of him in a boxing ring holding the severed heads of both brothers.
"Yes, of course I?ll be watching David Haye?s title defence against John Ruiz, and I wish him good luck," Vitali Klitschko told The Telegraph, having been in his brother's corner for the Chambers fight.
"I have my fingers crossed for him.
"I want him to win -- not because I like the guy, but because I want to fight him, and I want to shut his mouth."
Copyright 2010  AFP Global Edition
