NEW YORK, Nov 21: Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko and Russia’s Sultan Ibragimov will fight here February 23 in a heavyweight title showdown at Madison Square Garden, promoters announced Tuesday.

The bout will be the first meeting of rival heavyweight champions since Britain’s Lennox Lewis defeated US veteran Evander Holyfield in 1999.

Klitschko owns the International Boxing Federation title while Ibragimov holds the lesser-regarded World Boxing Organization throne.

“I’m very happy that after intensive negotiations we have finally reached a deal,” Klitschko said. “I’m really looking forward to this unification bout.

This is what boxing fans around the world want to see.” Together with unbeaten World Boxing Association champion Ruslan Chagaev of Uzbekhistan and World Boxing Council champion Oleg Maskaev, a Kazak-born Russian-American, all heavyweight titles belong to ex-Soviet Union fighters.

Maskaev, 34-5 with 26 knockouts, will risk his crown February 2 at Madison Square Garden against Nigerian Samuel Peter, 29-1 with 22 knockouts, and that fight plus Klitschko-Ibragimov could be the first steps toward reunifying the crowns.

Klitschko, 49-3 with 44 knockouts, will make his fourth title defense in February since taking the title from American Chris Byrd 19 months ago, has sought to unify the thrones since his brother Vitali is no longer a rival.

Ibragimov, 22-0 with one drawn and 17 knockouts, made his first defence last month in winning a decision over Holyfield in Moscow, where he was to have faced Chagaev before illness forced the WBA champion to pull out.—AFP