WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO will not be fighting Anthony Joshua – or anyone else – on December 10 after picking up a calf injury.
Klitschko and Joshua were on course to meet in a superfight in Manchester after the Ukrainian’s rematch with Tyson Fury was cancelled.
Both sides were awaiting news from the WBA over whether they would allow their heavyweight title, which Fury recently vacated, to also be on the line in that fight, as Klitschko would only meet IBF champion Joshua if that were so.
However ESPN are reporting that Klitschko will not be in action until 2017, meaning Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn will need to look elsewhere.
Hearn has several names lined up for his charge, including David Price and Eric Molina, though it remains unclear who the Olympic champion will meet. An announcement is expected in the coming days.
Klitschko has not fought since his decision loss to Fury last November and, which was originally postponed after he suffered a hamstring injury.
It is also being reported that Klitschko’s and Joshua’s teams are still in talks to stage a fight between the two early next year, potentially with the WBA title on the line. However the sanctioning body are still yet to announce the status of their title, and the other spurious belts they offer in the division.
Boxing News has reached out to Team Klitschko for clarification on the injury.
