Vladimir Klitschko working on alternative date for title fight

December 10, 2010, 12:10pm

BERLIN (Reuters) – World heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko, recovering from injury, is looking to arrange an alternative date for his WBO, IBF, IBO title fight but it remains unclear if Briton Dereck Chisora will be his opponent.

The 34-year-old Ukrainian was scheduled to take on the 26-year-old Zimbabwe-born British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Chisora un Mannheim on Saturday but Klitschko was ruled out after sustaining a stomach muscle injury in training on Wednesday.

Doctors in Mannheim, where the fight was to be held, said Klitschko would need to rest for four to six weeks. "Klitschko Management Group are working on finding an alternative date with the SAP Arena (in Mannheim)," the fighter's team said in a statement on Thursday.

"Tickets are still valid and once talks with the arena have been completed we will make the decision known," they said, refusing to say who he would be fighting against. Klitschko team officials told Reuters it was still too early to say whether Vladimir's next mandatory title defense would be against Chisora.

For the fight to go ahead Chisora will also have to agree given that it was not him who pulled out. In case an agreement is not achieved Klitschko could pick a different opponent.

The Briton has fought and won 14 fights, nine through knockout, compared to Klitschko's 55 wins and three defeats. "The pain was extreme. I could barely move," Klitschko told broadcaster RTL, who have bought the rights for his and his brother's fights.

Vitali Klitschko holds the WBC crown and the two brothers have been trying to set up a fight against WBA champion Briton David Haye, who holds the only belt they do not have. That bout, which was initially seen possible in 2011, now becomes a more distant prospect given Vladimir's injury.

What do you think?

Honest thoughts and comments appreciated.

 

Chisora is not doing ****. except either getting knocked out. Or mabye he bites another fighters ear again, or mabye beats up his girlfriend again.
DDDUUDDDEE keep riding those balls. When I said honest thoughts appreciated I meant intellectual comments. Can you come up with one?

 

Wald has never pulled out of a fight before in 50+ fights. I find it hard to believe that he would do that unless really injured. Time will tell, As we get more info on the situation. There are posts about Wald having 30 days to come up with a new date. Then you have Haye fans saying Haye will step up to the plate, Haye always does that when the Klitschko's can't fight him at that time. I think everything will be clarified with a few days time. To much guessing and what if at this point in time to make a 100%
statement about this situation.

I do not believe Wald is ducking anyone, least of all Chisora.

 

Let me guess where you live. I will say you are intelligent when you give a post that conveys that. Untill then your out of luck and get lost.

 

I think it's a real injury

 

Good post, respect for your honesty