Wladimir Klitschko’s world title fight KO’d

Wladimir Klitschko’s world title fight against Jean-Marc Mormeck on Saturday has been called off, his management company confirmed on earlier today.

Klitschko, the WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion has failed to recover in time for the bout in Dusseldorf after undergoing an operation at the weekend to remove a kidney stone.

The Ukrainian, 35, initially hoped he would have recovered in time but has now been advised to pull out.

Klitschko’s last fight was the heavyweight unification bout against David Haye in Hamburg on 2 July this year where he won with a unanimous points victory.

It meant Klitschko added the WBA Super World heavyweight title to his IBF, WBO and International Boxing Organisation heavyweight titles.

The bout against Mormeck would have been the Ukrainian’s 20th world title fight in a career of 56 wins, 49 knockouts and only three defeats.
Frenchman Mormeck has had just three fights since he lost his world cruiserweight titles to Haye in November 2007.

Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente and professor doctor Peter Albers held a press conference on Monday to confirm the injury put forward a possible date for the fight to be re-scheduled to in the new year.

Boente suggested that March 3 was a possible new date for the fight.

The IBF would have to approve it because nominally Klitschko would be requested to fight a mandatory challenger on that date.

‘We hope to know in two or three days. Mormeck is also ready to accept it,’ Boente said.

‘Wladimir is very disappointed about this cancellation.

‘Wladimir is crushed and ruined as he did everything he could to give a show to his loyal, beloved fans. But the pain is too much to overcome at this moment. We have no other choice but to cancel the event.’

The French fighter responded by saying: ‘It’s a surprise.

‘But it’s for health reasons so there’s nothing we can do about it. It’s best if he is healthy for the fight.’

Mormeck has just three fights under his belt at heavyweight level since he lost his WBC and WBA cruiserweight titles to Haye in 2007.

Klitschko had no option but to call off the fight, according to his manager.

After undergoing the operation on Saturday Klitschko had to spend the whole day in hospital with a high temperature and inflammation.

‘Wladimir shouldn’t fight any time soon,’ German urologist Peter Albertz added during the press conference.

‘Anyone who sustains two surgeries in a span of less than 24 hours needs considerable time to rest.

‘He is very week after two surgeries and it makes no sense to have a fight now.’