Boxing:Wladimir Klitschko's world title fight against Jean-Marc Mormeck on Saturday has been called off, his management company confirmed 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 July 2nd 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 IBO 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.
A press conference will be held by Klitschko’s management company early this afternoon where they are expected to confirm if the fight will be rescheduled.