BERLIN (AP) β Wladimir Klitschko pulled out of his heavyweight title defense against Tyson Fury on Friday because of a torn tendon in his left calf.
The Ukrainian was scheduled to defend his IBF, IBO, WBO and WBA belts against the British fighter in Duesseldorf on Oct. 24.
He sustained the injury in training on Thursday and traveled to Munich to be treated by Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt.
“After a thorough examination we diagnosed a musculo-tendinous injury in the left calf area. We started therapy and strongly recommended that Mr. Klitschko takes a break from sport,” Mueller-Wohlfahrt said. “We’re confident that Mr. Klitschko can still take part in the planned world title fight this year.”
The 39-year-old Klitschko, who hasn’t been beaten for more than a decade, expressed regret the fight had to be postponed.
The withdrawal came just two days after Klitschko appeared at a news conference with Fury in London to promote the fight. Fury dressed up as Batman and wrestled a man wearing a Joker costume to the ground, knocking Klitschko’s belts to the ground in a staged performance.
“I know that many fans have already made travel arrangements to support me,” Klitschko said Friday. “I’m really very sorry that I can’t fight on Oct. 24. Of course the same goes for my opponent, who has been preparing for this fight for weeks. I’ll do everything I can to be fit again as quickly as possible.”
Bernd Boente, the head of Klitschko’s management group, said efforts would be made to find an alternate date for the bout in Duesseldorf.
“Unfortunately such things can always happen in individual sports,” Boente said.
The 27-year-old Fury, unbeaten with 18 knockouts in 24 wins, is bidding to become the first fighter since Lamon Brewster on April 10, 2004 to defeat the 1.98-meter (6-foot-6) Klitschko. Fury stands 2.06 meters (6-foot-9) tall.
Klitschko has 53 knockouts from his 64 wins, with three defeats.
