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Joshua and Hearn: Britain's world heavyweight champ willing to put his IBF title on the line. PA Wire/Press Association Images

It looks like Klitschko v Joshua is nearly a done deal

Mark 26 November in Manchester into your calendar, just in case.

AFTER HIS WORLD title rematch with Tyson Fury was again postponed, Wladimir Klitschko is on the verge of sealing a new heavyweight bout against IBF champion Anthony Joshua.

“Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn and I have actually agreed things financially,” Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente said.

“It now depends a bit on the world organisations, but we would like to see the fight go ahead.”

The pair’s broadcast partners, Sky Sports  and RTL in Germany, are said to be “very interested” in the fight, which would most likely take place in Manchester.

Joshua’s camp has already booked the Manchester Arena for 26 November with the British fighter’s IBF belt on the line.

Last Friday, Fury pulled out of a planned bout against Klitschko for the second time.

Fury’s camp says he is medically unfit to fight Klitschko on 29 October — which was also due to be held in Manchester — having pulled out of their 9 July bout with an ankle injury. The British fighter is reportedly seeking professional help.

Boxing’s respective governing bodies could strip Fury of the WBA and WBO belts he won when he beat Klitschko on points in Dusseldorf last November.

“From our side, when Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua could box for the WBA and IBF belts on 26 November, we would like to take the fight,” said Hearn.

The 26-year-old Joshua, the super heavyweight champion at the 2012 London Olympic Games, has won all 17 of his fights by knock-out since turning pro in July 2013.

The British fighter was a sparring partner for Klitschko two years ago.

The 40-year-old Ukrainian has won 64 of his 68 fights and his defeat to Fury was his first for a decade.

© – AFP, 2016

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