WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO HAS pulled out of his planned showdown with Jean-Marc Mormeck.
Klitschko, the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion, was pencilled in to face the Frenchman on Saturday.
But the 35-year-old Ukrainian is still experiencing discomfort, having had a kidney stone removed in recent days. The fight will be arranged for a later date.
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“Wladimir is sad, devastated, but he again feels extreme pain,” said Klitschko’s manager Bernd Bonte.
Team Mormeck spokesman Clara Moreno added: “The December 10 fight in Dusseldorf is off but maybe it will just be postponed.”
Klitschko, the WBO, IBF and WBA champ, had abdominal pain at his training camp in Austria on Friday. The 35-year-old Ukrainian was taken to Innsbruck for treatment before he was transferred to a Duesseldorf hospital. The stone was removed Saturday, but Klitschko returned to the hospital Sunday before a scheduled television appearance.
Older brother Vitali Klitschko, the WBC champion, appeared on the live program and said Wladimir became ill shortly before the show and returned to the Duesseldorf hospital. He declined to elaborate.
The 39-year-old Mormeck is a former WBC and WBA unified cruiserweight champion. He has won all his fights since moving to the heavyweight division in 2009. He has a career record of 36 wins (22 KOs) and four defeats.
Saturday’s fight was supposed to be Klitschko’s 20th title bout and his first appearance since beating Britain’s David Haye in July. His record is 56-3 with 49 KOs.
It's a knock-out: Wladimir Klitschko calls off Mormeck meeting
WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO HAS pulled out of his planned showdown with Jean-Marc Mormeck.
Klitschko, the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion, was pencilled in to face the Frenchman on Saturday.
But the 35-year-old Ukrainian is still experiencing discomfort, having had a kidney stone removed in recent days. The fight will be arranged for a later date.
“Wladimir is sad, devastated, but he again feels extreme pain,” said Klitschko’s manager Bernd Bonte.
Team Mormeck spokesman Clara Moreno added: “The December 10 fight in Dusseldorf is off but maybe it will just be postponed.”
Klitschko, the WBO, IBF and WBA champ, had abdominal pain at his training camp in Austria on Friday. The 35-year-old Ukrainian was taken to Innsbruck for treatment before he was transferred to a Duesseldorf hospital. The stone was removed Saturday, but Klitschko returned to the hospital Sunday before a scheduled television appearance.
Older brother Vitali Klitschko, the WBC champion, appeared on the live program and said Wladimir became ill shortly before the show and returned to the Duesseldorf hospital. He declined to elaborate.
The 39-year-old Mormeck is a former WBC and WBA unified cruiserweight champion. He has won all his fights since moving to the heavyweight division in 2009. He has a career record of 36 wins (22 KOs) and four defeats.
Saturday’s fight was supposed to be Klitschko’s 20th title bout and his first appearance since beating Britain’s David Haye in July. His record is 56-3 with 49 KOs.
- additional reporting AP
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Bernd Bonte Best Laid Plans Boxing Dusseldorf Jean-Marc Mormeck KO Wladimir Klitschko