Title rematch put on hold as Fury nurses ankle injury

WORLD heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has been forced to postpone his rematch with Wladimir Klitschko after hurting his left ankle while training for the fight.

Fury, who stunned the boxing world in November by ending Klitschko’s decade-long reign as heavyweight champion, said in a video posted on his Instagram account yesterday he sprained the ankle on a run 10 days ago.

Doctors told the Englishman he needs to keep off the ankle for six-to-seven weeks. The rematch was scheduled for July 9 in Manchester.

Fury’s team posted pictures on Twitter of Fury’s heavily bruised left ankle.

‘‘Sorry to all my fans, to let you all down,’’ Fury said in the video. ‘‘But injuries do happen.’’

Fury didn’t give a new date for the fight.

‘‘The fight is still going ahead,’’ he said. ‘‘As soon as the ankle is better, we will reschedule.’’

Meanwhile, British boxer Anthony Joshua was scheduled to defend his IBF world heavyweight title against Dominic Breazeale in London this morning.

It will be the first defence of the title for Olympic champion Joshua, who won the world heavyweight crown in only his 16th professional fight.

Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker will eventually square off with Joshua, having been elevated to the IBF’s mandatory challenger position with a win over Carlos Takam in his last bout.