Klitschko poised for title bout against Joshua
berlin — After his world title rematch with Tyson Fury was again postponed, ex-champion Wladimir Klitschko is on the verge of sealing a new heavyweight bout against IBF belt-holder, Britain’s Anthony Joshua.
“Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn and I have actually agreed things financially,” Klitschko manager Bernd Boente told SID, an AFP subsidiary. “It now depends a bit on the world organisations, but we would like to see the fight go ahead.”
The pairs’ broadcast partners, Britain’s Sky Sports (Joshua) and RTL in Germany (Klitschko), 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 November 26 with the British fighter’s International Boxing Federation (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 October 29 — which was also due to be held in Manchester — having pulled out of their July 9 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 Hamburg-based Klitschko on points in Duesseldorf last November. —