Tyson Fury Withdraws From Title Rematch With Wladimir Klitschko Citing Ankle Injury

There will be no rematch for boxing’s World Heavyweight title, at least not on July 9.

Citing a “severely sprained ankle,” heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury (25-0, 18 KOs) has withdrawn from his scheduled rematch with former title-holder Wladimir Klitschko (64-4, 54 KOs).

“About 10 days ago I went over on my ankle, sprained my ankle,” Fury said in a video released on his Instagram account Friday. “I’ve been to the hospital and had X-rays and MRI scans and all that stuff. They say it’s not broken but it’s badly sprained. … So the fight will be postponed.”

The tension between these pair of giants has been far from gentle.

Fury has been roasted by critics after his insensitive comments regarding homosexuals and the (in)equality between the genders.

Klitschko shot back after Fury stuck both feet in his mouth.

“I’m fighting a guy who can’t hold his mouth on certain things,” Klitschko said at a recent media day. “I was in shock at his statement about women, the gay community, and when he got to the Jewish people he sounded like Hitler. The man is an imbecile,” Klitschko said of Fury. “He’s an imbecile champion.”

HIGHLIGHTS FROM FURY VS. KLITSCHKO I

Fury also drew criticism recently after rubbing his pot-like stomach, taunting Klitschko, asking him how it would feel to be beaten by a man with a beer belly.

Some have speculated that Fury’s shape, or lack thereof in regards to boxing, is the real reason behind the postponement.

Coincidentally, the two men have been forced to postpone a fight with each other due to injury before.

Klitschko had the first fight pushed back from October to November 2015 after sustaining a calf injury in training. Fury responded to the news of that postponement by calling Klitschko a “b—-,” and later tweeted that he would be getting drink to celebrate, with a photo of five pints of Guinness and the hashtag “f—Klitschko.”

It is unclear when the fight will be rescheduled, but Fury intimated his medical team told him to suspend training for a couple of months.

“Keep off it for 6-7 weeks,” Fury said of his doctor’s advice. “I tried to still train a bit. I had a second opinion a week later and I got the same advice.”

Klitschko took the news in stride.

Although he expressed disappointment, the former 9-year title-holder remained confident he can recapture the WBO, WBA and IBF World Title belts.

“Of course, I am currently disappointed about the cancellation. As well as for my fans, I’m very sorry, they were all very excited for this rematch,” Klitschko said in a statement. “But one thing is also clear: This just means I’ll get my title belt a few weeks later.”

Article by Kevin Xavier