Klitschko cancels Chisora fight

A fight between IBO/IBF/WBO world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine and British challenger Derek Chisora has been cancelled due to an injury suffered by the Ukrainian boxer, reads a statement posted on the champion.com.ua Web site.

"Wladimir has a torn abdominal muscle on his left side," a spokesman for Klitschko Management Group, Klaus-Peter Dittrich, said.

"The injury is not very serious, so Wladimir will return in two months. It's currently unknown when he will be able to face Derek, and this will depend on the doctors," Klitschko's adviser Shelley Finkel said.


The press service of the Klitschko Brothers Foundation confirmed to Interfax-Ukraine that the Klitschko-Chisora fight had been cancelled due to a torn abdominal muscle on the left side of the Ukrainian boxer.

"This happened after an open workout, which took place on Wednesday. Wladimir will not be able to fight on Saturday. The champion will have to take a break for four to six weeks," said Sven Roessing, an orthopedic specialist at University Hospital in Mannheim.

The press service said that this was the first time in his professional career that Klitschko had had to cancel a fight due to an injury.

The Klitschko-Chisora fight was to have been held in Mannheim, Germany, on Dec. 11.