Fury postpones Klitschko rematch due to injury

World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has postponed his rematch with Wladimir Klitschko next month after suffering a badly sprained ankle.

Fury was due to return to the ring in his hometown of Manchester on July 9 to defend the WBA and WBO titles he won after surprisingly beating Klitschko last November.

But the 27-year-old Brit on Friday revealed that the fight will be put back due to his injury.

He said in a post on Instagram: “Hey guys, I’ve got a little bit of bad news for you all. About 10 days ago I was running up in the Lake District and I went over on my ankle and sprained my ankle.

“I’ve been to the hospital and had x-rays and MRI scans, they said it’s not broken but it’s badly sprained and to keep off it for six-seven weeks.

“I tried to still train a bit, had a second opinion a week later and had the same advice, so the fight will be being postponed.

“Sorry to all my fans to let you all down, but injuries do happen and it’s one of them things. The fight will be on as soon as possible. That’s all I know at this moment. The fight’s still going ahead, as soon as the ankle gets better we will reschedule.”

The first bout between the pair was also postponed last September after 40-year-old Ukrainian Klitschko sustained a calf injury.

Peter Fury, the champion’s uncle and trainer, confirmed that the rematch will still take place at the Manchester Arena.

Promoter Mick Hennessy said: “It’s very unfortunate at this crucial stage of Tyson’s preparations that this injury has occurred with just a couple of weeks to go.

“There was no way Tyson could go into the fight against Wladimir Klitschko less than 100 per cent fit.

“It’s essential now that Tyson gets the correct medical professional treatment for the injury and then we can then look to announce the new date.”

News of Fury’s injury blow came a day after Klitschko stated that the Mancunian should be suspended from boxing for anti-semitic comments that made him sound “like Hitler”.

Klitschko made clear his disgust at the views expressed by his rival, who had claimed: “Zionist, Jewish people … own all the banks, all the papers, all the TV stations.”

Fury later apologised for his remarks, saying: “I said some things, which may have hurt some people, which as a Christian man is not something I would ever want to do.”