Anthony Joshua fight wt Wladimir Klistchko off for now

Britain’s IBF world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will not fight former champion Wladimir Klistchko in 2016 but promoter Eddie Hearn expects a fight in the spring.

The pair were close to agreeing a bout for 10 December but Klitschko has picked up a “minor injury” in training.

The WBA had also yet to state whether its vacant title would be on the line.

British heavyweight Tyson Fury has vacated the WBA and WBO titles and had his boxing licence stripped by the British Boxing Board of Control “pending further investigation into anti-doping and medical issues”.

Klitschko, who has 64 wins and four losses in his career, lost the WBA, WBO and IBF titles to Fury in 2015.

Joshua picked up the IBF title – vacated by Fury as he did not face a mandatory challenger – by knocking out Charles Martin in April.

Hearn expects Joshua’s camp to decide on his next opponent in the next 48 hours.

STORY BY BBC SPORTS

Written by David Kugonza