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| November 10, 2005 | Thursday | Shawwal 7, 1426 |
Boxing: Injury forces Klitschko to retire
HAMBURG, Nov 9: World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has given up his fight against injury and will hang up his gloves. The 34-year-old Ukrainian had right knee surgery on Tuesday in order to go ahead with a mandatory title defence against Hasim Rahman in 90 days.
But he decided he would never make that deadline.
Rahman will now become champion.
“I’ve more often been stopped by injury than by an opponent,” he said in a statement released by his agent Bernd Bonte.
“It was hard to retire from this sport but I want to finish my career at the summit and leave the way open for my successors.”
Rahman captured an interim crown in August by beating fellow American Monte Barrett.
And WBC president Jose Sulaiman said on Monday Rahman would be confirmed as champion. “If Klitschko isn’t available to fight, yes, Rahman will be declared the undisputed heavyweight world champion,” Sulaiman said.
Klitschko, 35-2 with 34 knockouts, has not fought since beating Britain’s Danny Williams last December in his only title defence.
Back and thigh injuries forced delays in fights with Rahman that were planned for April 30, June 18 and July 23.
Klitschko, the 1996 Olympic super-heavyweight champ, won the vacant WBC title in April 2004 - his second attempt following a controversial loss to former champion Lennox Lewis - with an eighth round stoppage of Corrie Sanders.
Lewis had stopped Klitschko on cuts in June, 2003 when the Ukrainian was ahead on points.—AFP
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