Following his withdrawal from this Saturday’s fight against Frenchman Jean-Marc Mormeck for an operation to remove kidney stones, WBA/WBO/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has confirmed a new date for the fight has been set, on March 3 at the ESPIRIT Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany. Although it seems a long postponement Mormeck will be pleased that he will still get his shot at the title.

Klitschko was admitted to hospital in Germany last Friday with severe abdominal pain, and was found to be suffering from kidney stones. Following a simple operation the next day to remove them, Klitschko returned home and the fight looked set to go ahead but the champ found himself back in hospital soon after, once again in extreme pain. It was at this point that the fight with Mormeck was abandoned.

Klitschko seemed to suggest in a statement he released that it would be too much of a risk for him to take the fight against former cruiserweight champion Mormeck, a fighter he clearly considers dangerous.

“I know that I am the favourite in all my fights but I also know that each opponent is motivated to be in the best shape ever when he fights me.

“Mormeck is one of the most experienced fighters I have ever faced. He has had many world title fights, has a very good technique, can take a lot of punches and is very intelligent inside the ring.

“To underestimate him would be a fatal mistake. I am very happy to return to the ESPRIT Arena where I fought against Eddie Chambers. The spectators and the atmosphere for that fight were great and I am sure it will be again this time.”

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1. Wladimir Klitschko withdraws from Mormeck fight