Klitschko pulls out of Chisora bout

Wladimir Klitschko has been forced to withdraw from his WBO and IBF heavyweight title bout against Dereck Chisora on Saturday because of a torn muscle in his back.

The Ukrainian was due to take on Chisora in Mannheim at the weekend but his US boxing adviser Shelley Finkel confirmed he would not be able to fight.

"Wladimir has withdrawn from the fight, that is correct. He has torn a muscle in his back," Finkel told Press Association Sport.

"It is not too serious though. He should be able to fight again within 60 days."

Frank Warren, who was promoting Chisora in the fight, told boxingscene.com: "I was informed about an hour ago that Klitschko pulled a back muscle and he was out of the fight.

"Dereck is very disappointed. He didn't believe it. He felt everything was fine. Three or four days before a title fight, most of the hard work is done."

Although Finkel's words suggest Klitschko should be ready for action again early in the new year, Chisora's hopes of being his next opponent are far from certain.

Talks are now expected between the fighters' representatives with a view to rescheduling the fight but a more tantalising bout lingers in the air.

There has been increasing speculation that WBA heavyweight champion David Haye is trying to line up fights against Wladimir and his brother Vitali in a bid to unify the heavyweight division.

The 'Hayemaker' has said he has a limited time left in boxing and if a fight can be brokered between him and Wladimir, it may yet leave Chisora out in the cold.