Klitschko undergoes surgery, Mormeck bout in doubt

World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko’s title defence against France’s Jean-Marc Mormeck next weekend was plunged into doubt after it was announced the Ukrainian will undergo an operation to have a kidney stone removed yesterday.

“Only after the surgery will we be able to determine whether the fight can go ahead in a week’s time,” Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente told Germany’s Sky Sports News.

Klitschko, 35, left his training camp in Going near Kitzbuhel, Austria, on Friday because of renal colic pain and was flown to a hospital.

The IBF, WBA and WBO heavweight belt holder is due to face Mormeck, 39, in Dusseldorf next Saturday and a decision as to whether the fight can go ahead is expected soon.

Klitschko’s spokesman had earlier said the fight would go ahead as planned, before it emerged the champion needs surgery.

Having beaten Britain’s David Haye in July to add the WBA belt to his colllection, Klitschko was scheduled for his 20th world title fight against Mormeck and his record is 56 wins, 49 knockouts and only three defeats.

There is a pre-fight press conference still scheduled for tomorrow in Dusseldorf.