Anthony Joshua’s proposed world heavyweight title fight with Wladimir Klitschko on December 10 will not go ahead.

Promoter Eddie Hearn announced that, with the Ukrainian suffering from a “minor injury” and no decision over whether the WBA title would be on the line, the fight could not happen on the date suggested.

Anthony Joshua

Hearn told Sky Sports: “We’ve been in deep negotiations for a few weeks now waiting on the decision from the WBA.

“I was made aware that Wladimir picked up a minor injury late last week but regardless of that, with just over six weeks to go until December 10, it’s unrealistic to put together a fight of this magnitude and give it the full build-up it deserves.

“There will be an official announcement on Joshua vs Klitschko coming very soon, but for now we are seeking a new foe for December 10 and building a huge card for Manchester.”

Hearn said just over a week ago that “terms are virtually there” for a fight between Joshua and Klitschko, only for the wait for WBA sanctioning to delay the deal.

Klitschko lost the WBA belt to Tyson Fury last November, along with the IBF title. The latter sanctioning body insisted on a rematch, leading Fury to vacate that belt which was won by Joshua against Charles Martin in April. He then defended it against Dominic Breazeale.

Fury then relinquished his re-maining WBA, WBO and IBO titles earlier this month and stepped away from the sport to battle mental health issues.

He also admitted regularly using cocaine and was stripped of his licence by the British Boxing Board of Control.

Klitschko appeared unwilling to fight Joshua without the WBA belt being on the line and is re-portedly set to fight Australia’s Lucas Browne for that title.

Joshua’s opponent on December 10 could now be IBF mandatory challenger Joseph Parker, Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev or fellow British Olympian David Price.