Tyson Fury vs. Wladimir Klitschko 2 Postponed: Latest Details and Reaction

World heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury has suspended his rematch with Wladimir Klitschko due to an ankle injury.

The British fighter confirmed the postponement on his official Instagram feed on Friday, detailing how he picked up the injury:

Fury and Klitschko were set to square off on July 9 in Manchester, England. The champion scored a shock unanimous-decision win over the illustrious Ukrainian in Dusseldorf, Germany, last November.

Fury's uncle, Peter, posted pictures on Twitter following the announcement:

While it was confirmed the fight will go ahead in the future, this represents a big disappointment for fans. For Klitschko, it was a chance to show that his loss to Fury, his first in a decade, was a freak result; the 40-year-old is seeking to become a three-time world heavyweight champion.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

For the home fighter, it was an opportunity to prove beyond all doubt he is world champion. Fury was able to beat Klitschko in front of a familiar crowd for the former heavyweight king, nullifying his opponent with clever movement and sharp darts forward. Beating him twice in two fights would be a tremendous achievement.

Sachin Nakrani of the Guardian is disappointed Fury didn't attempt to make the July date:

ESPN's Dan Rafael posted the following, suggesting the champion may not have been in the right kind of shape to take on the veteran:

Last month, Fury's uncle told the fighter he needed to "sort his head out" after he was allegedly knocked out in sparring, although the champion later suggested the claims about a fallout were simply "mind games," per Mark Ashenden of Sky Sports.

Klitschko had issued scathing words about his opponent in the buildup to this one, comparing him to Adolf Hitler after a video emerged showing Fury airing homophobic, sexist and anti-Semitic comments, per BBC Sport.

"I was in shock at his statements. When he got to the Jewish people, he sounded like Hitler. The man is an imbecile," Klitschko said. "… I'm fighting a guy who can't hold his mouth on certain things."