Wladimir Klitschko Injury: Updates on Boxer's Status and Return

Former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has suffered an injury in training for his upcoming WBA title fight on December 10 against an opponent yet to be confirmed. 

According to ESPN.com's Dan Rafael, IBF champion Anthony Joshua was in line to face the veteran, with the two sides waiting on news from the WBA. The organisation had yet to sanction the bout, but Klitschko's injury means it no longer matters, as the Ukrainian won't be able to fight.

Klitschko hasn't fought since his decision loss against Tyson Fury in November 2015.

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The two were supposed to meet in Manchester for a rematch, but as BBC Sport reported, the fight was postponed on several occasions due to injury concerns for Fury. The 28-year-old has also been charged with a doping offence, per the report.

That forced Klitschko to find a new opponent, and a superfight with Joshua seemed the perfect fit. Per David Anderson of the Daily Mirror, the 27-year-old's team agreed to have the bout in Manchester on December 10, but the Ukrainian stipulated the WBA strap had to be on the line.

Speaking to Sky Sports (h/t Anderson), promoter Eddie Hearn remained optimistic the bout could happen:

"

The deal is there, but we are awaiting sanctioning from the WBA.

Both teams have written to the WBA to request sanctioning of our fight, but Wladimir wants the WBA belt to be on the line so until that is approved we cannot move forward.

We expect news in the next few days, but in the meantime I believe both sides will look at alternative options for December 10 while we hope to get the news we need to make the fight happen.

"

This latest setback means Klitschko will not fight in 2016, which is a major blow for the former champion. At the age of 40, he can't afford to disappear from the ring for too long if he hopes to regain his WBA title.

Lucas Browne has been shooting up the WBA rankings and could now be in line to fight Joshua.