I have no problem with Vitali postponing the fight until hes healthy. Golota made the mistake of fighting Lewis when his knee was injured. Vitali is smart for not fighting at this point. I looks like they will reshcedule in 90 days. Here's an article.
Klitschko set for surgery, gets 90 days to reschedule Rahman fight Mon Nov 7, 5:50 PM ET
LAS VEGAS, United States (AFP) - Vitali Klitschko will have right knee surgery this week and have 90 days to reschedule his heavyweight title defence against Hasim Rahman, frustrating the challenger as well as promoter Don King.
The Baltimore Sun reported Monday that Klitschko will undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus and that the World Boxing Council agreed to a plea that allows him to remain champion despite a fourth postponement of the Rahman bout.
"I cannot really enter the ring with an injury that does not allow me to be maximum functional in a fight against such a serious fighter as Hasim Rahman," Klitschko said on his web site. "I hope that I will recover soon."
Klitschko, 35-2 with 34 knockouts, has not fought since beating Britain's Danny Williams last December. Back and thigh injuries forced delays in fights with Rahman that were planned for April 30, June 18 and July 23.
The WBC told Klitschko he must fight Rahman, who captured an interim crown in August by beating fellow American Monte Barrett, or lose the title.
"In sports like baseball, you get three strikes and you are out," Rahman manager Steve Nelson told the Sun, Rahman's hometown paper. "Now Vitali takes strike four, an opportunity he never should have gotten in the first place."
Nelson said Klitschko is afraid of Rahman and added, "What's happening is proof positive he lacks the courage, something we always knew to be the case."
A new date for the fight is expected this week. Promoter Bob Arum said pay-per-view telecaster HBO could show the event from February to April and the planned arena, the Thomas and Mack Center, has dates available in March.
The move frustrates promoter King's plans for a heavyweight tournament that would include titles held by four fighters he backs.
King claims Klitschko forfeited his crown to Rahman by postponing the fight and even announced his plans for a unification event, plans that Klitschko might yet scuttle.
"Anyone could tell that Vitali did not want to fight Rock," King said. "The moment Vitali cancelled his scheduled mandatory defense scheduled for November 12, he vacated his title and Rahman immediately assumed his crown.
Klitschko had asked for permission to fight someone other than Rahman in September but was denied in the request, forced into facing the man who made his name by knocking out Lennox Lewis before losing his crown in a rematch.
"Nobody seems to be able to make Vitali fight his mandatory defense against Rahman. He seems to prefer to give up his title rather than face Rock."
World Boxing Association champion John Ruiz of Puerto Rico, International Boxing Federation champion Chris Byrd and fellow American Lamon Brewster, the World Boxing Organization champion, are backed by King just like Rahman.
The only champion with a fight scheduled is Ruiz, who faces mandatory challenger Nicolai Valuev on December 17 at Berlin.
Should a tournament actually occur, it would likely follow the formats that led to Bernard Hopkins winning the undisputed middleweight throne in 2001 and that led to Mike Tyson first claiming the heavyweight throne in 1986.
Klitschko set for surgery, gets 90 days to reschedule Rahman fight Mon Nov 7, 5:50 PM ET
LAS VEGAS, United States (AFP) - Vitali Klitschko will have right knee surgery this week and have 90 days to reschedule his heavyweight title defence against Hasim Rahman, frustrating the challenger as well as promoter Don King.
The Baltimore Sun reported Monday that Klitschko will undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus and that the World Boxing Council agreed to a plea that allows him to remain champion despite a fourth postponement of the Rahman bout.
"I cannot really enter the ring with an injury that does not allow me to be maximum functional in a fight against such a serious fighter as Hasim Rahman," Klitschko said on his web site. "I hope that I will recover soon."
Klitschko, 35-2 with 34 knockouts, has not fought since beating Britain's Danny Williams last December. Back and thigh injuries forced delays in fights with Rahman that were planned for April 30, June 18 and July 23.
The WBC told Klitschko he must fight Rahman, who captured an interim crown in August by beating fellow American Monte Barrett, or lose the title.
"In sports like baseball, you get three strikes and you are out," Rahman manager Steve Nelson told the Sun, Rahman's hometown paper. "Now Vitali takes strike four, an opportunity he never should have gotten in the first place."
Nelson said Klitschko is afraid of Rahman and added, "What's happening is proof positive he lacks the courage, something we always knew to be the case."
A new date for the fight is expected this week. Promoter Bob Arum said pay-per-view telecaster HBO could show the event from February to April and the planned arena, the Thomas and Mack Center, has dates available in March.
The move frustrates promoter King's plans for a heavyweight tournament that would include titles held by four fighters he backs.
King claims Klitschko forfeited his crown to Rahman by postponing the fight and even announced his plans for a unification event, plans that Klitschko might yet scuttle.
"Anyone could tell that Vitali did not want to fight Rock," King said. "The moment Vitali cancelled his scheduled mandatory defense scheduled for November 12, he vacated his title and Rahman immediately assumed his crown.
Klitschko had asked for permission to fight someone other than Rahman in September but was denied in the request, forced into facing the man who made his name by knocking out Lennox Lewis before losing his crown in a rematch.
"Nobody seems to be able to make Vitali fight his mandatory defense against Rahman. He seems to prefer to give up his title rather than face Rock."
World Boxing Association champion John Ruiz of Puerto Rico, International Boxing Federation champion Chris Byrd and fellow American Lamon Brewster, the World Boxing Organization champion, are backed by King just like Rahman.
The only champion with a fight scheduled is Ruiz, who faces mandatory challenger Nicolai Valuev on December 17 at Berlin.
Should a tournament actually occur, it would likely follow the formats that led to Bernard Hopkins winning the undisputed middleweight throne in 2001 and that led to Mike Tyson first claiming the heavyweight throne in 1986.