Wladimir Klitschko has been forced out of Saturday's heavyweight title defence against Jean-Marc Mormeck.
Heavyweight champion withdraws from Mormeck fight
Wladimir Klitschko has been forced out of Saturday's heavyweight title defence against Jean-Marc Mormeck.
The WBA, WBO and IBF champion had a kidney stone removed at the weekend but it was initially hoped he would be okay to fight.
However, he was reported to be in 'extreme pain' on Monday and in no shape to go through with the fight in Dusseldorf.
"It would not have been responsible to fight this weekend. Such an operation needs rest," said Klitschko's doctor, Peter Albertz.
"Mr Klitschko is no longer suffering for the moment but he is very weakened by the interventions and must take antibiotics and pain-killers until Wednesday."
Klitschko was scheduled to take part in his 20th world title fight against the Frenchman, who has had just three fights at heavyweight since losing his world cruiserweight titles to David Haye in 2007.
The fight could be re-made for March 3, as that is the nominal date for Klitschko to fight a mandatory challenger under IBF rules, while Mormeck is hoping to schedule a warm-up in the interim.
"Wladimir is very disappointed about this cancellation," reported promoter Bernd Boente. "Wladimir is crushed and ruined as he did everything he could to give a show to his loyal, beloved fans.
"But the pain is too much to overcome at this moment. We have no other choice but to cancel the event."
