• Heavyweight

Vitali puts off decision on future again

Dan Rafael
December 3, 2013
Vitali Klitschko has not fought since a fourth round knockout of Manuel Charr last September © Getty Images
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The wait for heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko to decide his boxing future is on hold yet again, this time for another two weeks, until December 15.

Klitschko, who is now more politician in Ukraine than heavyweight boxer, owes Bermane Stiverne (23-1-1, 20 KOs) a mandatory defence, which is way overdue.

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The purse bid for the fight has been put off multiple times and, when Klitschko said a few months ago that he had a hand injury and would be out for the rest of 2013, was then called off.

The situation was supposed to be addressed at the WBC's annual convention last month, but Klitschko was granted a delay for a decision on his plans until November 30.

But Klitschko has announced that he has been given until December 15 to make a decision on what he wants to do.

It's very clear that the WBC hasn't followed their own rules on mandatory defences and has given Klitschko unusual latitude.

The 42-year-old Klitschko (45-2, 41 KOs) hasn't fought since a fourth-round knockout of Manuel Charr in September 2012, and his mandatory was due months ago.

This article originally appeared on ESPN.com
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