WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO’s stunning plans to return to the ring have been scuppered by Mike Tyson, it’s been claimed.
The former unified heavyweight champion retired from boxing in August 2017, four months after suffering an 11th-round KO loss in a classicWembley war with Anthony Joshua.
Rumours of a shock ring return, however, have swirled over the last few years.
And this week it was claimed the Ukrainian was plotting to lace up his gloves again next year at the ripe old age of 48.
According to The Daily Mail, he recently entered negotiations to fight IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in a shock showdown.
They claim Team Klitschko threw their hat into the ring to be Dubois’ next opponent following his September slaying of Joshua at Wembley.
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But talks are said to have been scrapped in the wake of former undisputed heavyweight champion Tyson’s display in his ring return against Jake Paul earlier this month.
Tyson looked every bit his 58 years and landed very little in his eight-rounder with the YouTuber.
And the beloved American, who hadn’t fought professionally in over 19 years, was at times seemingly carried by the crossover star.
Tyson’s performance would have served as a stark warning to any ageing legend considering a comeback, Klitschko included.
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Dubois and his team are said to have rebuffed the possibility of welcoming Klitschko back to the ring.
The Greenwich gladiator’s next fight looked set to be a rematch with former two-unified heavyweight champion Joshua, who he knocked out in the fifth round of their domestic dust-up.
February 22 was the targeted date for the proposed rematch before AJ was convinced by his team to rest and recover from niggling injuries.
Dubois, however, is still being lined up to compete on that date.
According to reports, his second defence of the IBF strap is set to come against the in-form Joseph Parker.
Former WBO titleholder Parker has rattled off five straight wins since being brutally stopped by Joe Joyce in September 2022.
The Kiwi killer has scored upset victories over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang in his resurgence, the first of which scuppered a two-fight series between ‘The Bronze Bomber’ and Joshua.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
