Boxing: Klitschko Confirms Rematch With Fury In 2016

Wladimir Klitschko has exercised his option of an immediate rematch with Fury. Klitschko is not convinced that Fury can win him in a rematch and he wants to get into the ring with the world champion again.

The Ukrainian was dethroned as the unified heavyweight champion of the world last Saturday in a stunning upset.

But he will bid to reclaim his four belts next year in the return fight.  Klitchsko has promised boxing fans they will witness 'the fight of 2016' when he takes on Fury again


In a message posted on Instagram, he said: 'I have a pre-Christmas gift for Tyson Fury and all boxing fans around the world.

'I will be making use of my contractual option for a rematch against Fury.

'So to say the fight of 2016 is in the making.'

He went on to say: 'I was really frustrated directly after the fight but after some short nights I now know that I want to show that I am much better than my performance on Saturday.

'I couldn’t show my full potential at any time. This is what I want to change in the rematch – and I will. Failure is not an option.'

Klitschko's manager Bernd Boente added: 'There will be a huge worldwide interest in this fight which already can be billed as the fight of the year 2016.

'We received so many questions from fans and journalists after last Saturday. The new champion and his challenger will answer all of them inside the ring.'

Klitschko was the heavy favourite going into the fight in Dusseldorf but struggled to find his range against the 6ft 9in Fury.

All three judges scored the fight to the giant traveller even though he was deducted a point in the penultimate round for punching to the back of the head.

The rematch could also take place in Klitschko's adopted homeland although Old Trafford and Wembley are alternatives should the soon-to-be 40-year-old agree to travel to the UK.

In the immediate aftermath of his victory, Fury sad he had no problem returning to the scene of his triumph.

He said: 'I want to be a great champion and I'd like to do it again. One thing I can say about the rematch is it's going to be explosive.

'To be honest it doesn't matter to me where I fight. If you say I'm fighting in Japan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, American, wherever it has to be, it has to be.

'I'd like to come back to Germany again to fight Wladimir. I've enjoyed it. I got a great reception from the German fans. The German people really did show me some love and I just hope I entertained them.'

But although Fury won the WBO, WBA and IBF titles as well as the lightly-regarded IBO belt, he may only be able to defend three in 2016.

The IBF have already called for the 27-year-old to defend their title against Vyacheslav Glazkov with purse bids called for next week.

But Fury's promoter Mick Hennessy has said his charge will vacate the title before he faces the Ukrainian.

'They [the IBF] shouldn't be doing that and as far as I'm concerned if they want to hustle and bully Tyson into fighting Glazkov, Tyson will end up putting the belt in the bin at a major press conference,' Hennessy told ESPN.

'If they force Tyson to fight Glazkov, it will not happen. Glazkov means nothing, he has zero value.'