The boxing rumour mill has gone into overdrive in the past twenty-four hours, with reports suggesting that heavyweight legend Wladimir Klitschko will make a shock return to the sport to face British contender Dillian Whyte in April.
Klitschko, who ruled over the division for over a decade in a period of almost unrivalled success, was last seen in the ring in April 2017 – coming up short via eleventh round TKO in his heavyweight epic with now-unified champion Anthony Joshua.
However, in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, renowned boxing journalist Steve Bunce claimed that the Ukrainian icon is set for a stunning comeback at Wembley Stadium – the scene of his last defeat – and will take on a British heavyweight that “is not Tyson Fury and not Anthony Joshua”.
“I’m hearing all sorts of stuff about a fight that might be… can I drop it?” asked Bunce tentatively.
“Wladimir Klitschko’s coming back. He’s gonna fight again and I’m hearing him linked with a big British heavyweight.” he continued.
“It’s not Fury and it’s not Joshua, and I’m hearing that could be the fight that we see there [April 13 at Wembley].”
Last year we saw @Tyson_Fury successfully return to the ring.@bigdaddybunce has news of another former heavyweight World Champion potentially plotting his comeback!
Download the Costello and Bunce 2019 preview Podcast @BBCSounds 👇
📲 https://t.co/TUtgjgHGEwpic.twitter.com/5yUUmNj3IA
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) January 10, 2019
While April 13th had long been slated as the date for Anthony Joshua to return to the ring, reports suggest that the WBA/WBO/IBF champion could now make his American debut against unbeaten Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller at Madison Square Garden in May – leaving Wembley Stadium free for a potential Whyte-Klitschko bout.
Though many had expected Whyte himself to be at the front of the pecking order for a shot at Joshua, the Brixton man recently vented his frustrations at a perceived lack of movement for a potential match-up, and stated he would be forced to look at other opponents should the delay continue.
With rumours surrounding Klitschko’s return picking up pace in recent months, and WBC World heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder widely expected to face Tyson Fury in a rematch of their December epic, Whyte may once again find himself without a clear pathway to a World title challenge.
While a bout against what would be a 43-year-old Wladimir Klitschko would offer Whyte little in the way of ranking points or an aid to his World title aspirations, the opportunity to headline a pay-per-view show at Wembley Stadium would be a lucrative opportunity that would be difficult to turn down.
The heavyweight rumour mill is in full swing…