Boxing: Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua confirmed

Omnisports

November 1, 2016 3:06 AM

Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua will fight for vacant WBA world heavyweight title next year â“ providing the Briton retains his IBF belt v Eric Molina.

Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua will fight for the vacant WBA world heavyweightÂ title in 2017 â“ providing the latter retains his IBF belt against EricÂ Molina next month.

The pair had been scheduled to face each other on December 10, the date on which Joshua will take on Molina, but that bout failed to materialiseÂ and it was never made clear if the WBA title would have been on the line.

But the WBA confirmed on Wednesday that theÂ duo have been cleared to fight in the first half of next year.

Tyson Fury vacated the WBA and WBO titles he claimed by defeatingÂ Klitschko a year ago after deciding to take time out of the sport to deal withÂ mental health issues.

He had already been stripped of theÂ IBF honour, having opted for a rematch withÂ Klitschko ahead of taking on the IBF's mandatory challenger.

Joshua, who is unbeaten in 17 fights, andÂ KlitschkoÂ have both won Olympic gold medals.

The 27-year-old Briton is overwhelmingly fancied to defeat American Molina â“Â who lost to Deontay Wilder when fighting for the WBC title in 2015 â“Â in Manchester.

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