Heavyweight legend Wladimir Klitschko is ready to come out of retirement to fight Tyson Fury in 2025 in one of the biggest rematches in boxing history.
‘Dr Steel Hammer’ and his brother Vitali dominated the sport for over a decade with Wladimir still holding the record for longest reign as heavyweight champion in history at 4,382 days.
That era of dominance came to an end in 2015 with Fury beating Klitschko to take his world titles. Two years later, the Ukrainian lost to Anthony Joshua in an all-time classic at Wembley before retiring from the sport.
Reports last week claimed Klitschko was giving serious consideration to returning to the sport to mount one last title challenge, aiming to become the oldest heavyweight champion in boxing history.
That record is currently held by George Foreman, who returned to the ring to knock out Michael Moorer aged 46 in 1994, over 20 years on from his first title triumph.
Fury and Oleksandr Usyk meet in their world title rematch on 21 December in Saudi Arabia with ‘The Gypsy King’ eager for a trilogy to follow.
Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi Royal adviser and boxing’s new power broker bringing the biggest fights to the region, has now teased the possibility of Klitschko returning for a ‘dream rematch’ against Fury.
‘The result of Fury vs Usyk, there are a lot of people waiting for,’ Alalshikh told the Ariel Helwani Show.
‘One is Dubois, there is also Joshua. At the same time there is a third person. I am dreaming to see this fight.
‘To give the chance, if he accepts, Klitschko to get back and have the chance to be the oldest heavyweight champion in history. To give him the chance. This is perfect.
‘He will not fight Usyk if he wins, to heroes form Ukraine will not fight each other. The rematch [against Fury] is the dream. Fury has a lot of people who want him now but this is the dream. Fury vs Klitschko is what people want to see from 2015 again. There is also Joshua [vs Fury], of course Dubois deserves this chance as well. Let’s see.’
Last week, it was reported Klitschko was ready to come out of retirement to fight Dubois for his IBF title in February. Despite talks taking place, nothing materialised with the Londoner now set to defend his title against Joseph Parker on a spectacular card in February.