Vitali Klitschko comeback bout postponed

Last Updated: Monday, September 10, 2007 | 9:08 AM ET

CBC Sports

Vitali Klitschko's comeback will have to wait after the former heavyweight boxing champion underwent an emergency back operation.

Klitschko, 36, suffered injuries to his back on Saturday while preparing for a Sept. 22 bout against Jameel McCline of the United States.

"Instead of training, I ended up in a hospital," Klitschko told RTL television in Germany on Monday.

Klitschko will be unable to train for six weeks.

"I feel good now and I have no pain. I have the feeling I could start training again in a day or two but the doctor told me not to overdo it," Klitschko said.

Klitschko (35-2, 34 knockouts) last fought in December 2004 when he stopped Britain's Danny Williams in the eighth round.

He was preparing to defend his World Boxing Council heavyweight belt a year later against American Hasim Rahman when he made a surprising retirement announcement. A series of injuries, most notably to his knee, had delayed the bout.

Klitschko engaged in a memorable brawl against former champion Lennox Lewis in June 2003, losing after the sixth round due to bad cuts around his eyes.

After Lewis retired, Klitschko beat Canadian Kirk Johnson and Corrie Sanders of South Africa to earn recognition as the top heavyweight.

Klitschko's younger brother, Wladimir, currently holds the International Boxing Federation heavyweight title.