HAMBURG, Germany -- Double world heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko has been given the green light to defend his WBO belt against American Tony Thompson on July 12 in Hamburg.
Doublw world champion Klitschko will defend his WBO belt against Tony Thompson on July 12.
The Ukrainian, who holds both the IBF and WBO belts, will face Thompson before taking on IBF challenger Alexander Povetkin in November.
If he beats Thompson, Klitschko is prepared to risk both titles against Russian Povetkin.
"I am looking forward to getting back in the ring in July and defending my IBF title at the end of the year," said the 32-year-old. "But Thompson isn't top of the rankings for no reason, he hasn't lost for eight years."
Thompson, 36, has 31 victories, 19 knock-outs and one defeat to make him the number-one WBO heavyweight challenger and will take on Klitschko at Hamburg's Color Line Arena.
Klitschko, with 50 professional victories and 44 knock-outs plus three defeats, unified both the WBO and IBF titles when he defeated Russian Sultan Ibragimov last February in Madison Square Garden, New York. E-mail to a friend 
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