Tyson Fury threatens to pull out of fight with Wladimir Klitschko over canvas - but fight will go ahead

Dispute over the canvas has been resolved

(Getty Images)

British heavyweight Tyson Fury threatened to pull out of his world title bout with Wladimir Klitschko but the fight will go ahead after a row over the canvas was resolved.

According to his agent, Asif Vali, the canvas in the ring in Dusseldorf was too soft - Fury complained to the British Boxing Board of Control and the commissioner of the fight.

"If it's not resolved, the fight is in jeopardy of being off," Vali had earlier told BBC Sport.

Two hours later foam under the canvas was removed and the bout was confirmed as going ahead.

"It's on after two hours, it's fight time," Vali then tweeted.

Fury and Klitschko are scheduled to fight at around 10pm GMT.

Vali had earlier said: "The foam underlay is too soft. It's five inches thick, which doesn't help a big lad going into a ring.

"We've never seen canvas like this before. It's too much from a health and safety point of view, because he can easily do his ankle.''

Massive health & safety issues fights in jeopardy with the foam and canvas here in Dusseldorf @SkyNews pic.twitter.com/nn12akn4Xz

— Asif Vali (@asifvali) November 28, 2015

The Independent's Steve Bunce told Radio 5 live: "It has turned nasty and sour.

"There is some concern inside the Fury camp. They went to the ring and apparently it's like standing on a mattress. They say the Klitschko camp have inserted three layers of foam under the canvas - it's like walking through quicksand.

"I believe they've done this because they will have seen a lot of footage of Fury being incredibly mobile, and of course his plan tonight will be to be very mobile and make Klitschko chase him.

"At the moment an impasse has been reached and they are in negotiations. The promoters are arguing it out. This is quite a serious problem, because it absolutely nullifies most of what Tyson Fury has prepared for."