Wladimir Klitschko says he's taking Tyson Fury to court to preserve title rematch

The on-again, off-again rematch between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko doesn't have a date once more.

Shortly after the Brit shocked the longtime lineal heavyweight champion to wrest the belt in November, Klitschko exercised the rematch clause in the contract to ensure a return bout. They were set to meet July 9 in Manchester on HBO, but Fury withdrew from the bout on June 24 citing an ankle injury.

A rescheduled date of Oct. 29 was bandied around by Team Fury, but that looks to be out not as well.

"Unfortunately, Team Fury is trying to change the terms of already signed contract multiple times, and it is going on endlessly," Klitschko said Wednesday in a video posted to his verified Twitter account. "To protect my own rights, and eventually see the rematch, I am forced to go to court."

Fury hadn't responded to a request for comment at this time.

Rematch clauses are typical in contracts for title bouts that are voluntary defenses. Klitschko's longtime manager, Bernd Boente, pointed out to Boxing News that press conferences were already held to promote the rematch before Fury pulled out in June.

"Now Team Fury wants to change many parts of the contract, important parts, financial conditions etc, etc. and now I think we have to make sure that we implement our rights and so we have to go to court in Germany because the contract is under German jurisdiction," said Boente. "We have enforced our rights, and that is what we will do now."

There is precedence for enforcing rematch clauses in court. Lennox Lewis was the lineal heavyweight champion when he was upset by Hasim Rahman in 2001. When Rahman tried to have an interim fight first, Lewis sued - and won - when a federal court ruled that the champ couldn't fight anyone but Lewis for 18 months.

Lewis knocked Rahman out and reclaimed the belt. Now, Klitschko will try to follow in Lewis' footsteps both in court and in the ring.

(Photo by PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images)