Former world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko announced his retirement from boxing on Thursday to scupper any hopes of a November rematch against WBA, IBO, IBF champion Anthony Joshua.

Klitschko’s last fight was in April when he was stopped by Joshua in the 11th round of their title fight in front of 90,000 at Wembley Stadium in London in a hard-fought bout in which both fighters hit the canvas.

Klitschko’s retirement dashes a mooted blockbuster rematch with Joshua possibly in Las Vegas in November.

Joshua is now most likely to fight mandatory challenger, Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev, as he chases a unifying bout against WBC champion Deontay Wilder of the US or New Zealand’s WBO champion Joseph Parker.

Pulev’s promoter, Kalle Sauerland of Sauerland Event, hopes the Joshua fight will be staged at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

There is already a tentative date of November 11 for the fight.

"What a great venue that would be for the UK fans. I have been there for football matches and it's got a great boxing past with Calzaghe-Kessler there, but if it is the venue - what a sensational venue that would be," Sauerland told Sky Sports.

"He thinks that Joshua is exactly the right style for him and if you're going to fight Anthony Joshua, now is the time to do it, not in two years. In two years, he's going to be a very complete boxer, so that is something that Kubrat is looking to interrupt and take those belts. Klitschko had that huge opportunity to put him away and ultimately should have put him away, where Kubrat will be clinical.

"The weakness that you look with Anthony at the moment is he obviously takes punches. He's open for a punch, which makes him for me one of the most exciting heavyweights of many, many years to watch as a neutral fan. It's also Kubrat's big opportunity here."