Klitschko faces long wait

The cut may restrict Klitschko from fighting this year

An American plastic surgeon believes Vitali Klitschko will need six months away from the ring to allow his cuts to heal.

The Ukrainian was not allowed to continue after six rounds of his WBC heavyweight title fight with Lennox Lewis after suffering a severe laceration around his left eye.

Klitschko was ahead on all three judges' scorecards at the time of the stoppage and has pleaded for a rematch.

The earliest a rematch could be staged by the HBO pay-TV channel is 6 December.

If Klitschko is forced to spend six months out of the ring, the December date would have to be scrapped.

The 31-year-old's management team have also promised to review video footage of the fight to see whether the cut was caused by a punch or a butt.

"We're going to examine the video footage and if we detect anything irregular on the part of the ringside doctor we will lodge an appeal," said a spokesman for the fighter.

Klitschko's ringside cuts man Joe Souza said his boxer could have carried on despite advice to the contrary by ringside doctor Paul Wallace.

"It was serious but I had it under control," said Souza. "The cut wasn't dangerous and Vitali could see alright."