Rod Stewart is to set the stage for Tyson Fury’s world heavyweight title challenge to Wladimir Klitschko with a spectacular performance in the hour before the fight.

Stewart’s act will warm up the 55,000 crowd in Dusseldorf’s Esprit football stadium on October 24 and be broadcast to more than 100 million television viewers in 150 countries around the world.

This is the most extravagant fusion yet of pop music with big-time boxing. The veteran Scottish superstar will use the occasion to launch his new album, Another Country.

Rod Stewart is to set the stage for Tyson Fury’s world heavyweight title challenge to Wladimir Klitschko

Fury will hope that Stewart's set will inspire him to victory at Dusseldorf’s Esprit football stadium in October

He said: ‘I’m excited and honoured to be part of this event.’

Rock icon Stewart, who is married to model Penny Lancaster, will hope his performance helps to generate sales of his new album, which will be released the day before the prize fight.

Klitschko is relishing the chance to take to the ring after the British rock singer-songwriter has performed his set, and the Ukrainian confessed his appreciation for the 70-year-old's music repertoire.

The reigning Heavyweight World Champion added: ‘I’m a big fan of Rod Stewart. He is mega and this is awesome.’

Klitschko defeated Bryant Jennings in May to retain his heavyweight titles, taking his record to 64-3

Stewart will hope to have his wife Penny Lancaster ringside for the fusion of pop music and big-time boxing

Fury will be desperate to hit all the right notes in Germany and vowed last month to defeat his long-standing heavyweight king, with his main concern on the night being the performance of the referee and not his opponent.

He said: 'The only thing I have to be careful of here is the referee with holding and all that sort of stuff.

'Every time we get in close he says 'break' and starts warning me and taking points off, that's one thing to be careful of.