After Hall of Fame boxing careers, Vitali Klitschko and Wladimir Klitschko are again on the world stage, united in Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion.
FILE -In this Feb 19, 2012 file picture WBC heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine, right, celebrates with his brother Wladimir , left, and coach Fritz Sdunek after winning the WBC heavyweight title bout against Dereck Chisora of Britain in Munich, Germany. Both won several world heavyweight boxing championships, known for smooth footwork and fierce jabs. One never faced a knockdown in the ring. The other was undefeated for a decade.
On Friday, volunteer fighters patrolled the streets of Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Ukrainians to stand up and defend their country. The message came as Russian airstrikes began to bombard the capital city. Vitali Klitschko, 50, who since his retirement from boxing in 2013 has served as mayor of Kyiv, said in an interview on ITV’s “Good Morning Britain” that he would stay and fight.
At 6-feet-7 and 250 pounds, Vitali, with a boxing record of 45-2 that includes 41 knockouts, won the 2014 Kyiv mayoral contest and has served in the position since. It’s the same year Russia invaded eastern Ukraine and annexed Crimea. Tom Loeffler, who runs the Klitschko brothers’ company, K2 Promotions, said he talked with Wladimir on Thursday. The former fighter, who retired in 2017 with a 64-5 professional record, was hunkered down in Kyiv and ready to resist the invasion from Russian forces, Loeffler said.
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