Vitali Klitschko

Dr. Vitali Vladimirovich Klitschko (born July 19, 1971), known as "Dr. Iron Fist", is the current WBC heavyweight boxing champion of the world. He is 6'7.5" (201.93 cm.) tall, and was born in Belovodsk, Kyrgyzstan, in the former Soviet Union. His younger brother, Wladimir Klitschko, is also a top heavyweight contender. Their father was a Soviet Air Force Colonel, and their ethnicity is Ukrainian.

Biography

Originally a professional kickboxer, Vitali was also a boxer and won the Super Heavyweight Championship at the first World Military Games in Italy in 1995. He began his professional boxing career in 1996, winning his first 24 fights by either early knockout or technical-knockout (TKO). He and Wladimir were hot prospects, and had signed with the German athlete-promotion company Universum. After moving to Germany and Universum, their charismatic, refined (each holds a Ph.D.) and articulate (they are multilingual) personalities made for mainstream marketability; in time, they became national celebrities in their adopted home country. In his 25th pro fight, on June 26,1999, Klitschko won the World Boxing Organization Heavyweight Championship from Herbie Hide (of Great Britain) via 2nd-round knockout. He defended the title twice before losing it on April 1, 2000 to American Chris Byrd; complaining of intense shoulder pain, Vitali and his corner decided not to continue the fight after Round Nine. Ironically, Vitali was ahead on all 3 judges' scorecards (89-82, and 88-83 twice), but the way he ended this match brought international criticism, plus a reputation as a quitter - which earned him the nickname by some of "Quitschko". He had surgery to repair the rotator cuff torn during the bout. In Byrd's next fight he was dethroned by Wladimir (and knocked down in Rounds 9 and 11), avenging his elder brother.

Related Topics:
Kickboxer - World Military Games - Italy - 1995 - 1996 - TKO - Universum - World Boxing Organization - Herbie Hide - Knockout - Chris Byrd

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Though saddled with this new reputation, Vitali continued to fight his way up the ladder of contenders. On June 21, 2003, he fought Lennox Lewis for his WBC world Heavyweight Championship in Los Angeles. For the first two rounds, Vitali dominated the fight against Lewis (who seemed out of shape, unfocused, and tired). In Round Three, Lewis landed a grazing 1-2 combo that caused a horrendous cut over Klitschko's left eye. The next 3 rounds were give and take; after Round Six, all 3 judges' scorecards read 58-56 in favor of Klitschko. Before Round Seven, the ringside doctor inspected the cut and thought it severe enough to threaten eye damage if hit again. He stopped the fight, despite Klitschko's pleas to continue it (he wanted to beat Lewis in the ring). In a cruel twist of fate, California's boxing regulations stated that the winner had to be the opponent who was medically approved to continue -- in this case, Lewis. Though he had lost on a technicality, he gained international respect for essentially outboxing the consensus World Heavyweight Champion. Afterward, it was revealed that Vitali had an internal injury as well, but fought on anyway; this redeemed him in most fans' eyes, and many no longer thought he was a quitter. On December 6, 2003, Vitali returned to the ring against Canadian Kirk Johnson (in Madison Square Garden) and knocked him out in the 2nd round, reclaiming his place as the WBC's number-one contender. Around this time, the Klitschkos moved from Berlin to L.A. The western U.S.'s premium training facilities were now nearby, and they could boost their profiles by mixing socially with boxing insiders. In January 2004, they notified Universum that they would not re-sign when their contracts expired in April. Universum sued the brothers, arguing that their recent injuries had triggered a clause binding them beyond April. The suit was resolved in late 2004.

Related Topics:
June 21 - 2003 - Lennox Lewis - WBC - Los Angeles - California - December 6 - Kirk Johnson

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Klitschko earned an 8th-round TKO victory over South African Corrie Sanders on April 24, 2004, to capture the World Boxing Council world Heavyweight Championship (which Lewis had vacated two months earlier, via retirement), in Los Angeles. Sanders had soundly knocked-out (2nd Round) younger brother Wladimir on March 8, 2003 for the WBO Title; despite the bout with Vitali being for a world title, few recognized Sanders as a legitimate contender for the crown prior to the bout with Wladimir (who himself had been regarded as a top contender). Klitschko was rocked early by the powerful Sanders, but by using movement and strong punching he broke down Sanders and forced the referee to stop the bout. In a sport flooded with under-educated competitors, the former Soviet became the first world champion with a post-graduate degree (in sports medicine).

Related Topics:
Corrie Sanders - April 24 - 2004 - World Boxing Council - Los Angeles - March 8

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Vitali Klitschko's first world title defense was against low-level British contender Danny Williams (who had become marketable overnight from a surprise K.O. of "Iron" Mike Tyson). Klitschko TKO'd Williams in 8 rounds on December 11, 2004 while wearing an orange cloth to show support for the Ukrainian opposition. Klitschko easily threw a large amount of punches throughout the fight, knocking Williams down in the 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 8th rounds before the fight was mercifully stopped. Immediately afterwards, Klitschko dedicated his victory to democracy in his native Ukraine, and also to the Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko, whom he supported in the December 26, 2004 election revote.

Related Topics:
Danny Williams - "Iron" Mike Tyson - Democracy - Ukraine - Viktor Yushchenko - December 26 - 2004 - Election revote

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Klitschko was then ordered to next face the winner of a bout between Monte Barrett and former WBC / IBF world Heavyweight Champion Hasim Rahman, scheduled for August 13, 2005. Klitschko was supposed to defend against Rahman early in 2005, but suffered back-to-back training injuries (culminating in Spring back surgery). The Rahman-Barrett winner would be considered the WBC's "Interim" Champion (i.e., he will hold the title until Klitschko returns from rehab; then the two must fight each other). Vitali would be stripped of his title if his first fight back was against anyone else, or if he was not ready to fight by the WBC's deadline.

Related Topics:
Hasim Rahman - August 13 - 2005

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hasim Rahman ended up defeating Barrett in what many saw as a lackadaisical effort, as both men were friends and so neither was aggressive. Rahman did enough to earn the 12-round unanimous decision however, and thus will face Klitschko for the WBC Heavywieght Championship on November 12, 2005 in Las Vegas.

Related Topics:
November - 12 - 2005 - Las Vegas

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~