The boxing world is waiting: Klitschko considers return

3 February 13:24

Former world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko is seriously considering a return to professional boxing in 2025. This was reported by Komersant ukrainskyi with reference to The Ring.

The legendary Ukrainian boxer, who will turn 49 on March 25, may enter the ring after a seven-year break for a high-profile fight.

Klitschko on the verge of a historic comeback

According to The Ring, Klitschko is almost fully committed to a comeback. He last boxed in April 2017, when he was defeated by British boxer Anthony Joshua in a dramatic fight at Wembley Stadium in London. That fight became one of the most exciting in modern boxing and was recognized as the “Fight of the Year” by The Ring.

It is currently unknown who will be Klitschko’s opponent in his potential comeback.

Turki Alalshih, the Riyadh-based season manager and owner of The Ring, asked Klitschko about his plans to return to the ring during the WBC’s annual congress in Hamburg in December. Klitschko has not commented publicly on his plans, other than to strongly support Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Also last December, during an interview with the Ariel X Ade Show, Alalshikh expressed his “dream” of Klitschko returning to the ring and trying to become the oldest fighter in boxing history to win the heavyweight title.

Will Klitschko become the oldest heavyweight champion?

One of the main motivations for Klitschko’s return may be an attempt to break George Foreman’s record. It should be noted that in 2022, Wladimir said he could return to the ring to become the oldest heavyweight champion in history.

In 1994, Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion in the world, winning the title at the age of 45. If the Ukrainian returns and wins the title, he will surpass this record and make history.

“It is my dream to see Wladimir back in the ring. He won’t fight Oleksandr Usyk if he beats Tyson Fury, because they are both Ukrainians,” Alalshikh said.

The road to return: titles, fame and defeat by Fury

Volodymyr started boxing at the age of 13.

In a short time, he achieved significant success: at the age of 17, he won the title of European junior champion, became the champion of Ukraine five times, won a gold medal at the First World Military Games in Italy in 1995, and became a silver medalist at the European Championships in 1996.

Wladimir Klitschko’s greatest achievement in the amateur ring was a gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. He was awarded the Order of Courage for this victory at home.

Klitschko was a multiple heavyweight world champion according to the IBF, WBO, WBA and IBO.

During his career, Klitschko became world champion twice and held the IBF belt for over 9 years.

In 2015, he sensationally lost to Tyson Fury, after which he planned a rematch, but the Briton temporarily retired from the sport. Instead, Klitschko took to the ring against Anthony Joshua, but failed to win.

“Dr. Steel Hammer,” as he was nicknamed, won 64 fights and lost five in his career.

Остафійчук Ярослав
Editor