Ukrainian boxing champions are impressive. Not only because of his sports successes, but also his commitment to defend the homeland attacked by Russia. The former champions Vitalij and his younger brother, Vladimir Klitschko, and Oleksandr Usyk, the current world heavyweight champion, who joined the Ukrainian Territorial Defense, are currently in Kiev.
The greatest admiration is aroused by Vitaliy, the mayor of Kiev, whose heroism impressed the world. It is largely due to the father of Kliczków, Vladimir, who was a colonel in the Soviet army. He instilled in his sons courage and dedication, which first helped them compete in the ring, and today helps in the fight against the Russian army.
Vitaly was born in 1971 in Belovodskoye, a small village in northern Kyrgyzstan. The father’s work, which was thrown all over the USSR, gave the family new places to live. It was a difficult lesson for his sons, who had just met their friends at school and had to get used to their new surroundings. They only had each other and they were very close. Today they defend Kiev together, where they settled permanently in 1984.
Boxing legends
Sport aroused the Kliczko brothers’ curiosity about the world. It was thanks to him that they could go abroad and get to know the taste of a better life. They started their professional career in Hamburg. Vitaliy Klitschko fought 47 professional fights. He won 45, of which 41 by knockout. He only lost twice. Together with Vladimir (his balance: 69 fights – 64 wins – 53 by knockout – 5 defeats) they dominated the heavyweight division. Vladimir was the champion of the IBF, WBO, IBO federations and the WBA super champion. Vitaly ruled in the WBO and WBC federations. These are true boxing legends.
Several times they received lucrative offers of fights among themselves. Each time they refused. In 2011, Witalij defeated Tomasz Adamek in the tenth round at the newly opened Stadium in Wrocław. He ended his boxing career in 2013.
While still an active boxer, Vitaly became involved in politics. In 2004, during a fight with Danny Williams, he appeared in shorts with an orange headscarf, and his associates wore orange hats. In the “Orange Revolution” he supported Yulia Tymoshenko and Victoria Yushchenko. Two years later, he ran for the position of mayor of Kiev for the first time. He won 23 percent. votes, taking second place.
A hero from Maidan
Instead, he became a councilor of the Kiev City Council. And although he only came third in the next elections for the mayor of the city (18 percent of the vote), he did not get discouraged. He founded the Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform (UDAR, or Cios) party. In 2012, his party entered the national parliament as the third force, and Klitschko became a deputy.
Klitschko became famous for his heroism on the Maidan in 2014. Until today, Ukraine remembers the photos in which the boxer stands face to face with the armed forces of Berkut, a specialized unit of the Ukrainian militia.
Klitschko then went to talk to a group of tituszek. They were young men, brought to Kiev by the Ukrainian authorities to start fights on the Maidan, very aggressive. It was then that he became a hero of a free Ukraine for the first time. In May 2014, he ran for the office of mayor of Kiev for the third time – this time with success. – I understand ordinary people, because my life was not easy either. I want to share my success a bit, he said when he entered politics.
Former comedian and former boxing champion
Klitschko rules the capital of Ukraine to this day. Also from the trenches. He took a gun in his hand, he is fighting with Russia. He is one of the most expressive characters on the Ukrainian side. Commentators note that the greatest charisma in this war were the actor and showman, and today the president of Ukraine, Volodymir Zelensky, and the former boxer Vitaly Klitschko. They both decided to stay in the center of the events, they did not leave the capital.
Klitschko may have evacuated to an elegant beach house in Florida a long time ago. It is estimated that he earned tens of millions of dollars in the ring. However, he has not left the people of Kiev, he cheers them up by giving fantastic speeches. Recently, he also recorded a touching statement to Russians and Belarusians. – I am addressing the Russians and Belarusians. You go to work every day and thereby help your army to kill us, your, as you say, brothers. Stay with your family at home. We cannot do that. Stay at home for us, said Kliczko.
– The armed forces of Ukraine heroically defend our country. We in Kiev ensure the functioning of the capital’s critical infrastructure. The city is protected. Perseverance and determination. Oneness and a cool mind! This is the only way we will survive! Glory to Ukraine! Nobody will win this senseless war, the Klitschko brothers said in a statement on Thursday a few hours after the Russians launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
– There is no other option than to take up arms and fight Russia. The people of Kiev have weapons and have become soldiers ready to defend our city, which is in danger of being taken over by Russia. I believe in Ukraine, in my country, in my nation and that we will stop the invasion, ‘assured Klitschko.
The mayor of Kiev also spoke harshly about Vladimir Putin, who is responsible for this tragedy of the Ukrainian nation. – He completely lost his sense of reality after starting the bloody war. I thank the West for supporting Ukraine –
Exceptional
The Kliczko brothers stand out in the community not only with their skills, but also with education. They both have a doctorate – Vitaliy in sports science at the University of Kiev, and Vladimir in sports methodology at the university in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Colleagues from the ring recalled years later how they both read their books between trainings. The brothers are also involved in charity campaigns in Ukraine and finance sports scholarships for children from poor families. They use their name recognition, money and charisma in the best possible way.
Source: Sport
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
