The legendary Ukrainian boxer commented on rumors about a possible resumption of his professional career.
Former world heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko spoke about his possible return to professional boxing.
According to the legendary Ukrainian boxer, he remains motivated to break the record of American George Foreman, who remains the oldest world heavyweight champion in boxing history.
However, right now, 48-year-old Klitschko Jr. is not considering the option of returning to the ring, as he has other challenges in life. First of all, they are related to ending the war in Ukraine.
Answering a question about a possible return to the ring, Vladimir Klitschko made a reference to a meme statement by his brother, the mayor of Kyiv and former world boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, regarding tomorrow. “And today, not everyone can look at tomorrow. Or rather, not only everyone can look, only a few can do it,” Klitschko Sr. once said.
“Returning to sport, I've been there for almost 30 years – I don't see returning to sport. What do I see? It's a good feeling to be in good shape. For me, the so-called last dance is very interesting. It may make sense. If you ask me if I exclude the possibility of the last dance – it would be wrong, because I can still do it. How long this “I can” will last – I don't know. A month, six, a year or three – I don't know yet. Health is such a complicated thing – here it is, here it is not.
There was a lot of criticism towards Mike Tyson when he entered the ring at 58. Entered the ring, albeit against a 26-year-old YouTuber. Who could be in such good shape to hold on and almost have a chance to win at 58 years old. Well, that's something. That's why records are made to be broken and set new ones. I don't know today. And I can't look into tomorrow like my brother. But I will continue to stay in good shape. There will be time, there will be an opportunity, a desire to set a new record after George Foreman and to overcome it. Is it attractive to me? Well, let's say so – yes. Will it be done? In 2024 it will not be done. That's a fact.
Do you miss big boxing? No. I'm fed up with sports. It's a very, very difficult job. It hurts mentally and physically. Sports limit you in life. You are limited as an athlete. No, I don't want to return to sports. I can, as they say, last dance, but there will be no return to sports. It's already in the past. I have new challenges in life. First, to end this war, because it stops us Ukrainians in everything we do. There will be life after the war, if there is, we hope that there will be, we are working on it so that there will be – we know that there will be. Now the world is watching us defend ourselves, and then the world will watch us build our country,” Klitschko said in an interview with the Bombardier YouTube channel.
Note that Foreman won the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles at the age of 45 years and 9 months. So if Vladimir Klitschko can win at least one of the belts again, he will become the oldest heavyweight world champion in boxing history.
Recall that Klitschko Jr. ended his career in 2017 after a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua. Before that, in 2015, he lost by unanimous decision to Tyson Fury and lost his IBF, IBO, WBO and WBA championship belts.
In the professional ring, Vladimir had 69 fights, winning 64 victories (54 by knockout) and suffered 5 defeats. He held the WBO (2000-2003, 2008-2015), IBF (2006-2015), IBO (2006-2015) and WBA (2011-2015) heavyweight championship belts.
