If the Ukrainian returns, he will write another page in boxing history
Vladimir and Vitali Klitschko. Photo – Getty Images
The possible return to the ring of former heavyweight world champion Vladimir Klitschko (64-5, 54 KO) is the main boxing intrigue of 2025. The main motivation of the Ukrainian is to surpass the record of George Foreman, who won the title at 45 years old, becoming the oldest world champion in the history of the heavyweight division. If the legend of Ukrainian boxing resumes his professional career, he will write another page in the history of boxing: none of the top heavyweights resumed their careers at such an age, two took a long break.
Background
In early December, the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia, Turki Al ash-Sheikh, expressed a desire to organize a potential fight between the Ukrainian and Tyson Fury. Turki subsequently suggested that Vladimir fight either Fury or the winner of the Dubois-Joseph Parker fight.
In January, The Ring magazine, owned by the same Al ash-Sheikh, reported that Vladimir was seriously considering the option of returning to the ring in 2025. The Ukrainian's opponent has not been named, nor has the date of the fight. Nevertheless, Klitschko himself has both the desire and motivation to return to boxing after a long break.
Initially, Vladimir Klitschko considered the idea of resuming his career and fighting IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois. The date for a potential fight between 48-year-old Vladimir and 27-year-old Daniel was named as February 22, 2025, and the venue was Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Who and how returned
Among the top fighters of the Royal Division, George Foreman is beyond competition. He missed the most and won the title later than anyone else. But there is one important nuance: Big George was not yet 40 years old when he returned, Vladimir will turn 49 in March.
It should be noted that of the top 30 heavyweight boxers in history (we used Boxrec's rankings as a basis), only two boxers returned to the ring after 40 – Max Schmeling (who missed 8 years due to World War II) and Larry Holmes. The first never got another title fight, the second lost his.
The people who needed the least time to get a title fight were Mike Tyson, who won the championship belt in his third fight after leaving prison, and Vitali Klitschko, who went on a break as a super champion and returned the full belt in his first fight after the break.
| Boxer | Break | Age at time of return | Which fight became the title fight? |
| George Foreman | 9 years, 11 months, 20 days | 38 years, 1 month, 27 days | 25 (lost) |
| Max Schmeling | 8 years, 2 months, 26 days | 42 year | There was no |
| Riddick Bowe | 7 years, 9 months, 11 days | 37 years, 1 month, 15 days | There was no |
| Vladimir Klitschko | 7 years, 9 months, 7 days | 48 years, 10 months, 11 days | ? |
| Mike Tyson | 4 years, 1 month, 21 days | 29 years, 1 month, 20 days | 3 (won) |
| Larry Holmes | 3 years, 2 months, 16 days | 41 years, 5 months, 4 days | 7 (lost) |
| Vitali Klitschko | 3 years, 10 months | 37 years, 2 months, 22 days | 1 (won) |
| Muhammad Ali | 3 years, 7 months, 4 days | 28 years, 9 months, 9 days | 3 (lost) |
| Tyson Fury | 2 years, 6 months, 12 days | 29 years, 9 months, 28 days | 3 (draw) |