Will Vladimir Klitschko return to the ring, and who could he potentially face in a match?
News about the legendary boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko returning to the ring is increasingly appearing in the media. The main investor in the boxing world, the Arab Turki Al-Sheikh, is calling for the Ukrainian to step back into the ring. While Wladimir is mostly dismissing the idea of a comeback, he keeps the intrigue alive, emphasizing that anything is possible. The stakes are high, with tens of millions of dollars and the chance to break a notable record on the line.
Wladimir Klitschko is undoubtedly one of the greatest heavyweights in boxing history. He held the world champion title for nearly 10 years, a feat achieved by only Floyd Patterson and Joe Louis before him. From 2006 to 2015, Klitschko defended his titles 18 times, totaling 23 defenses throughout his career, second only to Joe Louis. Klitschko left boxing after suffering two consecutive defeats. However, he may return in 2025, as he previously expressed a desire to break George Foreman's record and become the oldest world champion in heavyweight boxing. In light of this, the editorial team of UNN decided to reflect on Wladimir Klitschko's sports journey and compile the pros and cons regarding the potential comeback of the Ukrainian fighter.
Klitschko - Background. Five Championships Between Them
The year 1996 was a remarkable one in Wladimir Klitschko's career. Contrary to experts' expectations, he won the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games. The relatively unknown Klitschko instantly became a star in Ukraine, with many predicting a great future for him. Without hesitation, Wladimir and his brother Vitali, who did not compete at the Olympics due to a doping scandal, turned professional. This marked the beginning of a new era for Ukrainian fighters in the heavyweight boxing scene.
Wladimir and Vitali relocated to Germany and began training at the Hamburg boxing club "Universal Box-Promotion." Early in their careers, the brothers chose colorful sporting nicknames: Wladimir became "Doctor Steelhammer," while Vitali was dubbed "Doctor Ironfist." The term "doctor" is not coincidental; the brothers earned their PhDs in pedagogy. Their boxing prowess confirmed their titles of "hammer" and "fist" in the ring.
Throughout his career, Vitali fought for the world champion title three times. In June 1999, he knocked out British fighter Herbie Hide to claim the WBO title. He secured another championship in April 2004 by defeating Corrie Sanders, this time earning the WBC title. After a four-year hiatus, the older Klitschko fought again for the same title in 2008, forcing Nigerian Samuel Peter to capitulate.
The younger brother, Wladimir, won one title less but achieved greater success in the sports arena, reigning as champion for nearly a decade and dominating his division. He claimed his first WBO title in October 2000, outpointing Chris Byrd. He then defended this belt five times, defeating tough opponents like Derrick Jefferson, Francois Botha, Olympic champion Ray Mercer, and then-rising star Jameel McCline.
Wladimir's impressive victories propelled him to global stardom. Fans eagerly anticipated his potential fight against legendary Briton Lennox Lewis. However, before facing the outstanding champion, Wladimir had to overcome South African Corrie Sanders, who was considered a clear underdog. Many predicted he would last a maximum of six rounds, but the outcome shocked everyone: Sanders brutally knocked out Wladimir in the second round, sending him to the canvas four times during the fight. Initially dismissed as a fluke, subsequent events indicated a troubling trend in Wladimir's career.
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A year later, Klitschko returned to fight for the championship. He had the opportunity to win the same WBO title but suffered another knockout defeat, this time in the fifth round to American Lamon Brewster. Following this setback, boxing analysts and fans wrote Wladimir off, claiming he was "overrated" and suggesting he should hang up his gloves. Vitali even advised him to retire, a fact he later admitted in an interview. Despite the advice and harsh criticism, Wladimir did not give up and made a comeback to reclaim his place at the top.
In 2005, he defeated Cuban Elieser Castillo and rising prospect Samuel Peter. These victories led Wladimir back to a championship match. He had the fortune to meet Chris Byrd a second time, who held the IBF title at the time. After six one-sided rounds, Wladimir finally knocked out the American in the seventh round, becoming a two-time world champion. This fight marked the beginning of Wladimir's long-term dominance in the heavyweight division, which lasted until November 2015. During this time, "Steelhammer" added the WBA and WBO titles to his IBF belt and made a total of 23 title defenses. To avoid delving into all the details of Wladimir's subsequent bouts, we decided to highlight his top five:
- W (UD) 12 Sultan Ibragimov
- W TKO 11 Tony Thompson
- W (UD) 12 Alexander Povetkin
- W (UD) 12 David Haye
- W KO 5 Kubrat Pulev
At the end of 2015, as previously noted, Wladimir suffered a shocking points loss to young British fighter Tyson Fury. Tyson neutralized Wladimir's main weapon - the left jab, earning a well-deserved victory.
In April 2017, Klitschko fought his last match to date. In front of 100,000 fans in London, he was knocked out in the 11th round by Anthony Joshua. Initially, the fight seemed to be going in the champion's favor, as Wladimir had the opportunity to knock out the Briton, sending him to the canvas in the sixth round, but he couldn't finish the job. As the fight progressed, Wladimir's energy waned, leading to his defeat. Following this loss, Wladimir Klitschko retired.
Possible Comeback of Wladimir Klitschko
Over the past six years, rumors of Klitschko's potential return have circulated multiple times in the press. However, "Steelhammer" consistently denied them. There are several reasons for the emergence of rumors about Wladimir's return; perhaps fans of the Ukrainian boxer are eager to see their champion back in the ring, prompting such "leaks," or it could be a strategy by Klitschko himself to regain media attention. Nevertheless, the ex-champion has yet to make a comeback, leaving diminishing chances for a legendary return.
However, everything changed in December 2024. Rumors resurfaced that "Steelhammer" would box again, especially following the WBC congress. The main investor in boxing, Turki Al-Sheikh, expressed a desire for Wladimir to return. After receiving the "Man of the Year" award in boxing from the WBC, Turki said:
By the word "dream," Al-Sheikh referred to breaking George Foreman's record, who became the oldest world champion in heavyweight boxing at the age of 45. It's worth noting that Wladimir is currently 48.
Wladimir responded to the top promoter's comments:
"Records are meant to be broken and new ones set. Today, I don't know what tomorrow holds, as my brother does. But I will continue to keep myself in good shape."
Members of "Steelhammer's" team also fueled the comeback rumors. Coaches, managers, and promoters echoed a similar sentiment, saying they were "not against such a return." Finally, just a few days ago, Wladimir made another statement regarding a potential return to the ring, responding briefly: "I'm not interested." But does this response put an end to the speculation? Probably not.
Reasons Wladimir Klitschko Might Return to the Ring
Money. As practical as it may sound, money could be Wladimir's main motivation. Throughout his career, he earned a significant amount, with fights bringing him between 5 to 15 million dollars. However, these figures pale in comparison to what Turki Al-Sheikh could offer. If the investor paid 50, 80, or even 100 million to Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Alexander Usyk, Wladimir can certainly expect to earn at least the same. For instance, 70 million for a single fight is almost equivalent to the total amount earned by the younger