Klitschko: biography, personal life, career

For many years in professional boxing in the heavyweight division unconditionally dominated boxers from the United States, no one even close to admitting to the championship belt. However, the Klitschko brothers have broken this tradition is gradually and slowly rising to the top. At first no one took them seriously, considering the typical fighters come from the European amateur boxing - static and predictable. However, hard work on their strengths, they will gradually prevail in the global ring, and the last ten years, Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko methodically beat all its competitors.

The officers' children

Parents were legendary boxers come from the Ukraine, but the kind of father activities, Vladimir radionovich, forced to travel a lot in the republics of the Soviet Union. He was a professional soldier, by the end of his career, reached the rank of Air Force Major-General of Ukraine and the office of the military attache at the Embassy of Ukraine abroad. Mother, Hope Ulyanovna, dedicated her life to the school, where she worked as a teacher of elementary grades.

Many people wonder about where they were born Klitschko brothers. Both of them were born in the Central Asian republics, with a difference of five years. Vitali was born in a small village in Kyrgyzstan in 1971, Vladimir - in the city of Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan.

High textured guys could not play sports. Vladimir immediately identified with its specialization and with 14 years of training in boxing section.

Vitaly also interested in different kinds of martial arts. Finally he settled on kickboxing, which has made significant progress.

On account of his 35 fights, most of which he won, including the 22 - early. For twenty-five years he was six times world champion, and four - among professionals. So in many ways started his career Klitschko brothers. Who is the eldest of them, who later came to boxing after little brother. In 1995, Vitaly decided to "reset" his career and chose the boxing ring.

amateur career

Starting with the juniors, Vladimir showed the highest results. His first international award - gold European Junior Championship in 1993, when he had not yet reached the impressive size and appeared in the first heavy weight category. Were insulting defeats.

In 1994, he lost in the final of the Junior World Championship Cuban Nunez. Clicking on an adult level, Vladimir started with a victory in the world championship among the military. Then, a few major tournaments he remained without the main prize, losing in the quarterfinals of the world championship and losing in a tight finals of the continental championship Alexey Lesina. By the time he had grown heavier, and acted in the heavyweight.

By 1995, he was joined by Vitaly Klitschko brothers played together in one weight category. It is, accordingly, deprived of one of them the possibility to take part in major tournaments, as in every weight class country could put only one fighter. Before coaching staff got a serious dilemma - whom to send to the main four-cycle event, the Olympic Games in 1996.

At that time, approximately the same level are the Klitschko brothers. Boxing, which showed Vitaly looked convincing, and he began to prepare for competitions. However, the athlete's doping sample found traces of anabolic steroids, and Vladimir had to replace his brother.

On the way to his amateur career in the finals of the main tournament, Vladimir took revenge on his recent offender Alexei Lesina, beating of the semi-final. The decisive battle was defeated boxer from Tonga's Paea Wolfgramm.

"sack diet" in professional boxing

Winning the Olympic title, Klitschko did not see the point in continuing amateur career. This decision was supported by Vitali. Klitschko brothers soon decided to test himself in the tough world of professional boxing.

Like many other European boxer, Ukrainians chose Germany for the development of his career. One of the most reputable promotional company at that time was Universum Box-Promotion, which Vladimir and Vitali Klitschko and contracted. boys coach was respected German coach Fritz Zdunek.

The debut in professional boxing both boxers was held at the same time in 1996. His first fights against the brothers carried out frankly weak opponents, most of whom the number of lesions prevailed over the victories of their assets. Vitali, for example, all their first ten fights won by knockout, without even bringing the matter to the third round.

Only in the eleventh match his rival Gilbert Williamson lasted until the 6th round, having visited several times while knocked down.

It looked about as fighting Wladimir Klitschko. More or less serious contender Ukrainian was Carlos Monroe, who imposed Klitschko dirty fight and inflicted a cut head in the sixth round.

Generally, the Klitschko brothers have not made much of an impression on the then experts and considered to be the next "European Champion" ie boxers who spend their careers against little known opponents in the very few people interesting duels.

The first titles Vladimir

After a few years, having accumulated a sufficient number of victories under his belt, Ukrainian boxers have started fighting for the various zones. The first title fight of Vladimir took place in February 1998.

At stake was not very honorable times intercontinental champion under version WBC. Marcus McIntyre fought not too long, and in the third round without much effort Klitschko - Boxer, far surpassing the enemy, knocked it. After that, he spent several successful defenses, also without any problems razdelyvaya with applicants. In 1998 it took place and the first defeat of Vladimir. The most annoying for him, it was the first fight that Klitschko held at home. Kiev became a city, where he was his fight with Ross Purity.

And in this battle had an unwillingness to Vladimir in long fights. Easy reading all previous contenders in the first round, he tried everything against Purity solve fastest knockout.

However, Ross stood and brought the case to the last segment. Big and heavy Ukrainian boxer very much exhausted by the tenth round, it came down to the fact that he twice knocked down. The next round, the same thing happened, and the seconds, Vladimir stopped beating his boxers.

In the future, Ukrainian learned from their defeat, and these fights Wladimir Klitschko ended with a victory. Among them were the fights with Zoran Vudzhechichem, powerful German Axel Schulz, a longtime friend Paea Wolfgramm.

Feats Vitaly

The elder of the Klitschko brothers began to hunt for the title belt Intercontinental champion WBO world. In his first title fight Vitali had to meet with the first serious opponent. However, American Dicky Ryan is not too long resisted, and had already been knocked out in the fifth round.

Soon the battle against Mario Schiesser and he got the title of European champion, having subsequently several successful defenses.

However, all of these belts were not very prestigious and did not give Vitali special glory. All had to change a real championship fight. In 1999, this fight happen. The future mayor of Kiev came to fight for the world title. However, of the four major boxing organizations quoted WBO is not as high as the others, but it was already a significant step forward. Vitaly also got a serious opponent - Herbie Hide, the defending champion, fast and agile fighter, the victim only one defeat in his career. In the first round of the fight, he seemed to prevail rightness critics Klitschko brothers. The Englishman moved faster, accurate blows inflicted and acted more boldly and unconventionally than huge and hulking Ukrainian. However, in the second round, he ran into the strongest cross, then Vitali took the initiative. Finish discouraged rival was already a matter of technique, and soon a right hook sent Hyde Klitschko in a knockout.

Thus Klitschko set at the same time record for the least number of rounds on the way from beginner to champion, who kept since the days of Tyson. After defeating Vitali spent several successful defenses until he ran into his full antagonist in the ring.

Klitschko brothers style Criticism

The first years of the promoters of the Klitschko brothers were in no hurry to force the issue and did not let his players for battle against a really serious contenders. Even after a long series of convincing victories attitude to Ukrainians it was pretty skeptical. They seemed to be too slow, sluggish. Coming out of the amateur sport, they continued to operate the ring of assimilation scheme and stamp their actions did not change.

The tactical arsenal and Vitali and Vladimir was quite monotonous. Using the height and length of the arms, they held opponents at a distance with his powerful jab and tried to not let them close to him.

They boxed monotonous and predictable, but in the matches against weak opponents is still worked.

Quite differently Klitschko brothers began to appear in the ring when they had to defend their titles and fight against real professionals, capable of sharp, explosive and non-standard attack.

The first boxer in this series was Chris Byrd. As time an American was one of the most interesting and unusual heavyweight boxer of the year. Coming from a light heavyweight, he was very fast and sharp, it was very difficult to get it, as no one else was able to evade attacks and put the enemy to ridicule. However, the downside was the lack of power of the power Byrd. Strikes it as expressed by experts they were not able to break the eggshell. All this is manifested in a fight Vitali and Chris Byrd. Ukrainian acting in a familiar manner, throwing long shots, but the clever American easily eluded them and myself over and over again gets in the slack, but precise strikes. So Vitaly lost for the first time in his career.

The revenge of his brother and defeat Vladimir

If a boxer defeated one of the Klitschko brothers, he had to prepare for a fight with the second of them. Not avoid it and Chris Byrd. Wladimir Klitschko in 2000, met with the American to take away his WBO belt and avenge his older brother. This time there was no underestimating the enemy. Vladimir made a bid for his advantage in strength, and not paying attention to small impacts Byrd repeatedly sought to bring down the breath and push it.

This tactic reached its goal in the ninth and eleventh rounds, Vladimir sent Chris a knockdown and won a victory on points.

Becoming a world champion Klitschko held a number of successful defenses, acting in the usual manner and avoiding a truly stellar opponents. This lasted until 2003. Corrie Sanders, the boxer from South Africa, was a true dark horse, many considered him just another transient stage on the path of Vladimir. However, the South African was a real professional boxer, acting aggressively, unconventional and unexpected side threw punches with terrible force.

Vladimir, acting uniformly and in a straight line, was not ready for such a manner of combat. Besides, he was not used to the fact that he was sent to the canvas. That is what made Sanders at the end of the first round, and laid Ukrainian swing - a blow from an ancient boxing past, which in modern sport almost never used.

In the second round Klitschko Corrie finally suppressed, and after the fourth knockdown, the referee stopped beating Vladimir. After the defeat of Vladimir had several successful matches. Another transient contender had to be Lamon Brewster. This heavyweight does not represent anything special, and the first four rounds, Vladimir dominated. But then inexplicably he abruptly began to lose power, and the American boxer was just to beat Klitschko, until the referee stopped the fight.

The revival of Ukrainian heavyweight

Lesions gradually tempered brothers, they have worked hard to be more diverse, stop acting sketchy.

One of the defining moments in the career of Vitali was a fight with Lennox Lewis. Finally he had the opportunity to meet with the real superstar of world boxing in the battle for the title of world champion in the prestigious version. Despite the defeat Vitali acted very cool and at the time of the stoppage led on points. Only due to the fact that Vitaly was badly cut after hitting Lewis, the fight was stopped, and the victory was awarded to the defending champion of the world.

After the departure of Lewis from the sport the way to his belt was discovered, and Vitali began to go upstairs. championship fight should be allocated to Corrie Sanders in 2004. South African acted as aggressively as against Wladimir and Vitali was on the brink of disaster. However, he endured, and after the opponent plays out, already in its turn began to beat Sanders.

After that came the real era of the Klitschko brothers in world boxing. In the absence of boxers, equal to his talent Mike Tyson, no one has been able to truly compete with the Ukrainian soldiers. Methodically and slowly, year after year they collected championship belts in all prestigious weight category. On the way to the top they defeated reigning champions - Ruslan Chagaev, Sultan Ibragimbekova. After retiring from the sport Vitaly Vladimir remained the strongest heavyweight boxer. In 2013, an attempt to interrupt the decade the Klitschko brothers did Alexander Povetkin, but with the major advantage Klitschko defeated the Russians.

Only in 2015, Tyson Fury managed to beat Vladimir. After the scandalous departure from the sports world British Crown began in boxing free. Bout Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua 29 April 2017 to decide which of them is more worthy of the title. All boxing fans look forward to it.

Life

Wladimir Klitschko did not differ constancy in their relationship. He met with the Kiev Aleksandra Avizovoy, Yvon Katerfeld with another model Alena Gerber.

He now lives with Hayden Paneter. In 2014 they had a daughter who was named Kaya Evdokia.

Vitali Klitschko's wife is no less charismatic figure than her husband. Natalia Klitschko (nee - Egorova) - known in the past, Ukrainian model and athlete. During the marriage the couple had three children - sons Egor-Daniel and Maxim, as well as a daughter Elizabeth-Victoria. Vitali Klitschko's wife actively supported her husband in his political and social activities. Sometimes it even outshines his own personality on this front.

Klitschko policies

After retiring from the sport, the older of the two brothers decided to take a chance and make a political career. Initially, he concentrated his efforts in the capital - Kiev, was elected to the city parliament, participated in the elections for the post of mayor. Soon he felt a policy on a national scale. Relying on its famous name, good financial possibilities the future mayor of Kiev creates his own party "IMPACT". With it, he goes to the elections to the Verkhovna Rada in 2012, and received a good percentage of the popular vote, winning 42 seats in parliament. Vitali Klitschko has been an active supporter and participant euromaidan. After the overthrow of Yanukovych, he announced his intention to run for president in 2014, but shortly before the election, made an unexpected statement, which refused to fight, and expressed support for Petro Poroshenko.

In response, courtesy of a former boxer got the opportunity to act freely in the capital and with the support of the president to go to the election of the head of the city, which he did. The fact that ten years ago it seemed a joke, it happened: Vitali Klitschko - the mayor.

It's been twenty years since the path of professional boxing became totally unknown then Ukrainian heavyweights. Since then, they have won all imaginable titles and titles, starred in the movie, and the eldest of them even made a meteoric career in politics.