Vitali Klitschko
 Vitali KlitschkoBoxingInsider.com Exclusive Biofile Published by Scoop Malinowski Last Updated on January 21st, 2010 | Options:  Print This Article  Email This Article  RSS |
Status: WBC Heavyweight Champion. His record is 39-2 (37 KO’s).
Ht: 6-7 Wt: 250
DOB: July 19, 1971 IN: Belovodsk, Soviet Union
Nicknames: Dr. Iron Fist, Iron Chin.
Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Chess, wakeboarding, kitesurfing, jet skiing, scuba diving, table tennis.”
Childhood Dream: “Spaceman or astronaut or do karate like Bruce Lee [smiles].”
Age Started Boxing: “13.”
First Boxing Memory: “Losing my first fight.”
Boxing Inspiration: “To make history in boxing. To be at the same time with my brother world champion in the heavyweight division. Always great to make something special.”
Favorite Boxer Of All-Time: “Max Schmeling – my first most special fighter, my idol, my hero. I respect him as a fighter and much more as a human. I knew him very well. He helped me a lot.”
Favorite Meal: “Italian.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Cranberry.”
Pre-fight Meal: “Oatmeal.”
Pre-fight Superstition: “I’m not ready to give you the answer [smiles].”
Toughest Part Of Being A Boxer: “Injuries.”
Favorite Music: “Eagles. Old music, classical, jazz, pop. Big fan of Cher, The Beatles ”
Last Book Read: “Oh, a book from Goethe.”
Favorite TV Show: “Discovery Channel is very interesting to me.”
Favorite Film: “I don’t know which one. Many movies. Favorite film in boxing – Rocky, first one.”
Current Car: “A big one. Mercedes (silver).”
Training Routine: “My special program I develop with my coach (Fritz Sdunek). And I’m very thankful to Emanuel Steward. He works with me as advisor. And we develop some program and I don’t want to show you this program because it’s special for me and it’s my small secret. I change my preparation for every opponent and that’s why it will be special preparation with special exercises.”
Toughest Opponent: “Lennox Lewis. My personal opinion – he’s the strongest fighter in the whole history of boxing. He’s the strongest heavyweight. And I’m very appreciative for him. He give me a chance to prove my skills against strongest fighter in history.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Is still in front of me. Will be in the future.”
Most Painful Moment: “To take the critics after the Byrd fight.”
Funny Boxing Memory: “In England. It was an amateur fight. After a heavy knockout, the opponent came back to me and told me, ‘I will come back. Then I will show you how good I really am.’ It was a very strong, heavy knockout. He was laying down for a long time. A strong hit. I wondered, next time I have to hit him harder? Is my arm too light [laughs]?”
Quote: “Chess is similar to boxing. You need to develop a strategy, and you need to think two or three steps ahead about what your opponent is doing. You have to be smart. But what’s the difference between chess and boxing? In chess, nobody is an expert, but everybody plays. In boxing everybody is an expert, but nobody fights.”
Family: Wife, Natalia; sons, Max, Egor; daughter, Elizabeth.
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