While it may be true that the Klitschko brothers don?t have the most exciting fighting style, the fact that they are aggressively dominating cannot be denied. Knowing that they strive for perfection and try to ensure entertainment for the fans via their K.O. rate, watching their fights becomes a religion for some, including myself. They are the face of heavyweight boxing, and have been for some time. Some people say that heavyweight boxing has lost its spark, and became stale and boring. On one hand I can agree with that, and appreciate the earlier heavyweight times, where mega fights were happening right and left. On the other hand, blaming the Klitschkos for dictating the heavyweight flow is unfair. They do their job in the ring, and it so happens that they are considerably better than their competition. Due to their supreme level, there is less and less hope for an exciting and competitive match. That is exactly why heavyweight boxing seems dull and decayed at times.
One amazing thing to note about the Klitschko brothers is their multitasking outside of their boxing careers. They are both organizers of numerous charitable programs for kids and adults. They both acquired a PhD degree in sports science. Vitali Klitschko has also been insistently active in his local politics, once again attempting at becoming the mayor of Kiev, Ukraine.
Yesterday, July 19th 2010, I was lucky enough to have a chat with the champ, and talk about his sports, political, and some personal life. Vitali was nice enough to grant me a decent amount of time, and his answers seemed honest and emotional, sometimes with a touch of humor. All in all, he presented himself as a nice and humble person, but I could clearly tell the sense of strict business and direct approach in him. After all, he does have his hands full with a whole spectrum of things to do. Our interview was in Russian, but of course I carefully translated it for all of you!
(If any of you have questions for the following, please post a comment with your question and your name: Freddie Roach, Andre Ward & Virgil Hunter (trainer), Wladimir Klitschko, Yuri Foreman).
VS: We have all read and heard about the situation with team Valuev. We have also seen your video message to him, as well as Nikolai?s reply. Could you please clarify if this is a financial issue or more contractual?
VK: How can there be a financial problem? He is not an official contender, not a champion, just a boxer. Plus I am giving him a bigger offer then he had ever been offered before: $1.5 million. I am putting a belt on the line for him. We try our best, but they are always coming up with more and more conditions. Don King is requesting that he be a co-promoter of this event, which is impossible. Then King want this fight to be shown on his choice of a TV channel, which is again out of the question because we have a licensure and contracts with German TV channel RTL. The situation is weird; I am trying to talk someone into fight me for the world championship. This is ridiculous. Maybe for Valuev, the motivation of becoming the world champion is not important, maybe all he cares for is more and more money. When I was given the opportunity to become the world champion, I left all else on the sidelines, the title was the most important thing. Money is a terrible motivator for boxing; you need to have the drive to be the best in the world. He doesn?t like this and doesn?t like that. Will he ever be ready to fight for the championship?
VS: Vitali, if the fight does end up happening, how do you see yourself preparing for this fight? At this point, he will be the tallest opponent you have ever faced. This time you will have to punch up. Do you think that his long jab will give him the opportunity to stay outside and try to win the fight on points?
VK: It?s hard to predict the outcome, but you are right I have never boxer such a tall opponent. I don?t know where to find sparring partners of that size. This will also be a hard task. And another thing: Valuev has never been knocked out. Will I be able to knock him down? (VS: you might have to take David Haye and sit him down on Arreola?s shoulder to make a sparing partner). That might have to be the way.
VS: Before Povetkin there was an offer from camp Haye for a 50/50 split in their proposed bout with Wladimir. Is that true, and do you think that?s a fair offer?
VK: Yes WE have offered 50/50 to them. It?s more than fair; Wladimir is putting 3 belts on the line, while Haye is putting up one. Nevertheless, we still wanted to make this fight happen thus offering such a crazy deal. I have a feeling that Haye is afraid. He has not been hurt in any of his previous fights. He knows very well that meeting in the ring with either of the Klitschko brothers will mean punishment, and an end to his championship.
VS: What is your favorite part of training: pad work, sparring, heavy bag etc?
VK: Table Tennis. This is the best for concentrations and reaction time. Every training camp we dedicate time for table tennis. This is my favorite part of training.
VS: Do you watch videos of your opponents before the fight, or do you leave that job to your training team?
VK: Definitely watch it. I watch hours and hours of videos.
VS: At this point, your knockout rate exceeds 90%. Does that mean you are not satisfied with a unanimous or split decision victory?
VK: Victory by point does not satisfy me. At this moment I am in the Guinness book of records as the fighter who needed the least number of rounds to become a champion. I know that my K.O. rate is the current unbeaten best. Thus a win by points is not good.
VS: How often do you and your brother exchange advice? When in the ring, would you give priority to your trainer or brother first?
VK: Our deal is that the trainer gives his advice first, and only after that, my bother is allowed to add something.
VS: Who gave you the nickname Dr. Ironfist?
VK: When I debuted in Germany, I was called Dr. Faust, which is translated as Dr. Fist. After a while people noticed that I kept winning my fights via K.O, and someone yelled Dr. IronFist out of the crowd. So I adopted that nickname. Later I got my PhD, so the Dr. is now an actual title.
VS: I know that you are once again going after the title of Kiev city Mayor. What problems do you think need to be resolved in Ukraine and Kiev itself?
VK: One of the main problems in Ukraine is the political corruption. It is a secret corruption, which prevents the city from further developing financially. In reality there is a crisis in Kiev: transportation, shelter, social problems. Even though Kiev is considered one of the major European cities, it?s no more than that. All else is just talk. I want to match the high standards that most other developed countries have. This is a fairly easy task, but the problem is that most politicians are not interested in providing guaranteed standards, because that will prevent them from continuing their dirty business. Some politicians make $2000 a month, but have no fear driving around in cars that cost $150,000 dollars. Obviously they also avoid paying taxes and declaring any profit. We have to develop, and can no longer remain a banana republic. I want to change the whole system and reforms, advance living, medical system, etc. Without reforms, Kiev is suffocating. Nobody is trying to eliminate the deficit and fill the financial holes.
VS: What is your favorite food/dish?
VK: Whatever mom cooks. I come home sometimes, and whatever she cooks, it?s always amazing; no restaurant can compete. Whatever it may be, it?s always great.
VS: Beside boxing and politics, are there any other hobbies that you dedicate your time to?
VK: I really like Kitesurfing, and have been involved in it for over 10 years. Yesterday there was a world title here in Germany. I was there to introduce the athletes. I even went into the water to try myself. We also have the Education for Children charity. We help many countries to develop kids, because they are our most important asset. Only education can lower the criminal activity as well as poverty levels. Everything seems to be working well with that.
VS: From David Depto: Being a chess player yourself, have you ever heard of chess boxing? If so, what do you think about it?
VK: I think you are joking. I never heard about chess boxing. I like chess a lot, and there are many similarities between chess and boxing. In both you have to see how prepared your opponent is, and what they are planning on doing next. You have to think a couple steps ahead in both. I like to play chess with my friends a lot. I played with Kasparov and studied his moves and learned a lot from him.
VS: From Gopal Rao: Who would you pick in a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight, and why?
VK: No idea. Nobody knows what can happen in the ring. For me, I just like to see the fight and who the winner is. But I don?t have any special emotion for this fight.
VS: From Daniel Marlay: If you and your brother beat all the opponents and have all the belts, what would be your next goal as brothers?
VK: I will give my belts as a present to my brother. He is the best in the world, and the strongest one in the world. Wladimir is a brilliant boxer. I will also open the door for the other boxers. I have heard people around the world saying that there is a crisis in boxing right now, and the name of that crisis is the Klitschko brothers. Nobody can beat the brothers, and they keep all belts in the family. After we take the last belt, it should be time for me to say goodbye.
After the interview Vitali expressed his appreciation of the fans. He said he was happy that boxing ended up being a part of his life, and that it was crucially important to him that his loyal fans enjoy the Klitschko brothers. On September 11th, Wladimir should be facing Povetkin in Germany. Let?s tune in and see if Wladimir can retain his belt and keep it in the family.
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