Vitali Klitschko knows exactly what he?ll do when it?s time to walk away from boxing. His homeland of Ukraine, he?ll tell you, is a fledgling democracy rife with corruption that is stunting its development. Klitschko , already a failed reform candidate for office, plans to do his part to clean up the mess.
And that time probably is within sight for the 40-year-old WBC heavyweight champ, who defends his title against Tomasz Adamek on Saturday in Wroclaw, Poland. Ola Afolabi, his longtime sparring partner, said Klitschko hasn?t slowed down a bit and could fight until at least 45.
The big man scoffed at that notion, making it clear he has no intention of fighting for five more years.
Two or three? Maybe.
?Ola is a funny guy,? said Klitschko, speaking to RingTV.com over the phone from Poland last week. ?? That?s too long, 45. Not me. Three or fights. After that, we?ll see.?
The irony is that Klitschko retired about six years ago, a series of nagging injuries apparently launching his career in politics full time. As he put it, ?My body was playing games with me.?
Well, turns out all his body needed was time away from boxing. He returned at 37 after nearly four years ? healthy and hungry ? and regained the WBC title he gave up in 2004 by stopping Sam Peter in eight rounds.
Klitschko (42-2, 39 knockouts) is 7-0 in his comeback, with five knockouts. Younger brother Wladimir usually gets more credit but it?s Vitali who has barely lost a round in his career and owns the best KO percentage of any heavyweight in history.
And, as Afolobi said, the elder Klitschko is as good as ever. The cruiserweight contender credits the time off, at least in part.
?That has a lot to do with it,? Afolabi said from Poland. ?A football player who doesn?t take many hits can go on a long time, like Jerry Rice. That?s what tears a fighter apart, the punishment. And the problem people face with Vitali in the ring is that they can?t hit him. You eventually get exhausted trying, which is when he rips you apart.
