When WBC champion Vitali Klitschko called it quits on Tuesday because of his broken-down body, a big dream of the two Klitschko brothers died.
Vitali and younger brother Wladimir become huge idols in places such as Germany and their homeland, Ukraine, hoping this was a springboard for their plans to conquer the United States and the heavyweight division together.
They wanted to at least hold world titles at the same time, something they boasted about a lot early in their careers.
”For Christmas, I want all four world titles — but mama says I have to give two to my little brother,” Vitali said while holding up his then-WBO belt in a popular 1999 German television commercial.
In the end, the body of the 34-year-old Vitali wouldn’t go along with their plans after 20 years in the ring, dating back to lacing up as a 14-year-old in a Kiev army club. Along the way, he fought his way to a military world title and one in kickboxing.
Tuesday’s operation for torn right-knee ligaments, which forced the cancellation of Saturday’s title defence against Hasim Rahman, was Klitschko’s fifth major surgery in five years.
Klitschko adviser Bernd Boente said the big heavyweight had expected the training injury to lead to a minor operation — and was shocked when he woke from the anaesthesia to hear the bad news.
”Mr Klitschko will have to take a six-month break. With this serious injury, it’s impossible for him to box — the knee is completely unstable,” surgeon Neal Elattrache, of the Kerlan-Jose clinic, said.
End of a career
Klitschko faced having the WBC title he won on April 24 last year stripped for failing to defend it. After consulting with family and advisers, he decided to end his career with a record of 35-2 (34 knockouts).
Both losses came because of injuries during fights he led.
Against Byrd, he threw in the towel in the 10th round because of the shoulder, which would force his first operation in April 2000.
A brutal WBC title loss in June 2003 against Lennox Lewis, who retired afterward, was stopped in the sixth round because of the bloody cuts around Klitschko’s eye.
The fight, however, cemented Klitschko’s reputation in the US and perhaps made him the heavyweight division’s biggest draw. It also buried his reputation as a quitter and soft ”Euro” fighter from the Byrd bout.
When Wladimir later avenged the family honour against Byrd, beating him over 12 one-sided rounds to take back the WBO belt, he jumped the ring ropes, shook his fist and shouted: ”I love my brother — and we are not soft.”
Brothers inseparable
The two brothers, sons of a teacher and air-force officer, are inseparable. They turned professional together in 1996 after Vitali became the military champion and Wladimir the 19-year-old Olympic super-heavyweight gold medallist.
Don King, among others, recruited them, but the brothers signed with German promoter Hans-Peter Kohl. They quickly became huge stars in Germany, cultivating a gentleman’s image as they earned PhDs from the University of Kiev.
The two brothers made a series of commercials in Germany, likely making them among the world’s best-paid boxers.
In the Ukraine, they also rank among the country’s biggest sports idols, and Vitali and members of his camp said the boxer may now take up politics.
Vitali backed last year’s ”Orange Revolution”, in which pro-Western Viktor Yushchenko was elected President of Ukraine against a Russian-backed candidate. There have been constant rumours he will run for mayor of Kiev.
”He and his brother played leading roles in the Orange Revolution — a political career is possible,” Boente said.
For years, Vitali took a back seat to Wladimir — who was treated by his handlers as a future world champion and whom he often calls the more talented of the two.
But Wladimir’s reputation was battered by knockouts to Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster, while Vitali’s soared with the Lewis slugfest and flattening Kirk Johnson and Danny Williamson.
”I’m not so sure sometimes about Wladimir, but Vitali, that is one tough guy,” said Fritz Smudek, Vitali’s trainer, who also coached the younger brother for years. — Sapa-AP
Associated Press writer Mara Bellaby in Kiev, Ukraine, contributed to this report