Vitali Klitschko
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Dr. Vitali Vladimirovich Klitschko (born July 19, 1971), known as "Dr. Iron Fist" is the current WBC Heavyweight boxing champion of the world. He was born in Belovodsk, Kyrgyzstan, in the former Soviet Union. His younger brother, Wladimir Klitschko, is also a top Heavyweight contender. Their father was a Soviet Air Force Colonel, and they are ethnically Ukrainian.
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Biography
Originally a professional kickboxer, Vitali was also a boxer and won the Super Heavyweight Championship at the first World Military Games in Italy in 1995. He began his professional boxing career in 1996, and won almost all of his first fights by knockout in the early rounds, and eventually won the World Boxing Organization World Heavyweight Championship against Herbie Hide by Knockout in the Second Round. He defended his title several times before losing in 1999 to Chris Byrd. Afterwards, Vitali was forced to retire due to an injured rotator cuff. Byrd, in his next fight, was defeated by Wladimir, avenging his elder brother's defeat. Vitali continued to fight, and on June 21, 2003, he fought Lennox Lewis for the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship of the World. For the first two rounds, Vitali dominated the fight against Lewis who seemed out of shape and tired. In the third round, Lewis landed a grazing 1-2 combo that caused a horrendous cut over Klitschko's left eye. The next 3 rounds were give and take, and at the end of the 6th round, the scores on all three judges scorecards read 58-56 in favor of Klitschko. Despite the score in Klitschko's favor, at the end of the round the fight was stopped due to the cut over Klitschko's eye. Though he lost, he gained many fans and made his name with this performance. On December 6, 2003, Vitali returned to the ring against Kirk Johnson and knocked him out in the 2nd round, reaffirming his place as the number one Heavyweight contender.
Klitschko defeated Corrie Sanders on April 24, 2004, to capture the World Boxing Council Heavyweight Championship, which had been vacated by Lewis two months earlier. Sanders had defeated younger brother Wladimir on March 8, 2003 by 2nd Round KO for the WBO Heavyweight Championship, and despite being a bout for a heavyweight championship title, few recognized Sanders as a legitimate contender for the crown prior to the bout.
Record
- Amateur kickboxing:unknown
- Amateur boxing:unknown
- Professional kickboxing:unknown
- Professional boxing:36Fights 34Won 33KOs 2Losts
Career
- EBU heavyweight champion
- WBO international heavyweight champion
- WBA international heavyweight champion
- WBO heavyweight champion
- WBC heavyweight champion
Championships Won
- May 2, 1998 - Vacant WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship. Defeated Dick Ryan by 5th round TKO. Successfully defended title twice before relinquishing title.
- October 24, 1998 - Vacant European Boxing Union Heavyweight Championship. Defeated Mario Schiesser by 2nd round TKO. Successfully defended title once before relinquishing title.
- June 26, 1999 - WBO World Heavyweight Championship. Defeated Herbie Hide by 2nd round knockout. Successfully defended title twice before losing title on April 1, 2000 to Chris Byrd.
- November 25, 2000 - Vacant European Boxing Union Heavyweight Championship. Defeated Timo Hoffmann by 12 round decision. Did not successfully defend title.
- January 27, 2001 - Vacant World Boxing Association International Heavyweight Championship. Defeated Orlin Norris by 1st round knockout. Successfully defended title three times before relinquishing title to face Lennox Lewis on June 21, 2003 for the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Organization World Heavyweight Championships.
- April 24, 2004 - Vacant WBC World Championship. Defeated Corrie Sanders via 8th round TKO.
- December 11, 2004 - First title defence. Defeated Danny Williams in the 8th round by TKO.
| Preceded by: Harvie Hide | WBO World Heavyweight 10th champion 1999–2000 | Succeeded by: Chris Byrd | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by: Lennox Lewis | WBC Heavyweight boxing 23rd champion 2004– | Succeeded by: $mdash
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