Wladimir Klitschko

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Wladimir Klitschko (Ukrainian: Володимир Кличко, Volodymyr Klychko, born 25 March 1976) is a Ukrainian heavyweight boxer. Klitschko is the unified IBF, WBO, IBO and Ring Magazine Champion of the world. His older brother, Vitali Klitschko, is the current WBC world heavyweight champion.

Klitschko was born in Semipalatinsk, Kazakh SSR (now Kazakhstan). Though a major celebrity in his former adopted home of Germany, he moved with his older brother Vitali to Beverly Hills in 2004. Their father, Vladimir Rodionovich, was a Soviet Air Force Colonel. Their mother is Nadezhda Ulyanovna.

In the summer of 1996, Klitschko finished Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky Pedagogical Institute (Ukraine) and was accepted in the postgraduate study program of Kiev University. On 18 January 2001 in a conference hall of Kiev University of physical science and sports, Klitschko presented his doctoral dissertation and was awarded a Ph.D. in Sports Science. Klitschko speaks four languages: Ukrainian, Russian, German and English. At the beginning of his professional career, he began spelling his name Wladimir. The Ukrainian version of his name is Volodymyr (Володимир), which in Russian is Vladimir (Владимир).

In 1993, Klitschko won the Junior European Championships as a heavyweight. In 1994, he received 2nd place at the Junior World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. In 1995, he won the gold medal at the Military Championships in Ariccia, Italy, defeating Luan Krasniqi, who he had lost to in the third round of the World Championships in Berlin, Germany earlier that year. In 1996, he captured 2nd place as a Super Heavyweight at the European Championships in Vejle, Denmark. He had an amateur record of 134-6.

Known as "The Steel Hammer," Klitschko first achieved world attention at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. He defeated Paea Wolfgramm to win the Super-Heavyweight gold medal. He is now announced as "Dr. Steel Hammer," a name more in the vein of his brother, Vitali, who goes by "Dr. Ironfist."

Klitschko turned professional with Universum Box-Promotion in Hamburg under the tutelage of Fritz Sdunek. He suffered his first setback after 24 bouts without a loss to journeyman Ross Puritty, who entered the bout with a record of 24-13-1.

On 14 October 2000, in Cologne's Kölnarena (Germany), Klitschko won the WBO Heavyweight Championship from American Chris Byrd. After five successful defenses of the WBO belt, Klitschko suffered a 2nd round upset TKO loss to Corrie Sanders on 8 March 2003, in Hannover, Germany.

After winning two minor bouts in Germany and enlisting the services of legendary boxing trainer Emmanuel Steward, Klitschko again fought for the vacated WBO title on 10 April 2004, in Las Vegas, against Lamon Brewster. Klitschko sent Brewster to the canvas in the fourth round; however, things turned around in the fifth when Brewster began landing punches. Near the end of the round, Klitschko was floored by a right hand. Barely beating the count, Klitschko fell back to the canvas looking exhausted.

On 22 April 2006, in Mannheim, Germany, Klitschko again defeated Chris Byrd, this time by technical knockout, in a contest for the IBF Heavyweight Championship. Referee Wayne Kelly stopped the fight in the seventh round after a knockdown—Byrd beat the count, but his face was battered and bloody, and the fight was waved off. Klitschko then defeated mandatory challenger Ray Austin on 10 March 2007, at the SAP Arena in Mannheim, Germany by a second-round knockout with four consecutive left hooks to Austin's head. Klitschko did not use his right hand once during the fight, doing all his work with his left jab and left hook. Klitschko then avenged one of his previous losses as he defeated Lamon Brewster on 7 July 2007, in Cologne, Germany. Brewster's corner asked the referee to stop the fight at the end of the sixth round. It was later revealed that Klitschko fought most of the fight with a broken middle finger on his left hand.

and WBO heavyweight titles. The Klitschko-Ibragimov fight was the first heavyweight unification since Holyfield-Lewis in 1999.

On 12 July 2008, at the Color Line Arena in Hamburg, Klitschko defeated Tony Thompson by eleventh round knockout.

Klitschko was scheduled to defend his titles against Alexander Povetkin later in 2008, but on 25 October, Povetkin withdrew from the fight due to an ankle injury. Instead, Klitschko faced Hasim Rahman on 13 December 2008 and won by TKO. This was the third time Klitschko fought at the SAP Arena in Mannheim, Germany. He dominated the fight, winning every round while making good use of his left jab. The referee finally called a stop to the contest in the 7th round after Rahman failed to respond to a series of good shots.

The brothers have been quoted saying that it is only a matter of time until they unify the WBA title belt which is currently held by David Haye. If they achieve this feat, the Klitschko brothers will become the first brothers in heavyweight boxing history to simultaneously hold all of the belts.

On 20 June 2009, Klitschko retained the IBF, WBO, IBO world heavyweight titles and also won the vacant Ring Magazine heavyweight title by defeating Ruslan Chagaev when Chagaev retired after an onslaught of punches towards the end of the ninth round. As Chagaev was WBA champion in recess, the title was not on the line.

On 9 December 2009, Klitschko's management group, K2 Promotions confirmed that a bout with Eddie Chambers has been agreed to take place in Germany on March 20, 2010. This mandatory title defense, originally scheduled for December 2009 had to be delayed due to a hand injury that Klitschko sustained in training that required surgery.

Klitschko defeated Chambers by knockout five seconds before the end of the final round. He was criticized between rounds by his trainer Emanuel Steward for not fighting aggresively enough despite having won all prior rounds and Chambers only fighting back weakly. Klitschko began punching more often during the final round than he had done before which eventually led to his left hook hitting Chambers to the forehead. The punch made Chambers fall forwards and lose consciousness for a short amount of time. The referee stepped in and called an end to the contest instantly.

sourse: wikipedia.org

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World boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko arrives to attend the World Music Awards in Monaco on May 18, 2010. The World Music Awards honour the world's top selling acts for their true success. The event will be viewed in 160 countries.

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Boxing heavy weight champion Wladimr Klitschko of Ukraine pose with with the trophy prior to the IIHF World Championship group D match between USA and Germany at Veltins Arena on May 7, 2010 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany

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Moran Atias and Wladimir Klitschko present onstage during the World Music Awards 2010 at the Sporting Club on May 18, 2010 in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

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Heavyweight boxing title holder Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine celebrates with his brother Vladimir (L) after defeating Albert Sosnowski of Poland during their WBC world heavyweight championship title fight in the western German city of Gelsenkirchen May 29, 2010

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Boxer Wladimir Klitschko attends the 3D Public Viewing at the Hamburg Rotherbaum Tennis Tournament on June 02, 2010 in Hamburg, Germany.

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Heavyweight boxing title holder Vladimir Klitschko of Ukraine celebrates after defeating Eddie Chambers of the U.S. in their IBF, WBO and IBO world heavyweight championship title fight in the western German city of Duesseldorf March 20, 2010.

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with Karolina Kurkova

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Wladimir Klitschko from the Ukraine and Samuel Peter of Nigeria, from left, pose for photographers on during a news conference in Frankfurt, Germany on Monday, Sept. 6, 2010. IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko will try to defend his title against Samuel Peter of Nigeria in Frankfurt, Germany, on upcoming Saturday.

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Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine celebrates defeating Samuel Peter from Nigeria following their heavyweight title fight in Frankfurt, September 11, 2010. Klitschko won with a technical knockout in the tenth round.

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Oktoberfest in Munich, September 25, 2010

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the 2009 Bambi Awards in Berlin, Germany

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Laureus Media Award 2009

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Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine, poses for photographers during a photocall in central London on October 21, 2010. Klitschko is set to defend his IBF, IBO and WBO Heavyweight titles against Derek Chisora of Britain, on December 11 in Mannheim, Germany.

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Laureus World Sports Awards , February 7, 2011

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Vladimir Klitschko in action during the Laureus Golf Challenge at the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club part of the 2011 Laureus World Sports Awards on February 6, 2011 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

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Actress Hayden Panettiere ® and boxer Wladimir Klitschko arrive at the 2011 InStyle And Warner Bros. 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards post-party held at The Beverly Hilton hotel on January 16, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California