Talk about your scholar athletes, Vitali Klitschko, the former WBC heavyweight champion, is running for mayor of Kiev, in the Ukraine. In his previous attempt at politics, Klitschko was runner up in Kiev’s last mayoral election. He currently serves on Kiev’s city council. He has a doctorate in Physical Science and Sports.
The election is May 25. And, oh yeah, Vitali announced he is returning to the ring and has a fight lined up with current WBC champion Sam Peter for the summer. His younger brother, Wladimir, is the current WBO-IBF heavyweight champion.
The Neutral Corner recently caught up with Klischko while he was in New York.
Neutral Corner: Do you want to talk politics or boxing?
Vitali Klitschko: Either one.
NC: Let’s start with politics, how do you feel about the upcoming election?
VK: My chances look very good. I have good support in Kiev, the public supports me and I am very optimistic about the election. Every morning at 6 a.m., I am in the gym. By 9 a.m., I in the office. I feel great.
NC: What is the perception of the United States and our government around the world?
VK: Actually, I understand that so many American citizens are sometimes very critical of American politics and politicians, but American politics show a very good example for the whole world. It’s an open discussion. It’s democracy. There is freedom of the press. There are so many things we can speak about. There are so many places in the world where you can’t do that. Where you can’t do things you can do in America. I don’t want to criticize American politics.
NC: Okay. Tell me about your comeback.
VK: Every day I spend two, three hours in the gym. I am in great form. I have experience and you can never lose experience. I am at a point, not just in boxing, but in life, where I have experience. I promise to fight and I have a vision to realize my dreams. To write the history of boxing and be world champion at the same time as my brother, two heavyweight champions at the same time. It’s never happened in the heavyweight division. I plan to fight this summer for a world title.
NC: In his last fight, your brother Wladimir was criticized for his performance against Sultan Ibragimov. How did you feel about the fight?
VK: I am very happy that my brother is world champion. He is the strongest fighter in the world. I support him. I think my brother had a great performance. Please don’t forget that he fought against a world champion. Of course the people want to see the knockout, it’s very difficult to knock out someone who was running away form you. I was happy with the decision.
NC: There have been quite a few heavyweight champions who have emerged from the former Soviet Union, yourself, your brother, Oleg Maskaev, Ibragimov, Valuev, why do you think that is?
VK: After the Iron Curtain fell down, all the Russian amateurs moved to the west and pursued professional boxing careers. Right now we have good results. The Russian fighters are very hungry.
NC: Vitali, good luck in the election and good luck in your quest to regain the title.
VK: Wait. I have a question for you.
NC: Okay.
VK: Don’t you want to know why I got into politics?
NC: Sure.
VK: I travel around the world, I spent a lot of time in Germany and in the United States, my three children are born in Los Angeles. I come from Kiev, Ukraine. When I come to Kiev, I see the city, very pretty, 1,500 years old. But the rules are still same as they were under the Soviet Union. I am trying to bring the same simple rules to Kiev, to make life in my city, like life in Europe and in the United States. I have very high moral qualities. I want to work hard for my city and the people who live there. It’s not communist anymore, but there is corruption in Kiev. So many investors want to invest in Kiev, but they are afraid because no one can guarantee that the money will come back. There is no guarantee that someone will steal the money.
-- CASSIDY
