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The Week in Germany: Sports

July 20, 2007

Boxing: Vitali Klitschko Comes out of Retirement to Seek Another World Title

A champion boxer and a proud family man: Vitali Klitschko and his wife, Natalia, photo: dpa

Vitali Klitschko is determined to join his younger brother Wladimir and become heavyweight boxing world champion when he comes out of retirement for his first bout in more than three years.

The Ukrainian Klitschko is set for a self-styled "Oktoberfist" fight in Munich's Olympiahalle against American heavyweight boxer Jameel McCline on September 22, 2007. He will subsequently be eligible to box for the World Boxing Council title currently occupied by Russia's Oleg Maskaev.

"It will be a real battle. I rule out defeat," Klitschko, 35, told a news conference in Munich on Monday (July 16).

"I was world champion, I was at the top. But I want to be world champion at the same time as my brother is and make history with it."

Wladimir Klitschko is the current heavyweight world champion of the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

Vitali's last bout dates back to December 2004, when he defended his WBC world title against Briton Danny Williams. A string of injuries prevented him from further bouts and the gravest of them, a torn cruciate knee ligament, sent him into retirement in 2005.

Ever since, the WBC has listed him as "World Champion Emeritus" and is ready to grant him a title fight on returning to the ring.

The duel with McCline is a warmup for Klitschko, who has won 35 bouts and lost two, but by no means an easy one.

"It makes no sense to compete against a weak opponent," he said.

McCline, 37, has won 38 of his 49 fights. His defeats include a world title fight against Wladimir Klitschko, to whom he paid respect on Monday.

"He is a very impressive fighter. I consider him a great champion," said McCline.

Klitschko did not want to set a time frame for a comeback into the ring, saying "every fight could be the last one."

But he also vowed that he had a lot of energy left in his body. (TWIG/dpa)

Links:

Klitschko Brothers Official Site

Boxing is Becoming Big Business in Germany (TWIG, March 16, 2007)

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