The sons of major Soviet generals, they were always there to help from the corner whenever one was in the boxing ring.
They are now in a fight unlike anything they could have imagined. This fight is not about a big championship belt, but survival of their country.
Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, is leading it. His younger brother is the chief second.
They are a formidable duo, and ready to do anything to defend their country from the invading Russians. While this has not included armed combat so far, both have stated that they are ready to fight on the streets if necessary.
They’re not the only ones in rich Ukrainian boxing communities.
Vasiliy Lomachenko was a two-time Olympic gold-medallist who many consider the best pound for pound fighter in the entire world. He flew from Greece to quickly change into combat fatigues and join a defense battalion. On his official Facebook page, he was seen with an assault rifle strapped to his shoulder in Odessa.
The caption stated that “The Belgorod–Dnestrovsky Territorial Defence Battalion was formed and armed.” Vasiliy Lomachenko, a boxer, informed the mayor about the territorial defense.
The fight will also feature the current heavyweight champion. Oleksandr Usyk, who returned from London after Russia invaded his country, is now preparing to fight the Russians in his homeland.
Both could be losing millions of dollars — Usyk, in Joshua’s case the largest purse in his career in a rematch. However, defending a belt is not the same as defending a country.
On Sunday Usyk was not wearing gloves, but a rifle and was flanked by three other armed men from the Kyiv Territorial Defense force.
All of them are great fighters, with proud trophies in the ring. Wladimir Klitschko and Joshua fought in a thrilling knockdown fight in front of 90,000 at Wembley Stadium. Klitschko was able to take the British champion off the mat that night, but was eventually stopped by the younger fighter.
People in boxing still talk of Vitali Klitschko almost winning the fight against Lennox Lewis at heavyweight in Los Angeles in 2003. But the ring doctor stopped the fight because Klitschko was bleeding so heavily that he couldn’t see.
The gloves were never removed by any of the Ukrainian prizefighters. They don’t seem to be afraid of what is in front of them.
Vitali replied, “Go home,” when asked about his advice to Russian soldiers. “You don’t have anything to find here.”
Usyk was more direct in his message.
In a Twitter video, he stated that “You aren’t at war with our government or our army.” “You are at war against the people. This is our country. We are at home.
Vitali Klitschko is the mayor of Kyiv, having been elected in 2014, two years after he quit boxing. He had earned an Olympic gold medal as well as a world title. His brother, Vitali Klitschko, was undoubtedly even more successful. He held the title of heavyweight champion for 11 years and never lost.
They were raised fighting in the Soviet amateur boxing system. Although their technical style didn’t appeal to all, they were immensely popular in Germany, where they sold out stadiums and arenas for big fights.
They are also extremely intelligent. Both hold advanced college degrees and can speak four languages.
Both have high-ranking friends.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor and politician, tweeted “I am thinking about you, my friends” along with a photo of the brothers. “You were my heroes in that ring, and now you are my heroes.”
Boxrec.com, which is boxing’s closest thing to a record book has a Monday home page featuring a photo of Vitali Klitschko with an automatic rifle.
The caption said, “#1 — Vitali Klitschko.”
This is not sport, but war. There is no referee and very few rules.
Despite Russian troops approaching the city on Sunday night, the brothers tried their best to remain positive inside the office of the mayor, even though Vitali Klitschko warned that there would be a humanitarian crisis as city’s food- and medicine supplies dried up.
He stated that the most pressing question right now is to defend our country, according to Efrem Lukatsky and Francesca Ebel of the AP.
Like so many brave Ukrainians, they will be there to defend it. Their courage in the face great force is similar to the courage they showed entering the ring. It has been multiplied by 10.
It’s not surprising that they are willing to sacrifice their lives for the country.
They are fighters and they fight for their lives.
