Wladimir Klitschko Autograph

Profession:
(1976-) Ukrainian former professional boxer

Year of Birth: 1976

Wladimir Klitschko is a former professional boxer and one of the most successful heavyweight champions of all time. He was born in Kazakhstan on March 25th, 1976 to a family of Ukrainian descent. His father, Vladimir, was a Soviet Air Force Colonel and his mother is Nadezhda Ulyanovna. He has an older brother, Vitali, who is also a professional boxer.

Klitschko began boxing at the age of 15, when he was introduced to the sport by his older brother. He went on to become a gold medalist at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and then turned professional in 1996. From 2000 to 2005, Klitschko held the WBO, WBA, and IBF heavyweight titles, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000. He then held the WBO and IBF titles from 2006 to 2015, and was the longest reigning heavyweight world champion in history.

Klitschko's professional career spanned 24 years and included 64 fights, of which he won 56 (including 51 knockouts). He holds the record for the longest combined world championship reign in boxing history at 1403 days, as well as the longest individual WBO reign at 10 years. His biggest victories include those over heavyweight champions Lamon Brewster, Ray Mercer, Sultan Ibragimov, Ruslan Chagaev, David Haye, and Alexander Povetkin.

In his personal life, Klitschko is married to former American professional tennis player, Hayden Panettiere. The couple have two children together, Kaya and Vivienne. Klitschko is also an avid philanthropist and was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for UNESCO in 2009. He is actively involved in numerous charitable initiatives, including the Klitschko Foundation, which focuses on helping children in need.

Klitschko retired from boxing in 2017, but he remains one of the most iconic figures in the sport. He is often referred to as “Dr. Steelhammer” in reference to his punching power. His legacy will be remembered as one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time, and as one of the most influential athletes of his era.

Today, Klitschko is still very active in the public eye. In 2018, he was appointed as the Mayor of Kiev and is also the founder of the Klitschko Brothers Foundation, which helps provide educational and social opportunities for youth in Ukraine. He also continues to be involved in many business ventures and investments, while also publicly speaking on the topics of sport, culture, and politics.