Vitali Klitschko

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Dr. Vitali Vladimirovich Klitschko (born July 19, 1971) is the current WBC Heavyweight boxing champion of the world. He was born in Belovodsk, Kyrgyzstan, in the former Soviet Union. His younger brother, Wladimir Klitschko, is also a top Heavyweight contender. Their father was a Soviet Air Force Colonel, and they are ethnically Ukrainian.

Originally a professional Kickboxer, Vitali was also a boxer and won the Super Heavyweight Championship at the first World Military Games in Italy in 1995. He began his professional boxing career in 1996, and won almost all of his first fights by knockout in the early rounds, and eventually won the WBO World Heavyweight Championship against Herbie Hide by Knockout in the Second Round. He made several title defense before losing in 1999 to Chris Byrd, after Vitali was forced to retire due to an injured rotator cuff. Chris Byrd, in his next fight, was defeated by Wladimir, avenging his elder brother's defeat. Vitali continued to fight, and on June 21, 2003, he fought Lennox Lewis for the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship of the World. For the first two rounds, Vitali dominated the fight against a Lennox Lewis who seemed out of shape and tired. But in the third round, Lewis landed a grazing 1-2 combo that caused a horrendous cut over Klitschko's left eye. The next 3 rounds were give and take, and at the end of the 6th round, the scores on all three judges scorecards read 58-56 in favor of Klitschko. However, at the end of the round the fight was stopped due to the cut over Klitschko's eye. Though he lost, he gained many fans and made his name with his performance. On December 6, 2003, Vitali returned to the ring against Kirk Johnson and knocked him out in the 2nd round, reaffirming his place as the number 1 Heavyweight contender.

Klitschko defeated Corrie Sanders on April 24, 2004, to capture the WBC Heavyweight Championship, which had been vacated by Lennox Lewis two months earlier. Sanders had defeated younger brother Wladimir Klitschko on March 8, 2003 by 2nd Round KO for the WBO Heavyweight Championship, and despite being a bout for a heavyweight championship title, few recognized Sanders as a legitimate contender for the crown prior to the bout.

Championships Won

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