BIOGRAPHY | VITALI KLITSCHKO

Vitali Klitschko was born on July 19th 1971 in Kirgizstan. Vitali fought his first bout in 1996 and he won his first heavyweight championship in 1996 by knockout against the English Herbie Hide (WBO). In 2004 Vitali Klitschko became the holder of the WBC title by defeating Corrie Sanders in the Staples Centre of Los Angeles. But due to physical injuries he had to lay down the title in 2005 and resign from boxing.

By returning to the ring after almost four years in October 2008 and winning the WBC title once again, he proved to be an exceptional sportsman. By doing so Vitali became the forth boxer in the history after Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis to win a world heavyweight belt for the third time. According to the boxing journal "The Ring" Vitali's victory was the "Comeback of the year 2008" and the Laureus Academy awarded him for this outstanding achievement with the "Laureus World Sports Comeback Award".

With this victory Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko are the first brothers in the history of boxing to hold world championship titles in heavyweight at the same time. Vitali Klitschko holds the world championship title of the international boxing organization WBC. Vitali Klitschko is a man with visions. One of these visions is to help his home country Ukraine toward a better future. Because of that he is pursuing a political career outside the ring in Ukraine. In Kiev he ran for mayor twice and as floor leader is a member of the city parliament. In addition he is a member of the organizational committee of the EURO 2012 in Ukraine.

Together with his brother, Vitali Klitschko is ambassador to UNESCO and of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. The brothers were awarded as "Champions des Sports" and "Heroes for Children" for their work. The holder of a doctorate in sport science is married and has three children. Vitali Klitschko has already been decorated with several awards, among them the Bambi (2005 and 2009) and the Goldene Kamera.