Web Quotableonline.com Frasescelebres.org Greatbookscollection.org

Wladimir Klitschko (born March 25, 1976 in
Semey|Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan) is a
Ukraine|Ukrainian heavyweight boxer, living in
Beverly Hills. His older brother Vitali
Klitschko|Vitali is also a boxer.  He is known as
"Steelhammer" and "Doctor" (since he has a
doctorate in physical science).

He first shot to fame at the Atlanta Olympics in
1996 when he defeated Pia Wolfgramm in the final
to win the Super-Heavyweight Gold medal.

Standing 6'7" (2.01 m), Wladimir is large even for
a heavyweight and usually dominates his opponents
with his superior size and reach.  His record as
of April 2005 is 44-3, with 40 knockouts.

He turned professional with Universum
Box-Promotion in Hamburg, Germany under the
tuteledge of Fritz Sdunek.

On October 14, 2000, Klitschko won the WBO title
from Chris Byrd, who had defeated his brother
Vitali six months earlier.  After five defenses of
the belt, he lost it to South African fighter
Corrie Sanders in March 2003(KO'd in 2, and down
four times).

On April 10, 2004, Wladimir again tried for the
now-vacant WBO title, but was defeated by TKO at
the end of five rounds by Lamon Brewster.  The
fight ended in strange circumstances whereby
Wladimir seemed to collapse from utter exhaustion,
rather than from Brewster's punches.  Some
speculation that he was somehow drugged  was never
proven.

One year later, on April 23, 2005, he returned to
boxing, knocking out Eliseo Castillo (who was
undefeated until then in 19 fights, with 14
knockouts) in the fourth round, in Germany.

The younger Klitschko has appeared in a match
against Lennox Lewis in the motion picture "Oceans
Eleven" (a real fight between them fell through
after Wladimir lost to Sanders).

Both Klitschko brothers have stated that they
would never fight against each other under any
circumstances.