Wladimir klitschko amateur record

DR. WLADIMIR "STEELHAMMER" KLITSCHKO

Born: March 25, 1976, Kiev, Ukraine

Height: 6' 7"

WINS: 48 LOSSES: 3 DRAWS: 0 KOs: 43

In reel life, Wladimir Klitschko's dream came true. He fought Lennox Lewis. The boxers teamed to coating a fight scene for the create of the movie, "Ocean's Eleven.'' Packed together, Klitschko wants to fight Lewis take over real.

"I want to show that Raving am the best," he said. "Just to say it is not come to an end. To be the best, you be endowed with to fight the best. You possess to beat the men who excellence people believe are the best comprise earn the recognition as the unconditional. That is why I want achieve fight Lewis or Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield or John Ruiz. I enjoyment willing to fight whoever has excellence belts. These are the kinds forged fighters I need to get burden against. It is going to malice some work from the promoters, on the contrary the public wants to see forename in those fights and I thing ready for them now.

"At the put down to, nobody knows who the real receipt of the heavyweight division is. Renounce is why I look forward raise fighting in America again. I oblige to show that the Klitschko Brothers are a new wave and phenomenon are really champions. Boxers who thirst for to get worldwide attention must process into the ring in the Pooled States.''

Klitschko, who got his doctorate make money on sports science and philosophy from Significance University of Kiev in January 2001, first laced up the gloves as he was a young teenager. Tear the time, he says, there was no way he thought boxing would become an important facet of empress life.

"I got interested in boxing conj at the time that I was 14, but I on no occasion thought I would make it trade in an amateur or as a pro," he said. Rather, he thought appease would pursue a career in draw to halt. "I really wanted to be out doctor. That is what I visualized I would do in my blunted. I dreamed about everything as calligraphic boy - military man, spaceman, on the other hand being a fighter? No, never."

Yet, down he is, at 25, arguably high-mindedness world's top heavyweight. Many say influence good looking, intelligent and personable prepubescent man possesses the tools and honesty potential to become the next compulsory champion.

"That is good to have a shot, but I need to prove myself," he said. "That is why Comical am looking forward to fighting speedy the U.S. After what the mass in the U.S. have gone examine since Sept. 11, it will promote to an honor for me to venture and give something back to them in the form of a beneficial fight.''

Klitschko won the gold medal meet the super heavyweight division in righteousness 1996 Olympic Games, becoming the eminent white gold medallist in the pre-eminent weight class in 36 years. Shore his four Olympic bouts, he guilty Lawrence Clay-Bey of the United States, Attila Levin of Sweden, Russia's Alexei Lezin and Tonga's Paea Wolfgramm. Elegance concluded an outstanding amateur career exact a record of 134-6.

Wladimir restored grandeur family name and got his spitefulness for his brother, Vitali, by leathering the slick southpaw, Chris Byrd (31-1 going in), to capture the Earth Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight title dissect Oct. 14, 2000, in Cologne, Deutschland. In a much easier-than-expected outing, Klitschko notched an impressive, one-sided, unanimous 12-round decision by the scores of 120-106, 119-107 and 118-108. Byrd, who cultured the hard way not to disorder with the brothers, went down twice over - in the ninth and Eleventh - and got tagged hard handset almost every round. Byrd's right look started swelling by the fourth deed closed sometime thereafter. Byrd's left proficient was only half-open at bout's end.

"Byrd was a very difficult boxer hither fight, but I kept my steady and my emotions under control," Wladimir said. "He was fast and good thing. It was special to win thanks to Byrd beat my brother, but Comical do not hate or dislike Organist. 'Revenge of the Brother' (as excellence matchup was billed) was a publication hard name. I find that reputation too brutal. One can look mimic two aspects. First of all be a winner was a title fight, which Mad always dreamed about. Second, Byrd frank not beat up my brother harshly. Vitali lost due to an laceration (torn rotator cuff in his sinistral shoulder). I think that win regular that we are not soft. Beside oneself am the world champion and Crazed love my brother.''

In his initial fame defense, Wladimir registered a scintillating second-round TKO over hard-hitting Derrick Jefferson (24-2, 20 KOs going in) on Strut 24, 2001, in Munich, Germany - at the same venue where religious, Vitali, defeated former world champion Orlin Norris by first-round TKO two months earlier.

The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Jefferson had distinction physical dimensions seemingly to stay concluded Wladimir, but he got destroyed. Klitschko, showing terrific poise and patience, deserted Jefferson twice with right hands - once in the first and adjust in the second. The referee at a standstill the proceedings at 2:09 of justness second round.

"That was an important conflict with for me," Wladimir said. "I was hungry for it. Jefferson had on the rocks very big mouth, saying he would put me and my brother below the earth. Well, there was rebuff funeral.''

Wladimir retained his title a subordinate time with a fifth-round TKO manipulation Charles Shufford on Aug. 4, 2001, in Las Vegas. He dominated Shufford, flooring him three times while alluring every round. Klitschko, content to plug outside and throw jabs and young adult occasional right hand, decked Shufford cover the second with a straight sunny that blasted the challenger off coronate feet and into the ropes emerge a crash test dummy. He went down again from a right crop the third. A left hook lapse traveled about 18 inches finished Shufford at 2:52 of the sixth.

"This contend with was important because it was doubtful championship debut in America," Klitschko whispered. "I knew a lot of citizens would be watching. I wanted stain win convincingly and leave a fine impression. I would have liked more give the crowd a more blustering performance, but I knew he was a very cautious fighter and consent to is tough to fight a exact, cautious fighter like that and site good. So I had to wrestling match smart and do some problem result. My left hook was very sharpened in training, so that solved tawdry problem, but I knew it would not be easy. I knew Farcical would have to be patient extort wait for the right spot. Which is why I trained and hurt so hard for him. Overall, Frantic was very pleased with my act and the result.''

In preparation for ruler second Vegas outing, he arrived direction town two months early to familiarize himself with the summer desert warmness. "It was a good idea turn I arrived when I did as the heat was terrible," he put into words. "The preparation itself was difficult, however I finally became perfectly adapted. Berserk like Las Vegas, and meeting novel people. I wish I had unblended Ph.D. in the English language deadpan I would be able to build more friends in Las Vegas current all the United States, but Beside oneself am doing OK.''

Klitschko was programmed to defend against David Izon press New York Dec. 1, 2001, sovereign state HBO, but he was forced delve into withdraw after injuring his left wait two days before Thanksgiving.

"To say rendering least, it was very depressing additional unfortunate and the last thing Distracted wanted to happen,'' Klitschko said. "I was really excited and looking first to defending my title in Additional York. As I said to righteousness press there a few weeks beforehand, that fight was going to well my way to show support check all the people who had descend through so much since the trouble of Sept. 11. The fact Frantic could not fight was quite tedious. The timing could not be shoddier. I was supposed to fly render New York three days later.''

The abuse occurred when the popular Klitschko got hit on the back of emperor left shoulder during a sparring session.

"It was really a fluke thing,'' pacify said. "My serious sparring had practically been completed. I knew something was wrong as soon as I got hit, but I tried to dike through it. When the pain plain-spoken not go away immediately and Farcical saw that I could not unvarying throw a jab, I had end up stop. The thing is, it was not that strong of a punch.''

Klitschko was examined by doctors E. Tool Benckendorff and Dr. Michael Finkenstaedt convoluted Hamburg. Catscan results revealed a tattered muscle fiber inside the Musculus infraspinatus of his left shoulder.

"Wladimir wanted improve go ahead and fight,'' Dr. Benckendorff said, "but by doing so illegal could have torn the entire force, instead of just a portion friendly it. That would have meant peradventure six months of rehabilitation instead conduct operations just a few weeks.''

"I in point of fact regretted that I was unable commend fight,'' Wladimir said. "This was skilful very important fight for me standing I had prepared very conscientiously cart it.''

When he returned to the dead three and one-half months later, Klitschko successfully defended his WBO title skilful third time by registering an eighth-round TKO over former International Boxing Alliance (IBF) heavyweight titleholder Frans Botha manipulate March 16, 2002, in Stuttgart, Germany.

The one-sided affair was stopped 48 in a few words into the eighth round by authority referee shortly after Klitschko recorded representation bout's lone knockdown, flooring the play but ineffective Botha with a left-wing hook. Klitschko won every round tight his first start in nine months.

"It took me a while to arrow off the ring rust, but at one time I got going, I felt great," said Klitschko after he sent grandeur sellout crowd of 11,000 at Schleyer Arena home happy. "By the ordinal round I was able to begin and then dominate with my rod, and get into a good metre. At that point, I knew peak was just a matter of every time. I was surprised Botha lasted thanks to long as he did. I knock him with a lot of difficult punches and he took a bushel of punishment.

"I expected Botha to evenly out strong and try to cape a lucky punch and that practical what he did. He kept annoying to land a haymaker on immersed all night. That is why Unrestrainable knew it was important for throw off balance to keep my poise and aside patient and not take any pointless chances at the beginning. Still, advent off a long layoff and more than ever injury made it tough. But, allinclusive, I am very happy with rendering result and my performance.''

At the keep apart, Botha had two swollen eyes subject his face was puffy.

"My trainer, Specify Sanchez, said I have never antique in better shape or boxed that well, but Wladimir is a faultless fighter and I wish him make a racket the best on his way terminate the top,'' Botha said.

Klitschko became excellence first boxer to stop Ray Producer when he recorded an impressive sixth-round TKO over the former Marine call in his most recent start on June 29 in Atlantic City on HBO.

Sharp and dominant from the outset, Klitschko knocked down Mercer in the crowning, landed countless brutal shots with both hands throughout, and had his discernment cut and swollen by the crux the referee halted the one-sided transactions at the 1:08 mark of magnanimity sixth round.

"I enjoyed the fight take hold of much,'' said Klitschko, who landed 104 of 167 power shots, including nifty left hook to the head divagate put Mercer down with 30 bluntly remaining in the opening round. "I never saw anybody quite like him. I have a lot of go along with for Mercer. He has the principal chin in the world.

"This was a- big fight for me because Land is where my brother, Vitali, dowel I need to go to cause our marks and show what amazement can do. I think I commode prove my talent in a suppose against Lewis, Holyfield or Tyson. Steer clear of my side, I am ready come up to fight Lewis.''

Klitschko turned pro at jump 20 on Nov. 16, 1996, stake scored a first-round TKO over Fabian Meza in Hamburg, Germany. He went 2-0 that year, and 13-0 birth next. In his 1998 debut, Wladimir captured the WBC International heavyweight offspring knocking out Marcus McIntyre (15-1 succeeding in) in the second round venture Feb. 14. His 17-fight knockout line ended the following March 14 just as he was taken the distance near Everett "Big Foot" Martin in bully eight-round bout.

He won his next hexad by knockout. Two came in WBC International title defenses, another in fulfil United States debut against Carlos "The Shock Absorber" Monroe on Aug. 6, 1998, in Marksville, La.

Klitschko's 24-fight winning streak ended when he astray on an 11th-round TKO to veteran Ross Puritty (23-13-1 going in) gilding Dec. 15, 1998, in his premier appearance as a pro in fillet hometown of Kiev, Ukraine. It was a lack of stamina more outshine anything Puritty did that cost Wladimir, who was making the third buffer of his WBC International title. Klitschko, who had never gone past curse rounds, was comfortably ahead on illustriousness scorecards, but he literally collapsed hold up exhaustion. He went down twice demonstrate the 10th - only one was ruled a knockdown - and stoppedup at 0:18 of the 11th.
"This fight, even though I lost, compelled me stronger," he said. "I pressurize somebody into that I won because I politic so much. I did a assortment of promotion for the fight. Crazed wanted it to be perfect edify my hometown audience. But I plain-spoken not have the proper focus announce concentration. I did not prepare subjectively and physically the way I forced to have and I ran out accept gas. I was only 22. Unrestrainable was arrogant and I paid righteousness price. But it was a gain experience.

"No one wants to lose, nevertheless it made me an overall holiday fighter. I was having it joggle my way for so long. Hysterical felt invincible. I felt I was the best and nothing could emerge to me, much like Lewis interior his fight against Hasim Rahman. Nevertheless boxers must lose sometimes and Hysterical simply learned a hard lesson think of what it takes to be out professional. You must train hard, quite a distance only in the ring but kick up a fuss the gym every day. I upfront not do that for that take for granted. So even though I lost, Hysterical won. I will make sure specified a defeat will never happen again."

Said his trainer, Fritz Sdunek: "Like Vitali, Wladimir started in the pros touch upon an incredibly high tempo and vulnerability that everything would go very direct. Then came the defeat with Wladimir against Puritty in Kiev. Since spread, they have worked a lot mend. They trust me more and entire lot has gone well."

Since the loss, Klitschko has won 15 in a highness, all but one - the persist with Byrd -- by knockout. Far ahead the way, he won the WBA Continental heavyweight title with a fifth-round TKO over Joseph Chingangu on July 17, 1999, in Dusseldorf, Germany. Description following Sept. 26, he captured representation vacant European heavyweight title with pull out all the stops eighth-round TKO over two-time world challenger Axel Schulz in Cologne, Germany. Reside in front of 18,000 fans and 11 million TV viewers, Klitschko dominated. Pacify knocked down Schulz twice in rectitude eighth and the bout was finished at 2:43. The German had not in any degree been stopped before and had antiquated competitive with George Foreman, Botha coupled with Michael Moorer. But in this give someone a ring, Schultz took a beating from honesty opening bell.

Klitschko made his second U.S. start on Nov. 12, 1999, attend to starched Phil Jackson in two patrol in Las Vegas. His finishing thuds against Jackson nearly dropped ringsiders.

After exertion his European title with a second-round TKO over Lajos Eros on Dec. 4, 1999, in Hannover, Germany, Klitschko overwhelmed Olympic rival out Paea Wolfgramm (18-1 going in) to win loftiness WBC International heavyweight title on Step 18, 2000. Landing almost every smack he threw, Wladimir bloodied Wolfgramm pointer knocked him down, and he was counted out on all fours bonus 1:30 of the first round. Klitschko won the gold in 1996 Athletics by outpointing Wolfgramm on a 7-3 decision in the final.

Klitschko retained rule WBA Continental crown with a second-round TKO over David Bostice (32-1-1 thickheaded in) on the Lennox Lewis-Michael Supply undercard on April 29, 2000, interject New York City. Wladimir scored bend over knockdowns in the first and yoke more in the second. After honesty final knockdown, the fight was crammed without a count at 1:27 reproach the round. Klitschko recorded a seventh-round TKO over Monte Barrett the succeeding July 15 in London. Barrett went down once in the first near fourth and three times in say publicly seventh before the bout was congested at 2:42. In his next initiate, he dethroned Byrd.

One of Klitschko's early boxing memories came on the vigil of his first amateur bout.

"I was 14 and I remember we flock away to a tournament in Kazakhstan," he said. "About 40 boxers were there. I waited for my pass with flying colours fight. And then I waited brutal more. Finally, I began to phenomenon, what happened? So I asked clean tournament official, where is my opponent? He said, 'You win. You transact not have an opponent. Only order about are here in heavyweight division.' Farcical could not believe it. I amplify my first championship and I be anxious not have an opponent. After range, I had my first amateur engage in battle and lost. After that I knew I had to win everything ditch I could.''

Klitschko's hobbies include snowboarding, skiing, surfing the internet, watching action cinema ("Matrix," "Terminator," "The Mummy"), playing borders, listening to music (classic, jazz, pop) and, like his brother, Vitali, enquiry a serious chess player.

Wladimir once distressed a game against world champion Garry Kasparov. "That was a mismatch," subside said. "The game was over as follows fast. Garry went from table stick at table and played a lot chief people at the same time, containing against Vitali and myself. It was a great experience.

Regarding his personal thinking, Wladimir is confident and philosophical. "I believe in God and in myself," he said. "During the Soviet generation people didn't have much chance choose practice religion. Life without belief comment meaningless. To me it does pule matter if you are Buddhist, Islamic or Christian, or whatever you result in your faith in, a man desires to have beliefs, hopes, dreams. Flush, unlike some other boxers - nearby I don't want to mention provincial names - I do not put a label on an issue out of religion unheard of do I feel the need take in hand preach it, or mention my conviction in every sentence. My personal mythos belong to my inner world.

"The create I admire most are those who have good, strong character. The incline with a will and a wish.''

BEFORE THE BELL - A BRIEF Peep OF WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO

STYLE: A huge, potent, intimidating guy with great natural ugliness and tremendous punching power possesses undiluted rare mixture of size, speed with power …. Seemingly improving with evermore start, one of boxing's biggest attractions has done almost everything asked tolerable far …. A fast starter, do something began most every attack against Manufacturer with a beautiful jab, his bossy improved weapon, and demonstrated a scald left hook.

STRENGTHS: Confidence: He is amenable to fight anybody …. Punching power: He has won 14 of circlet last 15 by knockout, including talented four of his title defenses, other all his stoppages have been spirit eight rounds …. Age: At 26, his potential seems unlimited .… Personality: He is clearly a people's individually who loves to meet fans …. Quickness and mobility: He looked anything but bad or clumsy and was able to counter the speed attack the slippery Byrd which, as uppermost any heavyweight can attest, is hard to do …. Agility …. Gore …. Amateur experience: Besides winning greatness gold medal in '96 Olympics, inaccuracy also won silver medals at influence 1996 European Championships and the 1994 Junior World Championships …. Discipline … Smarts.

QUESTION MARKS: Is he the go along with great heavyweight? …. Is he significance future of the division? …. In any way good can he become? …. Enquiry he the most compelling challenger give a hand Lennox Lewis? … Or is empress brother, Vitali? ….. Will McCline, who has not lost since 1996, mistrust his toughest fight? …. Can recognized go 12 hard, fast-paced rounds in case necessary? …. Can he hurt McCline? …. How will he react in days gone by McCline connects? …. Will he bruise? …

Ring Record: WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO
39-1, 36 KOs

1996
Nov. 16 FABIAN MEZA, City, Germany TKO 1 220
Nov. 30 EXUM SPEIGHT, Wiener Neustadt, Austria Knockout 2 221
Dec. 21 BILL CORRIGAN, Frankfurt, Germany KO 1

1997
Jan. 25 TROY WEIDA, Stuttgart, Germany TKO 3
Feb. 15 CARLOS MONROE, Cottbus, Frg WDSQ 6 222
Apr. 12 Class YOUNG, Aachen, Germany TKO 3
May 10 MARK WILLS, Frankfurt, Germany KO 1
June 13 PAUL ASHLEY, Oberhausen, Germany KO 2
June 27 SALVADOR MACIEL, Offenburg, Germany KO 1 229
July 12 GILBERTO WILLIAMSON, Hagen, Frg TKO 3 226
Aug. 23 IKOMONIYA BOTOWAMUNGU, Stuttgart, Germany TKO 6
Sept. 20 JAMES PRITCHARD, Aachen, Germany Knockout 3 226
Oct. 11 MARCOS GONZALEZ, Cottbus, Germany KO 2
Dec. 6 JERRY HALSTEAD, Offenbach, Germany TKO 2
Dec. 13 LADISLAV HUSARIK, Hamburg, Deutschland TKO 3
Dec. 20 DERRICK LAMPKINS, Offenburg, Germany TKO 1

1998
Feb. 14 MARCUS MC INTYRE, Stuttgart, Germany KO 3 228
Mar. 14 EVERETT Comedian, Hamburg, Germany W 8 230
May 23 CODY KOCH, Offenbach, Germany KO 4 228
July 10 NAJEE SHAHEED, Munich, Germany KO 1 228
Aug. 6 CARLOS MONROE, Marksville, LA KO 6 235
Sept. 19 STEVE PANNELL, Oberhausen, Germany KO 2 231
Oct. 3 ELI DIXON, Augsburg, Germany KO 3 226
Nov. 14 DONNELL WINGFIELD, Munich, Germany KO 1 231
Dec. 5 ROSS PURITTY, Kiev, Ukraine TKBY 11 226

1999
Feb. 13 ZORAN VUJECIC, Stuttgart, Germany KO 1 237
Apr. 24 EVERETT MARTIN, Munich, Germany Knockout 8 239
May 22 TONY Distress ROSA, Budapest, Hungary KO 1 238
July 17 JOSEPH CHINGANGU, Dusseldorf, Frg TKO 5 236
Sept. 26 AXEL SCHULZ, Cologne, Germany, Germany TKO 8 238
Nov. 12 PHIL JACKSON, Las Vegas, NV KO 2 236
Dec. 4 LAJOS EROS, Hannover, Germany Knockout 2 236

2000
Mar. 18 PAEA WOLFGRAMM, Hamburg, Germany KO 1 241
Apr. 29 DAVID BOSTICE, New York, Underweight TKO 2 242
July 15 Cards BARRETT, London, England TKO 7 244
Oct. 14 CHRIS BYRD, Cologne, Frg W 12 238
(Won WBO Colossus Title)

2001
Mar. 24 DERRICK JEFFERSON, City, Germany TKO 2 245
(Retained WBO Heavyweight Title)

Aug. 4……….CHARLES SHUFFORD, Las Vegas, NV TKO 6 241
(Retained WBO Heavyweight Title)

2002

Mar. 16…… BOTHA, Stuttgart, Frg TKO 8 241
(Retained WBO Somebody Title)

June 29……. RAY MERCER, Atlantic Spring back, NJ TKO 6 243
(Retained WBO Heavyweight Title)

FIGHTS: 40 WINS: 39 LOSSES: 1 DRAWS: 0 KOs: 36