Wladimir Klitschko is ready for a spectacular return. Around eight years after his last fight, he will probably be back in the ring soon.
Former world champion Wladimir Klitschko has commented on speculation about a return to the boxing ring and put reports of an imminent comeback into perspective.
“There are a lot of rumors about a possible comeback these days. At the moment, I’m not thinking about my return to boxing, but about the return of Russians to their country, outside of Ukraine,” Klitschko wrote on Thursday evening at X. The former world number one posted a selfie with his compatriot Alexander Usyk, who will face the Briton Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Klitschko last time in the ring in 2017
Klitschko did not want to completely rule out a comeback. He never stopped training: “SO IF there should be a fight, I would be ready immediately. But this weekend I will only watch a fight with a talented Ukrainian.”
Previously, Klitschko’s return had already been reported in the media as a done deal. There was also speculation about a fight on February 22 against the British IBF world champion Daniel Dubois. The Saudi businessman Turki Al-Sheikh, currently the most powerful man in boxing, is said to be very interested in a Klitschko comeback. In the run-up to the mega-fight between Fury and Usyk in Riyadh, he had declared that he would like Klitschko as an opponent for the winner. Whether this will happen is questionable.
A duel with Fury would be a chance for Klitschko to get revenge. In November 2015, he had lost the three world championship belts of the IBF, IBO and WBO in Düsseldorf to the Briton. Should Klitschko take on a world championship fight, he would also have the opportunity to replace George Foreman as the oldest heavyweight champion. Klitschko has not been in the ring since 2017.
