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Vitali Klitschko ends retirement, might fight Maskaev
By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
Former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, who retired days before a title defense against Hasim Rahman in November 2005 because of a knee injury, is planning to return to the ring.
"I've been back in the gym for a couple of weeks and I feel great," Klitschko said in a statement. "My injuries have healed and after much hard work, and with the approval of the doctors, I am cleared to continue my boxing career."
Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs) hasn't fought since making his only title defense against Danny Williams, a bloody eighth-round knockout in Las Vegas on Dec. 11, 2004.
Klitschko was stopped in the sixth round by Lennox Lewis in June 2003, when Lewis opened a horrific cut over Klitschko's eye. Lewis later retired and Klitschko knocked out Corrie Sanders in April 2004 to win the vacant belt.
When he retired, Klitschko vacated his title, which interim titlist Rahman inherited and subsequently lost to Oleg Maskaev.
Now, Klitschko said he is back for his belt.
"I am returning to the ring to get my WBC heavyweight championship back," said Klitschko, who mounted an unsuccessful run for mayor of Kiev in his native Ukraine during his retirement. "In November 2005, due to a serious knee injury, I retired without having lost the WBC belt in the ring. At the WBC gala event on Dec. 20, 2005 in Cancun, Mexico, the WBC designated me as 'WBC Champion Emeritus' and assured me that whenever I was ready to return, I would become the immediate mandatory challenger for the title.
I'm back, and I have requested that the WBC sanction a bout between me and Oleg Maskaev. I look forward to reclaiming my title, and want to thank everyone who has been so supportive during my short retirement from the ring."
There is talk that a Maskaev-Klitschko bout could be staged in Moscow on April 21. The WBC has yet to rule on whether it will install Klitschko, 35, as the immediate mandatory challenger for Maskaev, but it expected to approve Maskaev-Klitschko.
If it does, it probably will have a lawsuit on its hands from No. 1 contender Samuel Peter.
Peter twice defeated James Toney in official elimination fights. He won the first bout in September, but a rematch was ordered when the WBC upheld Toney's appeal of the split decision loss.
On Jan. 6, Peter again defeated Toney, this time on a lopsided decision. For both fights, Peter paid a sanction fee, yet no title fight was ordered.
"It's a disgrace. I fought my way into this position without taking shortcuts," said Peter, who is demanding that the WBC uphold his mandatory rights. "I paid my sanctioning fees not once, but twice. I wasn't even supposed to fight the second time, but people were questioning the judges, so I fought again to prove myself.
"They're trying to take away everything I worked for all those years. I'm No. 1 and they're going to have a very big problem if they allow this. They are putting their own hands in the fire and making a big mistake."
Maskaev has made no secret that he is avoiding Peter, instead looking for more significant paydays. After Maskaev knocked out Rahman in August to win the title, promoter Dennis Rappaport secured an exception to his mandatory obligation, and Maskaev easily defeated obscure Peter Okhello in December in Moscow.
Rappaport tried to make a fight with Evander Holyfield and then tried to make a unification match between Maskaev and Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali's younger brother who holds the IBF heavyweight title.
When that fight didn't materialize -- both beltholders had mandatory defenses to make -- Rappaport looked to Vitali, who had the promise of a title fight if he returned.
It has angered Peter.
"Why did he [Vitali Klitschko] wait till I beat Toney the second time to say he was coming back? Why not announce before? Because he's not a true champion," Peter said. "He got his title when Lennox Lewis retired. And now he wants to fight Maskaev, who is also not a true champion because he's avoiding me. Let me go against Maskaev and I'll knock him out and then I'll knock out both Klitschko brothers on the same night."
"I am returning to the ring to get my WBC heavyweight championship back."
-- Former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko
Dino Duva, who co-promotes Peter with Don King, is also upset that Peter might be passed over for a title shot.
"From the standpoint of Vitali personally, I respect him and we wish him the best and if he comes back, we hope the injuries that forced his retirement are really healed, so that he may continue his career," Duva said. "However any thought or mention of him or anyone else trying to step in front of Samuel Peter's path to the title is very dangerous legally and financially for anyone who goes there. We will not stand by and allow Samuel Peter's rights to be violated."
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.
Vitali Klitschko career highlights
• July 19, 1971: Born in Kyrgyzstan. Brother Vladimir born five years later. Both go on to attain PhDs in sports science and hold versions of the world heavyweight title.
• Nov. 16, 1996: Makes professional debut in Hamburg, knocking out Tony Bradham of the U.S. in the second round.
• May 2, 1998: Wins WBO Intercontinental title with a fifth round TKO of Dick Ryan of the United States.
• Oct. 24, 1998: Wins European heavyweight title with second-round knockout win against fellow German Mario Schiesser. Defends title twice.
• June 26, 1999: Wins WBO world title in London with second-round knockout victory over England's Herbie Hide.
• April 1, 2000: After two successful defenses, loses WBO world title with a 10th-round TKO by Chris Byrd of the United States.
• Jan. 27, 2001: Wins WBA intercontinental title with TKO in first round against Orlin Norris of United States.
• June 21, 2003: Loses WBC world title fight against Lennox Lewis of Britain, via a TKO in the sixth round, after sustaining a cut eye.
• April 24, 2004: Wins WBC world heavyweight title with a TKO eighth-round win over Corrie Sanders of South Africa.
• Dec. 11, 2004: Successfully defends WBC title with TKO eighth-round win over Britain's Danny Williams in Las Vegas.
• 2005: Forced to pull out of scheduled defense against Hasim Rahman because of knee injury sustained in training bout. Undergoes surgery and retires with a professional record of 35 wins in 37 fights.
-- Reuters
Vitali Klitschko ends retirement, might fight Maskaev
By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
Former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, who retired days before a title defense against Hasim Rahman in November 2005 because of a knee injury, is planning to return to the ring.
"I've been back in the gym for a couple of weeks and I feel great," Klitschko said in a statement. "My injuries have healed and after much hard work, and with the approval of the doctors, I am cleared to continue my boxing career."
Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs) hasn't fought since making his only title defense against Danny Williams, a bloody eighth-round knockout in Las Vegas on Dec. 11, 2004.
Klitschko was stopped in the sixth round by Lennox Lewis in June 2003, when Lewis opened a horrific cut over Klitschko's eye. Lewis later retired and Klitschko knocked out Corrie Sanders in April 2004 to win the vacant belt.
When he retired, Klitschko vacated his title, which interim titlist Rahman inherited and subsequently lost to Oleg Maskaev.
Now, Klitschko said he is back for his belt.
"I am returning to the ring to get my WBC heavyweight championship back," said Klitschko, who mounted an unsuccessful run for mayor of Kiev in his native Ukraine during his retirement. "In November 2005, due to a serious knee injury, I retired without having lost the WBC belt in the ring. At the WBC gala event on Dec. 20, 2005 in Cancun, Mexico, the WBC designated me as 'WBC Champion Emeritus' and assured me that whenever I was ready to return, I would become the immediate mandatory challenger for the title.
I'm back, and I have requested that the WBC sanction a bout between me and Oleg Maskaev. I look forward to reclaiming my title, and want to thank everyone who has been so supportive during my short retirement from the ring."
There is talk that a Maskaev-Klitschko bout could be staged in Moscow on April 21. The WBC has yet to rule on whether it will install Klitschko, 35, as the immediate mandatory challenger for Maskaev, but it expected to approve Maskaev-Klitschko.
If it does, it probably will have a lawsuit on its hands from No. 1 contender Samuel Peter.
Peter twice defeated James Toney in official elimination fights. He won the first bout in September, but a rematch was ordered when the WBC upheld Toney's appeal of the split decision loss.
On Jan. 6, Peter again defeated Toney, this time on a lopsided decision. For both fights, Peter paid a sanction fee, yet no title fight was ordered.
"It's a disgrace. I fought my way into this position without taking shortcuts," said Peter, who is demanding that the WBC uphold his mandatory rights. "I paid my sanctioning fees not once, but twice. I wasn't even supposed to fight the second time, but people were questioning the judges, so I fought again to prove myself.
"They're trying to take away everything I worked for all those years. I'm No. 1 and they're going to have a very big problem if they allow this. They are putting their own hands in the fire and making a big mistake."
Maskaev has made no secret that he is avoiding Peter, instead looking for more significant paydays. After Maskaev knocked out Rahman in August to win the title, promoter Dennis Rappaport secured an exception to his mandatory obligation, and Maskaev easily defeated obscure Peter Okhello in December in Moscow.
Rappaport tried to make a fight with Evander Holyfield and then tried to make a unification match between Maskaev and Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali's younger brother who holds the IBF heavyweight title.
When that fight didn't materialize -- both beltholders had mandatory defenses to make -- Rappaport looked to Vitali, who had the promise of a title fight if he returned.
It has angered Peter.
"Why did he [Vitali Klitschko] wait till I beat Toney the second time to say he was coming back? Why not announce before? Because he's not a true champion," Peter said. "He got his title when Lennox Lewis retired. And now he wants to fight Maskaev, who is also not a true champion because he's avoiding me. Let me go against Maskaev and I'll knock him out and then I'll knock out both Klitschko brothers on the same night."
"I am returning to the ring to get my WBC heavyweight championship back."
-- Former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko
Dino Duva, who co-promotes Peter with Don King, is also upset that Peter might be passed over for a title shot.
"From the standpoint of Vitali personally, I respect him and we wish him the best and if he comes back, we hope the injuries that forced his retirement are really healed, so that he may continue his career," Duva said. "However any thought or mention of him or anyone else trying to step in front of Samuel Peter's path to the title is very dangerous legally and financially for anyone who goes there. We will not stand by and allow Samuel Peter's rights to be violated."
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.
Vitali Klitschko career highlights
• July 19, 1971: Born in Kyrgyzstan. Brother Vladimir born five years later. Both go on to attain PhDs in sports science and hold versions of the world heavyweight title.
• Nov. 16, 1996: Makes professional debut in Hamburg, knocking out Tony Bradham of the U.S. in the second round.
• May 2, 1998: Wins WBO Intercontinental title with a fifth round TKO of Dick Ryan of the United States.
• Oct. 24, 1998: Wins European heavyweight title with second-round knockout win against fellow German Mario Schiesser. Defends title twice.
• June 26, 1999: Wins WBO world title in London with second-round knockout victory over England's Herbie Hide.
• April 1, 2000: After two successful defenses, loses WBO world title with a 10th-round TKO by Chris Byrd of the United States.
• Jan. 27, 2001: Wins WBA intercontinental title with TKO in first round against Orlin Norris of United States.
• June 21, 2003: Loses WBC world title fight against Lennox Lewis of Britain, via a TKO in the sixth round, after sustaining a cut eye.
• April 24, 2004: Wins WBC world heavyweight title with a TKO eighth-round win over Corrie Sanders of South Africa.
• Dec. 11, 2004: Successfully defends WBC title with TKO eighth-round win over Britain's Danny Williams in Las Vegas.
• 2005: Forced to pull out of scheduled defense against Hasim Rahman because of knee injury sustained in training bout. Undergoes surgery and retires with a professional record of 35 wins in 37 fights.
-- Reuters
