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As Russians attack Kyiv with missiles and bombs, Vitali Klitschko, the 50-year-old mayor of Ukraine’s capital city, has emerged as an icon of Ukrainian resistance, bravely joining his city’s citizens to fight off the invaders.
But long before he fought the Russians, Klitschko fought as a heavyweight boxing champion, a detail that underscores his warrior spirit.
Klitschko, who stands at 6-foot 7-inches, fought as a pro-boxer from 1996 to 2013, ending with an astounding record of 45 wins and only 2 losses (both of which happened in response to injuries sustained during his matches). His overall record includes 41 knockouts, 15 defeated opponents in world heavyweight title fights and 12 successful title defenses — it’s no wonder he earned the nickname “Dr. Knockout.”
It’s all the more remarkable that he began his political career 2005, when he was still fighting ring matches. He has since served as a presidential advisor, a Kyiv City Council member and the parliamentary party leader of his country’s pro-democratic anti-corruption party. Even before becoming Kyiv mayor in 2014, he has regularly spoken out against his country’s human rights abuses and in favor of Ukraine joining the European Union and NATO (two things Russia absolutely opposes).
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When Russians invaded his country in February 2022, Klitschko said he had no choice but to fight. He has since been seen surveying his city in military gear, aiding those who have been harmed or made homeless by Russia’s escalating attacks on the city.
Related: How Russia’s war on Ukraine is a war on LGBTQ people
“If my home country needs my life, I’m ready to give my life for my country, my children, for the future of my family,” he told Yahoo News.
But he said that he himself cannot bring himself to hate Russians, even with the ongoing attack.
“I can’t hate Russians,” he told New York magazine in late March. “My mother’s Russian. I can’t hate my mom. Half of my body is Russian blood. My first language is Russian. And a lot of people here in Ukraine are Russians, fighting for Ukraine.”
He also recently called “bullsh*t” on Russian President Vladimir Putin for claiming that Russian forces have only hit military targets. Numerous human rights organizations and the U.S. government have said accused Russia of war crimes for attacking apartment buildings, hospitals and other non-military targets.
More recently, Klitschko has joined his president’s call for more foreign and humanitarian support amid Russia’s escalating attacks. He also said he feels confident that Ukrainians will never stop fighting against the Russian invaders.
“The Russian soldier is fighting in Ukraine for money,” Klitschko told the aforementioned publication. “The Ukrainian soldier is fighting to defend our homeland. Weapons are important, but the spirit of warriors is more important.”
Klitschko is fluent in English, Russian, Ukrainian and German. His brother Wladimir was also a championship boxer who won Olympic gold for Ukraine in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games. Their mother made them promise never to fight each other in the ring.
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Den
Classic Eastern European stud! Woof!!
Fahd
Who thinks its a good idea to have a puff piece about the Kviv mayor the same day the world is coming to terms with newly released photos and video of the streets of Bucha, a Kyiv suburb, strewn with the cadavers of innocent Ukrainian civilians – some old people with their hands tied behind their backs – others innocent children trying to flee with their parents? Retreating Russian soldiers leaving modern day war crimes on display and here on Queerty, Daniel Villarreal is writing about Vitaly Klitscho’s stats.
Daniel Villarreal is an out of touch, pathetic stereotype as*hole! There, I’ve said it.
Heywood Jablowme
I’ve seen Klitschko a lot on American TV and he probably wouldn’t agree with you. People respond differently to different appeals. He wants to keep up morale at home, which always requires some humor, and get foreigners interested in helping Ukraine.
If only we could put your pearl-clutching abilities to work, squeezing pearls into uranium or something, the Europeans wouldn’t need Russian oil anymore!
Fahd
@ HJ
Yeah, sure, for a right-wing Russian apologist, it’s “pearl clutching” to draw attention to war crimes – senior citizens and other civilians strewn across the streets murdered by Russian soldiers, etc.
What an as*hole you are!
Heywood Jablowme
@Fahd: I’m not a “Russian apologist,” I’m not pro-Russian and I’ve never posted anything pro-Russian.
Queerty is inherently a somewhat frivolous site. Anyone looking for serious war news is probably finding it at the NYT, WaPo, the Atlantic, the New Yorker etc. (all of which I subscribe to). But if they get interested in the war via a puff piece on Klitschko’s boxing career, so what, that’s great.
You remind me of the cranky old folks who comment at my local newspaper to say “How can you waste space on [this TV review] [this human interest piece] [this Best Donut survey] when there’s so much bad news in Ukraine?”
And I think Klitschko would disagree with you!
Winsocki
No one told you to read the article, save your moral outrage for other news outlets. This is Queerty not the BBC or NPR. Yes, we are well aware of the horrors of war, maybe even have done things about it like donate, prayers other forms to support Ukraine. There is nothing wrong to still find beauty in humor in a sad sad world. Get over yourself Fahd …. you do not care about other opinons and no one cares about yours. Or even mine. Enough said. Go to bed.
Fahd
All the right wing Russian trolls and apologists on the prowl; too bad the Russian army is only good for outdoing the war crimes of WWII. Otherwise, they can’t seem to fight their way out of a paper bag. Good thing they have nukes. Yikes!
The Russian trolls will not win; no matter how many cubicles they add to their troll farms.
The greatest threat to democracy in seventy years and Queerty is telling us about the mayor’s stats.
Fahd
Also, here’s what the mayor’s brother had to say yesterday in the yahoo dot com story that informs Queerty’s puff piece:
Oliver Browning
Mon, 4 April 2022, 2:54 am
Wladimir Klitschko has denounced Russia’s killing of Ukrainian civilians in Bucha as “genocide”.
The former heavyweight boxing champion – brother of Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko – shared graphic images of the aftermath of an attack in the city.
“What happened here and everywhere in Ukraine, this is not a special operation, this is not military objects,” Mr Klitschko said.
“This is civilians, they have been shot in the head with their hands tied behind their backs. This is genocide of the Ukrainian population.”
johncp56
I,m sorry I,m weak for this type tough strong men his looks I,m melting wax here
CNY1983
putin can take all the shirtless pictures he wants and he can even GET MADONNA herself to photoshop them and he still will never hold a candle to Vitali. in fact that picture of putin shirtless on horseback is looking like his profile pic on grinder looking for a top compared to any of these.
storm45701
Between Klitschko and Zelensky, Ukrainian men are looking fine. Woof! Imagining a nice three-way right now….
Kangol2
One other thing to add about Wladimir Klitschko: he spoke out against misogynistic homophobe and anti-Semite Tyson Fury when Fury made extremely hateful comments about women, gay people and Jewish people back in 2015 and 2016.
Heywood Jablowme
I wasn’t aware of that, thanks!
Leash
Kind of hate how there is a war and The Gays are like “the person who is in this war is kind of hot, check out his shirtless pictures” but whatever my dudes.
The Klitschkos are heavily tied with Germany, they are well known here for their boxing.
MainelyStories
“The Gays” are not the only ones who can appreciate beauty!
Leash
Yes, everyone can be superficial and horny.
johncp56
I have melted I know of him and his brother, so so sexy Love tough men like him sexy AF