Will Klitschko return?

[dagilechia]

He's in nice shape, trains and spars with Oleksandr Usyk. If he returns, i think he'll be top 6 at worst (depends on how much he has really left in his tank, at +40 time goes much faster, inactivity doesnt help either). Top 2 at best imo, AJ fight was winnable for him but he shoudnt look for a rematch but he fights Tyson Fury again then i consider him as a favourite. He has a good shot on Wilder too.

[SenorPipino]

Wlad is too smart a guy to return.

He's 42, hasn't fought in 1 1/2 years and hasn't won a fight in 3 years.

Coming back would spell disaster and he knows it.

Wlad always spars frequently and stays in great shape.

But you can't turn back the clock. Sparkling in the gym and in the ring are two different things. His time is past.

Klitschko will not return.

[lillywhite14]

Why would anyone want to see him comeback?

[Noxy]

Look at the big smile on his face. He loves it. I don’t think he’ll come back though.

[fanman]

he's too smart probably. must have been mighty tempted to rematch aj at the time though. probably didnt think he cpuld win deep down.

[squiggy]

I do think that's really cool that he spars with Usyk, though.

[gilgamesh]

I hope not. No good reason to come back.

[Ilya Muromets]

Time and tide wait for no man.

[tiny_acres]

Well let's see over 3 years ago he looked bang average vs Jennings
Then he lost in the most boring way to Fury
Then he was ko' d by a novice AJ in a fun outing.
Klit ain't been a deadly force in the division in 4 years. He's done stick a fork in him

[gregregegg]

There would be some great fights left for him, kinda hope he dose come back. need more likeable heavyweights.

[greg]

..I agree that he's smart enough not to..

[Stuarty]

No chance he'll come back.

[DrDuke]

Interesting to see him sparring with Usyk.

[gilgamesh]

Interesting to see him sparring with Usyk.

Shows that Usyk is wanting to dip his toes into the water of being in the ring with one of the larger "Super Heavyweight" types. Even if it is just sparring for now. This will be the size of guys he'll be faced with if/when he makes that move up in weight.

[DrDuke]

Interesting to see him sparring with Usyk.

Shows that Usyk is wanting to dip his toes into the water of being in the ring with one of the larger "Super Heavyweight" types. Even if it is just sparring for now. This will be the size of guys he'll be faced with if/when he makes that move up in weight.

Probably that's right. Usyk is getting ready for HW.

[SportsRatings]

He will return against Kyotaro Fujimoto at the Tokyo Dome for $25 million after some mega-rich Japanese fight fans decide they want to see their all-time best heavyweight against a legendary Klitschko. Wlad will take the fight because he figures it will be a relatively safe fight for good money and a good send-off for his career in Japan where they are respectful of great fighters.

[gilgamesh]

He will return against Kyotaro Fujimoto at the Tokyo Dome for $25 million after some mega-rich Japanese fight fans decide they want to see their all-time best heavyweight against a legendary Klitschko. Wlad will take the fight because he figures it will be a relatively safe fight for good money and a good send-off for his career in Japan where they are respectful of great fighters.

That would actually be cool.

I joked (not even joking really) that I'd like to see him participate in Chess Boxing. Something that's popular in Europe. He'd be able to hold his own certainly at the Chess part, and would absolutely murder those guys at the Boxing part...even if he was 50

[KiwiRider]

Interesting to see him sparring with Usyk.

Shows that Usyk is wanting to dip his toes into the water of being in the ring with one of the larger "Super Heavyweight" types. Even if it is just sparring for now. This will be the size of guys he'll be faced with if/when he makes that move up in weight.

Ha! Yeah, that's what I thought straight away. Spar with a tall fella who knows a few things- dipping a toe in, so to speak. Wlad ain't no Bomber...

[gilgamesh]

Interesting to see him sparring with Usyk.

Shows that Usyk is wanting to dip his toes into the water of being in the ring with one of the larger "Super Heavyweight" types. Even if it is just sparring for now. This will be the size of guys he'll be faced with if/when he makes that move up in weight.

Ha! Yeah, that's what I thought straight away. Spar with a tall fella who knows a few things- dipping a toe in, so to speak. Wlad ain't no Bomber...

He was a pretty damn big puncher. Usually took a more tactical approach, but he certainly wasn't feather fisted. I don't know what you mean by "He ain't no bomber"

[KiwiRider]

Shows that Usyk is wanting to dip his toes into the water of being in the ring with one of the larger "Super Heavyweight" types. Even if it is just sparring for now. This will be the size of guys he'll be faced with if/when he makes that move up in weight.

Ha! Yeah, that's what I thought straight away. Spar with a tall fella who knows a few things- dipping a toe in, so to speak. Wlad ain't no Bomber...

He was a pretty damn big puncher. Usually took a more tactical approach, but he certainly wasn't feather fisted. I don't know what you mean by "He ain't no bomber"

I ment Usyk isn't sparing with Wlad to prepare for Tony "Bomber" Bellew. Well, it doesn't make any sense if he is, they fight totally different styles.

[gilgamesh]

I ment Usyk isn't sparing with Wlad to prepare for Tony "Bomber" Bellew. Well, it doesn't make any sense if he is, they fight totally different styles.

Oh yeah I got ya. I didn't even realize that was Tony's nickname

Frankly I don't think it matters who he spars to prepare for Tony. He's a far superior talent to Bellew IMO, and will beat him handily.

[klitoris]

Wlad should honestly get involved in K2 Promotion. With his image, they can become a top promotional company in Germany while already having good holdings in the US. He would have a similar effect that ODLH has on Golden Boy.

[tiny_acres]

Wlad should honestly get involved in K2 Promotion. With his image, they can become a top promotional company in Germany while already having good holdings in the US. He would have a similar effect that ODLH has on Golden Boy.

Best thing for him. His time in the ring is over

[Enlightened-One]

Will Klitschko return?

He's in nice shape, trains and spars with Oleksandr Usyk...

No!

Wladimir holds a doctorate degree in sports science and has/is teaching the subject (I think) at masters degree level at a university. He practices what he teaches.

A person as passionate about sport as he is will always do their best to remain athletic for the remainder of their life.

I suspect that his brother, Vitali (who also holds a Phd in sports science), will also keep himself in tip-top condition.

Wladimir Klitschko is never going to allow himself to become overweight and unhealthy during his retirement, health permitting, unlike former champions, such as: Ricky Hatton; Marcos Maidana; Naseem Hamed; and Lamon Brewster.

[candyslim]

He will return against Kyotaro Fujimoto at the Tokyo Dome for $25 million after some mega-rich Japanese fight fans decide they want to see their all-time best heavyweight against a legendary Klitschko. Wlad will take the fight because he figures it will be a relatively safe fight for good money and a good send-off for his career in Japan where they are respectful of great fighters.

That would actually be cool.

I joked (not even joking really) that I'd like to see him participate in Chess Boxing. Something that's popular in Europe. He'd be able to hold his own certainly at the Chess part, and would absolutely murder those guys at the Boxing part...even if he was 50

Chess boxing eh? I've heard of it. Former Light-welter champ Terry Marsh would have been nigh on unbeatable at that. I'm not really the hero-worshipping type but Marsh was four things, all of which I find admirable on their own ...

1) World champion Pro boxer.
2) Quality competition Chess player *
3) Royal Marine
4) Firefighter

Then he was accused and tried for attempted murder of a well known boxing promoter - allegedly -
which of course doesn't make 5) Would-be murderer, but he was acquitted of the crime so I can admire him again.

* After 2) I interrupted this post so as to google his achievements in chess because 30 years on I don't remember just how good he was ... and what do I find? Articles about Terry's return at the age of 56 to become a Chess-boxing champion. I swear I didn't know that 5 minutes ago.

Anyway back on topic. Great that Wlad is sparring Usyk but I don't want to see him back in the ring. That ship has sailed.