BoxRec

Wladimir Klitschko is considering coming out of retirement.

The former heavyweight champion has held discussions with DAZN on a lucrative three-fight deal, industry sources told The Ring. The deal, if completed, would make Klitschko a global ambassador for DAZN (soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo holds that title for the streaming service.)

As part of the package, DAZN would make a significant contribution to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), a charity both Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko are deeply involved with, per sources.

Wladimir has discussed the deal directly with Len Blavatnik, the majority shareholder of DAZN Group who is worth an estimated $16.3 billion. Like Klitschko, Blavatnik was born in Ukraine.

Klitschko, who turns 43 in March, is interested in an initial comeback fight against limited opposition, according to sources. One of the fights of the proposed deal would take place in Germany, where Klitschko resided and starred for years.

The second fight discussed: a rematch with Tyson Fury. The Brit upset Klitschko via decision in November 2015. A return bout was set for 2016, but it was twice cancelled as Fury battled depression and substance abuse.

The third fight of the proposed deal: another rematch, this one against Anthony Joshua. Joshua was dropped in Round 6, but rallied to knock out Klitschko in Round 11 of a modern-day heavyweight classic.


Remember he only denied coming out of retirement to face Whyte. This seems to be more than a rumor.

Link to entire article: https://www.ringtv.com/552496-wladimir- ... etirement/

It’s rather interesting that Wladimir Klitschko’s comeback rumours surfaced shortly after the Ukraine’s split from Hayden Panettiere. So perhaps he hasn’t got anybody in his life with enough influence to persuade him to enjoy his retirement?

That being said, despite the recent rumours circulated by Dillian Whyte and Eddie Hearn, my gut feeling is that he’ll resist the temptation to make a comeback.

Imagine if he does decide to make a comeback? By the time he steps foot inside the ring again, he’ll be 43 years of age, more than four years would have passed since his most recent victory (arguably five years since he scored an impressive win) and he would have also been inactive for over two years.

To make matters worse, ‘Dr Steelhammer’ would be more than a decade older that Deontay Wilder and roughly twelve years older than the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte.

I’d hate to see Wladimir Klitschko making a comeback. I can’t see how anything positive can come from it.

It would be horrible to witness a dead-cert first-ballot Hall-of-Famer getting beaten into submission by a far inferior fighter, simply due to his advanced years being a categorically impossible handicap to overcome.

If you could possibly use less words, I'd appreciate it.

I really wished he hadnt retired after the Joshua fight. He was pretty close to winning that one and it made a lot of sense to see him in the mix against Wilder. Might be too late now though. Specially against Fury, He might have a punchers chance against Wilder but theres no way hes beating Fury.

Onekrazyrican wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 11:59 I really wished he hadnt retired after the Joshua fight. He was pretty close to winning that one and it made a lot of sense to see him in the mix against Wilder. Might be too late now though. Specially against Fury, He might have a punchers chance against Wilder but theres no way hes beating Fury.

You might be right, and actually you are probably right, but you just never know. It sounded like he would fight some nobody in Germany to get started. My first thought was thinking it may end there if Wlad's upset. Odds are that a comeback won't happen, IMHO.

..money talks, so who can blame him..having said that, I'm sceptical regarding the news and even more so regarding his SUCCESSFUL comeback..

Two years retired.

Winless in 4 years.

Almost 43 years old.

Numbers don't lie here.

Klitschko chasing Fool's Gold?

greg wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 12:13 ..money talks, so who can blame him..having said that, I'm sceptical regarding the news and even more so regarding his SUCCESSFUL comeback..

He's not George Foreman, who came back at what, 36/37? Wlad was a chinny fighter who benefited from a relatively weak era of contenders. Part of me wants to see him come back and a bigger part doesn't. But, if can make a good buck and not lose his marbles while doing so, best of luck to him. (he'll need it),

May as well go for it. The guy's always been an excellent shape and the division is shit.

I don't see it ending good for Wlad.

Yes - even at 43 he will probably win his comeback fight against some lower level fighter e.g. Christian Hammer, in a German focussed event in Hamburg.

However, Wlad is chinny and spent a lot of his time in his reign fighting scared. Just using his height, jab, jab, jab, lean, lean, lean and then pulling the trigger when his opponent was softened up. When he couldn't jab Fury, he lost his mojo and despite his corner's insistance to do more and take risks, he couldn't. I can imagine the Fury fight going exactly to the same way.

To his credit, he put in a much better performance against Joshua and almost won. He was prepared to take more risks there. However two years off, being 43 or 44, this is really not good for doing roadwork. He's a big man, his joints, especially his knees, they must be in a bad way now. One of his advantages was his fitness, I don't see him being able to maintain that level of fitness in the ring if he returned.

Anyhow, whatever, if he wants to help the world by giving UNESCO some money, as well as profitting himself, then go for it. He certainly will improve the depth of the heavyweight division, not damage it.

oogiebe wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 12:38

greg wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 12:13 ..money talks, so who can blame him..having said that, I'm sceptical regarding the news and even more so regarding his SUCCESSFUL comeback..

He's not George Foreman, who came back at what, 36/37? Wlad was a chinny fighter who benefited from a relatively weak era of contenders. Part of me wants to see him come back and a bigger part doesn't. But, if can make a good buck and not lose his marbles while doing so, best of luck to him. (he'll need it),

Weak era? Povetkin and Pulev are still top fighters, ffs. You may as well say this era is even weaker considering those two are still hanging strong, very strong.

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 19:02

oogiebe wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 12:38

greg wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 12:13 ..money talks, so who can blame him..having said that, I'm sceptical regarding the news and even more so regarding his SUCCESSFUL comeback..

He's not George Foreman, who came back at what, 36/37? Wlad was a chinny fighter who benefited from a relatively weak era of contenders. Part of me wants to see him come back and a bigger part doesn't. But, if can make a good buck and not lose his marbles while doing so, best of luck to him. (he'll need it),

Weak era? Povetkin and Pulev are still top fighters, ffs. You may as well say this era is even weaker considering those two are still hanging strong, very strong.

Wow can Vitali come back too? And can i go back to being twenty years younger too while we're at it?

Ilya Muromets wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 19:08 Wow can Vitali come back too? And can i go back to being twenty years younger too while we're at it?

Where do I sign up!!!!!!!

oogiebe wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 19:09

Ilya Muromets wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 19:08 Wow can Vitali come back too? And can i go back to being twenty years younger too while we're at it?

Where do I sign up!!!!!!!

Just sign on this parchment with this quil pen dipped in your blood!

http://televandalist.com/post/52277954035

Ilya Muromets wrote: ↑19 Jan 2019, 00:09

oogiebe wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 19:09

Ilya Muromets wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 19:08 Wow can Vitali come back too? And can i go back to being twenty years younger too while we're at it?

Where do I sign up!!!!!!!

Just sign on this parchment with this quil pen dipped in your blood!

El Diablo! LMAO!

It would be hard not to respect Wlad if that report was true and those are his plans.

Wanting to rematch both Fury and Joshua in his 40's.

Nondescript wrote: ↑20 Jan 2019, 14:10 It would be hard not to respect Wlad if that report was true and those are his plans.

Wanting to rematch both Fury and Joshua in his 40's.

I think I'd have less respect for him.

An intelligent man of that age should be able to know that time doesn't stand still. He's had his time, made his money, kept his health and should stay on the safe side of the ropes.

ewenhay wrote: ↑20 Jan 2019, 17:37

Nondescript wrote: ↑20 Jan 2019, 14:10 It would be hard not to respect Wlad if that report was true and those are his plans.

Wanting to rematch both Fury and Joshua in his 40's.

I think I'd have less respect for him.

An intelligent man of that age should be able to know that time doesn't stand still. He's had his time, made his money, kept his health and should stay on the safe side of the ropes.

I see that perspective. I guess I mean i respect him in the sense that you have boxers in their primes not wanting to fight each other, and yet he's wanting to fight two of the best in the division despite not needing to do so.

I see where you're coming from aswell though.

...I'm still waiting for some sort of confirmation..if true, what happens if he loses his first bout "against limited opposition"? who's gonna pay for the second and third fight?

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 19:02

oogiebe wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 12:38

greg wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 12:13 ..money talks, so who can blame him..having said that, I'm sceptical regarding the news and even more so regarding his SUCCESSFUL comeback..

He's not George Foreman, who came back at what, 36/37? Wlad was a chinny fighter who benefited from a relatively weak era of contenders. Part of me wants to see him come back and a bigger part doesn't. But, if can make a good buck and not lose his marbles while doing so, best of luck to him. (he'll need it),

Weak era? Povetkin and Pulev are still top fighters, ffs. You may as well say this era is even weaker considering those two are still hanging strong, very strong.

Are they though? Povetkin's only decent KO win in a few years is David Price who gets KO'd by wind. AJ destroyed him

Pulev had some trouble with Hughie Fury ffs, if he hurt Pulev, Wilder and AJ batter him

danconnollyeire wrote: ↑21 Jan 2019, 11:30

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 19:02

oogiebe wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 12:38

He's not George Foreman, who came back at what, 36/37? Wlad was a chinny fighter who benefited from a relatively weak era of contenders. Part of me wants to see him come back and a bigger part doesn't. But, if can make a good buck and not lose his marbles while doing so, best of luck to him. (he'll need it),

Weak era? Povetkin and Pulev are still top fighters, ffs. You may as well say this era is even weaker considering those two are still hanging strong, very strong.

Are they though? Povetkin's only decent KO win in a few years is David Price who gets KO'd by wind. AJ destroyed him

Pulev had some trouble with Hughie Fury ffs, if he hurt Pulev, Wilder and AJ batter him

I don't think losing just about every round and almost getting stopped yourself before a stoppage is considered destroying anyone. Povetkin is horrifically past prime, yet he's still a top fighter. Why do you automatically go for a KO win? Does it matter at all? Povetkin's resume and time in the top 10 speaks for itself.

Pulev made ridiculously easy work of Chisora. Why not talk about that. Wilder doesn't batter anyone. People were saying he'd batter Fury, but Fury schooled him. AJ struggled with past prime version of both Povetkin and Klitschko. You need a better argument than that.

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑21 Jan 2019, 14:52

danconnollyeire wrote: ↑21 Jan 2019, 11:30

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑18 Jan 2019, 19:02

Weak era? Povetkin and Pulev are still top fighters, ffs. You may as well say this era is even weaker considering those two are still hanging strong, very strong.

Are they though? Povetkin's only decent KO win in a few years is David Price who gets KO'd by wind. AJ destroyed him

Pulev had some trouble with Hughie Fury ffs, if he hurt Pulev, Wilder and AJ batter him

I don't think losing just about every round and almost getting stopped yourself before a stoppage is considered destroying anyone. Povetkin is horrifically past prime, yet he's still a top fighter. Why do you automatically go for a KO win? Does it matter at all? Povetkin's resume and time in the top 10 speaks for itself.

Pulev made ridiculously easy work of Chisora. Why not talk about that. Wilder doesn't batter anyone. People were saying he'd batter Fury, but Fury schooled him. AJ struggled with past prime version of both Povetkin and Klitschko. You need a better argument than that.

Just so I understand. You are saying that Povetkin won just about every round from AJ and almost stopped him?

they are both top 10, pov maybe top 5 when he fought aj, but aj , fury, and wilder are all much better

oogiebe wrote: ↑21 Jan 2019, 14:58

Mexi-Box wrote: ↑21 Jan 2019, 14:52

danconnollyeire wrote: ↑21 Jan 2019, 11:30

Are they though? Povetkin's only decent KO win in a few years is David Price who gets KO'd by wind. AJ destroyed him

Pulev had some trouble with Hughie Fury ffs, if he hurt Pulev, Wilder and AJ batter him

I don't think losing just about every round and almost getting stopped yourself before a stoppage is considered destroying anyone. Povetkin is horrifically past prime, yet he's still a top fighter. Why do you automatically go for a KO win? Does it matter at all? Povetkin's resume and time in the top 10 speaks for itself.

Pulev made ridiculously easy work of Chisora. Why not talk about that. Wilder doesn't batter anyone. People were saying he'd batter Fury, but Fury schooled him. AJ struggled with past prime version of both Povetkin and Klitschko. You need a better argument than that.

Just so I understand. You are saying that Povetkin won just about every round from AJ and almost stopped him?

Sorry, I forgot, you can't read.