BoxRec

Oleksandr Usyk’s old promoter, Alexander Krassyuk, recently posted a photo with Wladimir Klitschko, captioned: "Something big is coming." It looks like Wladimir Klitschko might actually be making a comeback. Who would you guys want to see him fight in his return?

Good God, no. I thought you were too smart even to consider it, Wlad.

Well...there are a lot of vacant titles all of the sudden ain't there?

Probably not the best idea, and probably not gonna work out, but whatever.

Wladimir Klitschko has always kept himself in shape and (despite being retired) has even sparred the likes of Oleksandr Usyk during his retirement.

If he’s making a relatively “safe” big-payday comeback (minimising the risk of getting beaten up), then the following names might be the most commercially plausible opponents, but he may lose to a few of them:

• Jake Paul
• Mike Tyson
• Lennox Lewis
• Evander Holyfield
• David Haye
• Shannon Briggs ("Let's Go Champ!" viral videos)
• Logan Paul
• KSI

But if his comeback is purely motivated to become the oldest recognised heavyweight world champion, then the only name I can think of (where there’s only the tiniest molecule-sized chance of victory) is Murat Gassiev.

To be honest, the only man I’d like to see him fight, would be John "The Fighting Man" Fury (easy to sell grudge-match, big payday and easy win).

Imagine if Usyks last fight is Klitschko.
Other then that, him vs Paul Brothers would actually give him a great payday.

I don't think Klitschko would come back for a trash fight against the Paul brothers, KSI, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Holyfield (lol), or anyone like that. I believe he is genuinely aiming for a world title to become the oldest heavyweight champion in history. He once mentioned in an interview, back when Usyk was still champion, that he couldn't make a comeback at the time because the champion was a fellow Ukrainian. Now that the path is clear, that might be exactly why he's returning.

But is it even possible for him to fight straight for a world title in his comeback match? Or does he have to build himself up first to get ranked? Personally, I would love to see him face guys like Wilder, Sanchez, or Zhang. I'm really excited, not gonna lie. He still looks incredibly fresh, especially for his age. If anyone can break George Foreman's record, I truly believe it's him.

M4ST4R wrote: ↑01 Jul 2026, 04:40 I don't think Klitschko would come back for a trash fight against the Paul brothers, KSI, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Holyfield (lol), or anyone like that. I believe he is genuinely aiming for a world title to become the oldest heavyweight champion in history. He once mentioned in an interview, back when Usyk was still champion, that he couldn't make a comeback at the time because the champion was a fellow Ukrainian. Now that the path is clear, that might be exactly why he's returning.

But is it even possible for him to fight straight for a world title in his comeback match? Or does he have to build himself up first to get ranked? Personally, I would love to see him face guys like Wilder, Sanchez, or Zhang. I'm really excited, not gonna lie. He still looks incredibly fresh, especially for his age. If anyone can break George Foreman's record, I truly believe it's him.

There's a solid chance he could beat Gassiev as is. Gassiev was losing every round to Pulev prior to catching him and knocking him out.

M4ST4R wrote: ↑01 Jul 2026, 04:40 But is it even possible for him to fight straight for a world title in his comeback match? Or does he have to build himself up first to get ranked? Personally, I would love to see him face guys like Wilder, Sanchez, or Zhang. I'm really excited, not gonna lie. He still looks incredibly fresh, especially for his age. If anyone can break George Foreman's record, I truly believe it's him.

Pacquiao didn't fight for 4 years and didn't win in 6 years when ge got a shot at Barrios (at almost 47 years old).
If the orgs want to, they could make it happen, no matter how shaddy it's gonna look.

Sendo Takeshi wrote: ↑01 Jul 2026, 05:59

M4ST4R wrote: ↑01 Jul 2026, 04:40 But is it even possible for him to fight straight for a world title in his comeback match? Or does he have to build himself up first to get ranked? Personally, I would love to see him face guys like Wilder, Sanchez, or Zhang. I'm really excited, not gonna lie. He still looks incredibly fresh, especially for his age. If anyone can break George Foreman's record, I truly believe it's him.

Pacquiao didn't fight for 4 years and didn't win in 6 years when ge got a shot at Barrios (at almost 47 years old).
If the orgs want to, they could make it happen, no matter how shaddy it's gonna look.

If it makes money, and gets publicity. The orgs are in.

Would you guys like to see a straight match for the title or would you prefer 1 or 2 tune-up fights? I would really like to see how competetive a well preserved Klitschko still is. If he would win a title on his comeback fight and piss out - that would be lame.

M4ST4R wrote: ↑01 Jul 2026, 08:48 Would you guys like to see a straight match for the title or would you prefer 1 or 2 tune-up fights? I would really like to see how competetive a well preserved Klitschko still is. If he would win a title on his comeback fight and piss out - that would be lame.

George Foreman was 38 when he returned after a decade away from boxing. Before regaining the world heavyweight title, he fought 32 times over seven years.

By contrast, Wladimir Klitschko has been retired for nine years and is now 50. He would likely need several comeback fights to earn a title shot and prepare himself to challenge for a heavyweight belt.

His brother Vitali did reclaim a world heavyweight title without tune-up fights after four years away for the sport due to retirement but he was only 37 when he made that comeback.

Eolaithe wrote: ↑01 Jul 2026, 09:18 His brother Vitali did reclaim a world heavyweight title without tune-up fights after four years away for the sport due to retirement but he was only 37 when he made that comeback.

he was champion in WBC emeritus as well.. so he could go straight into title fight, They would have sanctioned it regardless I reckon.

Just like they sanctioned Manny Pac to fight for the title against Barrios.

Stylistically others have stated it here? Murat Gassiev would be the ideal opponent for Kiltschko at his peak, or potentially even now.

But you never know? The recent speculation of a comeback 'could be for a exhibition. With many other retired fighters participating in such events, who are nowhere near the condition of Kiltschko. Then this is a possibility'.

Note: Wladimir Kiltschko just like Oleksandr Uysk 'is the type of fighter and athlete who trains systematically and everything is documented. Kiltschko is going to know what condition he is in, and would match himself in fights that are winnable'.

I have always believed it was a great injustice that Tyson Fury never made the rematch with Wladimir Kiltschko 'a champion of almost 10 years. Was denied the opportunity to win his world titles back. Unfortunately due to Tyson Fury's then circumstance, and him having to pull out of the scheduled rematch twice'.

In retrospect people don't like to acknowledge this? But Anthony Joshua fought the version of Wladimir Kiltschko who Tyson Fury should have fought in their rematch. Joshua beat a better version, more optimally prepared Kiltschko. In the greatest heavyweight title fight of the past 25 years'.

But on the topic of a potentiel Wladimir Kiltschko comeback 'exhibition or maybe a fight or an IBA title' etc.

Hey we could have the Klitschko brothers against the Paul brothers.

It could even be a tag contest. Now that's a barrel that boxing hasn't yet scraped, how exciting.

PRINCEKOOL wrote: ↑02 Jul 2026, 15:34In retrospect people don't like to acknowledge this? But Anthony Joshua fought the version of Wladimir Kiltschko who Tyson Fury should have fought in their rematch. Joshua beat a better version, more optimally prepared Kiltschko. In the greatest heavyweight title fight of the past 25 years'.

Wladimir Klitschko was 39 when he fought Tyson Fury. Their rematch was scheduled to take place seven months later, but an ankle injury delayed it until October 2016, ten months after their first fight.

The fight fell through again when Fury was declared medically unfit because of mental health issues, which led to him being stripped of all his titles.

When he entered the ring against Fury, Klitschko was on an 11½-year 22-fight winning streak (competing twice per year), which resulted in him winning 19 world title bouts, unifying multiple belts and defeating eight current or former world champions.

In contrast, the 41-year-old version of Klitschko who faced AJ had been inactive for 17 months and had not won a fight in more than two years.

Wladimir had significantly less preparation time (fewer than 5 months) for the Joshua fight than the entire calendar year he had for the Fury bout.

Eolaithe wrote: ↑06 Jul 2026, 12:42

PRINCEKOOL wrote: ↑02 Jul 2026, 15:34In retrospect people don't like to acknowledge this? But Anthony Joshua fought the version of Wladimir Kiltschko who Tyson Fury should have fought in their rematch. Joshua beat a better version, more optimally prepared Kiltschko. In the greatest heavyweight title fight of the past 25 years'.

Wladimir Klitschko was 39 when he fought Tyson Fury. Their rematch was scheduled to take place seven months later, but an ankle injury delayed it until October 2016, ten months after their first fight.

The fight fell through again when Fury was declared medically unfit because of mental health issues, which led to him being stripped of all his titles.

When he entered the ring against Fury, Klitschko was on an 11½-year 22-fight winning streak (competing twice per year), which resulted in him winning 19 world title bouts, unifying multiple belts and defeating eight current or former world champions.

In contrast, the 41-year-old version of Klitschko who faced AJ had been inactive for 17 months and had not won a fight in more than two years.

Wladimir had significantly less preparation time (fewer than 5 months) for the Joshua fight than the entire calendar year he had for the Fury bout.

Nope. Tyson Fury pulled out of his scheduled rematch twice vs. Wladimir Kiltschko 'those are the facts'.

It was not Wladimir Kiltschko who pulled out of those fights 'and he never stopped training neither did he retire. So he was not technically inactive, in the manner you are attempting to make out'.

Note: By the time Wladimir Kiltschko stepped inside the ring vs. Anthony Joshua 'he had endured three back to back training camps. And this was evidence by his conditioning on the scales'.

Wladimir Kiltschko weighed in at 240 pounds vs. Anthony Joshua, vs. 245 pounds against Tyson Fury.

Over a duration of 17 months, Wladimir Kiltschko endured three back to back training camps 'in my opinion, and according to even Kiltschko himself he was in better condition for his fight against Anthony Joshua'.

Therefore Anthony Joshua beat a better prepared and more highly condition version of Wladimir Kiltschko than Tyson Fury 'in the greatest heavyweight title fight of the past 25 years'.

Whether you like to admit it or not? Anthony Joshua beat the version if Wladimir Kiltschko who Fury should have fought in their rematch 'Fury should have been inside that ring, not Joshua. But unfortunately he was not due to his the circumstance'

Anthony Joshua did not win on points in an underwhelming fight 'he knocked out Kiltschko in an all-time great Heavyweight fight and forced him to retire' etc.

Eolaithe wrote: ↑06 Jul 2026, 12:42

PRINCEKOOL wrote: ↑02 Jul 2026, 15:34In retrospect people don't like to acknowledge this? But Anthony Joshua fought the version of Wladimir Kiltschko who Tyson Fury should have fought in their rematch. Joshua beat a better version, more optimally prepared Kiltschko. In the greatest heavyweight title fight of the past 25 years'.

When he entered the ring against Fury, Klitschko was on an 11½-year 22-fight winning streak (competing twice per year), which resulted in him winning 19 world title bouts, unifying multiple belts and defeating eight current or former world champions.

Wlad's wife was going through post-partum despression the whole year before the Fury bout and had become an alcoholic in the few months prior to the fight. Wlad was totally out of it for that fight, he has never looked so sluggish and dull. He didn't even start trying until the last round.

The Wlad that AJ fought was 10x better. That Wlad would have killed Fury in a rematch, and I think Fury knew it.

SportsRatings wrote: ↑06 Jul 2026, 20:36

Eolaithe wrote: ↑06 Jul 2026, 12:42

PRINCEKOOL wrote: ↑02 Jul 2026, 15:34In retrospect people don't like to acknowledge this? But Anthony Joshua fought the version of Wladimir Kiltschko who Tyson Fury should have fought in their rematch. Joshua beat a better version, more optimally prepared Kiltschko. In the greatest heavyweight title fight of the past 25 years'.

When he entered the ring against Fury, Klitschko was on an 11½-year 22-fight winning streak (competing twice per year), which resulted in him winning 19 world title bouts, unifying multiple belts and defeating eight current or former world champions.

Wlad's wife was going through post-partum despression the whole year before the Fury bout and had become an alcoholic in the few months prior to the fight. Wlad was totally out of it for that fight, he has never looked so sluggish and dull. He didn't even start trying until the last round.

The Wlad that AJ fought was 10x better. That Wlad would have killed Fury in a rematch, and I think Fury knew it.

Yes. I am aware of this 'Thanks for also bringing this evidence into the debate'.

Note: Wladimir Kiltschko has stated himself many times over 'that he was better prepared vs. Anthony Joshua. His condition on the scales displayed this, and? The three back to back training camps he had to endure also influenced his conditioning'

The only reason why Anthony Joshua fought Wladimir Kiltschko was because Tyson Fury pulled out of their scheduled rematch unfortunately due to his then circumstance 'Joshua was the man who stepped up, and conclusively took the heavyweight divisions into a completely new dynasty not Tyson Fury' etc.

Fury beat him first though and Joshua didn't beat Fury he beat the guy that Fury beat first.

Still a marvelous win for Joshua, but slightly less prestigious than it would've been if Wlad hadn't already lost the Lineal title to Fury.