By Tim Parsons-

Wladimir Klitschko, the former world reigning champion, has retired from boxing.

His announced retirement rules out the rematch plan with WBA and IBFchampion, Anthony Joshua. Britain’s Joshua knocked out Klitschko in the 11th round last April to win the WBA heavyweight belt.

”I deliberately took a few weeks(months really) to make my decision to make sure I had enough distance from the fight at Wembley Stadium.

As an amateur and professional, I achieved everything I dreamt of, now I want to start my second career after sports.

”I have achieved everything I dreamt of, now I want to start my second career after sport, Klitschko said. I would never have imagined I would have such a long and successful career, and I am very thankful for this he added.

Thanks for everyone who ever supported me, especially my family, my team, and my many fans.Joshua, who had hoped for a lucrative rematch, must now face, mandatory challenger, Kubrat Pulev. Klitschko was unbeaten for 11 years before losing to Britain’s Tyson Fury in 2015. Prior to that, he ha dlost 3 times, once to Ross Purity in 1998, then to American Chris Byrd in 2000, then to South African southpaw, Corrie Saunders in 2003,(KO 2) before Lamon Brewster also crushed him in 2004(KO 5).

After Fury ended his unbeaten spell in 205, Anthony Joshua put the final nail in his coffee in 2017. Since that last defeat, the boxing world has waited to see whether Klitschko would activate the rematch clause,( acknowedged to have been illegal by the IBF) with Joshua. Klitschko posted a video statement, that said: ”Twenty seven years ago, I started my journey in sport. It was the best choice of a profession I could have made. Because of this choice, I have travelled the world, learnt new languages, created businesses, built intellectual properties, and helped people in need”.

At some point in life we need to switch careers and get ourselves ready for the next chapter-obviously I am no exception to this.

I am expecting and hoping my next career which I have already been planning and working on for some years, will be at least successful as the previous one, if not more successful”. Uraine’s president Petro Poroshenko said Klitschko was a ”symbol of victory” ”who had brought glory to the country”. Wladimir’s triumps will always stay in our memory as an example of iron will-Ukraine is proud of you, champion”

 

Klitschko desperately wanted to avaenge his defeat in the hands of Tyson Fury, but never had the opportunity after Fury’s failed drug tests and mental health issues. Wladimir Klitschko provided Joshua with the biggest test of the Londoner’s career, and came so close to defeating the unbeaten Londoner

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• Date
  3rd August 2017