Doha: One of the greatest heavyweight boxers in the history of the sport, Wladimir Klitschko is also one of the most refined and reasoned speakers outside of the ring.
His philosophical responses and strategic approach to boxing have earned him the nickname ‘Dr Steelhammer’, and the reigning world champion of four sanctioning bodies is now readying for a record-breaking title defence in Germany against English boxer Tyson Fury on 28 November.
During the recently concluded AIBA Boxing World Championships in Qatar, www.sc.qa had the chance to talk to the Ukrainian boxing legend about Qatar’s credentials as a sports nation, his passion for football, meeting with Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola, and his emotions after his adopted home country of Germany won the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil.
Below are the excerpts of interview with the boxing legend.
Q: Wladimir, you’ve seen the organisation of the AIBA Boxing World Championships in Qatar, in the same arena which also hosted the 2015 Handball World Cup earlier this year. Do you think Qatar has already made it as a global capital of sports?
A: I repeat the words of Nelson Mandela: Sport has the possibility to change the world. You see that it is not always the easy way, if you look at the World Cup in Russia and in Qatar, there are occasions where sport has become politicised. I believe through sport you can win more tolerance, more mutual understanding between cultures. Here they see it as a positive signal because you have international media, the international presence of sports fans and tourists, and that makes people more open. That’s why I am supportive of such events, and that is why I am here with my brother. It is great to see that people in the Arab world are so passionate about boxing and finding its fans here.
Q: There is also a great passion for football in the region. How do you see the first ever FIFA World Cup coming to Qatar in 2022?
A: One often asked the question: How can Qatar host a World Cup in summer? They found a way, and I think you come across a huge amount of criticism if you want to do anything extraordinary in an extraordinary place. I think that despite the criticism we must support it and look at it in a positive way, and then we will judge afterwards how good or bad it was. I think it is a good initiative, and an opportunity to inspire the sports fans of the Arab world and to show the world how life is here, and to show that there are no barriers. Sport allows cultures to mix and compare each other, improve, and allows the world to become more tolerant.
Q: You’ve already seen how the organisation at this boxing event has been done. What are your impressions of the organisational know-how in the country?
A: You absolutely see an experienced hand in the organisation. It is evident that it is not done for the first time.
Q: Your next boxing fight in late November will be in a football arena in Düsseldorf. Are you also a football fan?
A: I am also a football fan, not a crazy one who sits in front of the television and watches every game. For Euros and World Cups I am there, and in the Champions League when it comes closer to the final you suddenly become very aware of what’s going on.
Q: Which football teams do you support – are there any close to your heart?
A: It was always Dynamo Kiev and Bayern Munich, since forever I have had them close to my heart because I also know the players and for decades they either come to my fights or I go to their games.
Q: You are known as philosopher in the boxing world, and Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola as a philosopher in the coaching world?
A: I actually just recently flew with him from Munich to Berlin. He is learning German, he is trying to integrate himself, which I find great. I was happy to get to know him more personally during the flight. It is great that a Spaniard does so well and has so many successes with a German team.
And most recently a German coach in Jürgen Klopp also caused a great amount of media interest after signing for Liverpool.
That I have followed closely; it is fantastic. To have a German coach in an English team, one who is so unique and multi-talented, I think it is very good.
Q: Do you follow the Ukraine and your adopted home country of Germany closely at World Cup finals?
A: I am from the Ukraine so of course I follow them during the World Cup, especially at the moment the Ukraine needs special acknowledgement through sports, and the German team comes directly after that. Since 1996 I have been in Germany with my brother, it is our second home. We could not have come this far without Germany. I think Germany is an example of democracy, which has different forms. I think democracy in Germany is one of the best in the world, even though you can always improve it. The last World Cup win with Germany, it was a great feeling, and I also felt it was a win for me.
Coming back to your next fight, your English opponent Tyson Fury has claimed you are playing ‘mind games’ ahead of your much-anticipated title defence. What do you say to those comments?
I cannot comment on everything which he says. I don’t know in which world he lives. He lives in his own world, with some mind games. I don’t play mind games. I was injured, and the fight was postponed. I will now concentrate and focus accordingly, and prepare well for the fight on 28 November. I hope that both sportsmen come into the ring in the end and box against each other, so no one talks about the injury.
Q: Finally, you are breaking all records with your consecutive title defences. Could you imagine a fight in Qatar as one of your next ones?
A: Everything is possible. Amateur boxing is here, so why not?
THE PENINSULA
