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Today Wladimir Klitschko celebrates his 30th birthday at his training camp in Majorca. "Now I'm becoming old. Where did the last 10 years go? They just went up in smoke," Klitschko told the German daily BILD. There will be no celebration, however, as Klitschko works straight toward his dream. He wants to give himself the largest birthday gift of all on April 22: a victory over champion Chris Byrd in Mannheim. It has been three years and 45 days since Wladimir has held a world title.
"At 30, I am still the youngest heavyweight in the top ten", consoles the popular bachelor in regard to his old age. "And I work in my dream job. Six months boxing and six months enjoying life."
"All or Nothing," is the slogan for the fight against Byrd. "I chose Byrd because he is the number one in the world. After the retirement of my brother, he is the best world champion. I defeated him in Cologne, Germany in 2000. Since then Byrd has improved and boxed top boxers like Holyfield and Golota. Byrd matured and is not comparable with the man of five years before. He is very awkward to box. That's why Tyson and Lewis didn't want him as an opponent."
Meanwhile, Wladimir's brother Vitali (34) has moved into the political ring and is up for election tomorrow in the Kiev, Ukraine mayoral race. Wladimir calls it, "his hardest fight. In sports there are rules and only sometimes stones in the water. In politics there are only stones. I wish myself that he gets into office."
The Klitschko brothers supported the Ukrainian Orange Revolution. What has changed after 18 months in his homeland? "There is no going back," says Wladimir. "The process does run, but it is difficult and not all are satisfied. But we have a free press and a division of power. There is also a new mentality on the street. US president Kennedy would say: Ask not what the Ukraine can do for you, ask what you can do for the Ukraine!"
"At 30, I am still the youngest heavyweight in the top ten", consoles the popular bachelor in regard to his old age. "And I work in my dream job. Six months boxing and six months enjoying life."
"All or Nothing," is the slogan for the fight against Byrd. "I chose Byrd because he is the number one in the world. After the retirement of my brother, he is the best world champion. I defeated him in Cologne, Germany in 2000. Since then Byrd has improved and boxed top boxers like Holyfield and Golota. Byrd matured and is not comparable with the man of five years before. He is very awkward to box. That's why Tyson and Lewis didn't want him as an opponent."
Meanwhile, Wladimir's brother Vitali (34) has moved into the political ring and is up for election tomorrow in the Kiev, Ukraine mayoral race. Wladimir calls it, "his hardest fight. In sports there are rules and only sometimes stones in the water. In politics there are only stones. I wish myself that he gets into office."
The Klitschko brothers supported the Ukrainian Orange Revolution. What has changed after 18 months in his homeland? "There is no going back," says Wladimir. "The process does run, but it is difficult and not all are satisfied. But we have a free press and a division of power. There is also a new mentality on the street. US president Kennedy would say: Ask not what the Ukraine can do for you, ask what you can do for the Ukraine!"
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