Vitali Klitschko to be inducted into IBHOF in June 2018

[KnockoutNed]

he shouldn't be in. his resume is utter trash. a guy like rahman won't get in and yet rahman's resume is much better than vitali's. unfortunately vitali will get in because his last name is klitschko and he dominated a bunch of bums. it would be like putting in ggg if ggg retired right now. you shouldn't get in the hall based on fantasy but on reality.

harsh but true

[Weltschmerz]

Good fighter but he doesn't deserve to get in. His resume is absolutely godawful, arguably even worse than his brother's (although he was a much better fighter than him). He lost to the two best fighters he faced. He only fought 1 ATG in his entire career, a badly faded one at that and got bludgeoned to pieces.

His repuation has some black spots too.He's a convicted steroid user and has links with organized crime in his past, he also was a horrible sportsman.

Elaborate?

[PainfromUkraine]

Vitali's 44th birthday message to all his fans:

(my translation)

Friends, thank you all for your greetings and messages!

My 44th 'edition' of my birthday...probably, I have not ever had such an active and difficult year of events in a year of my life, as happened in this last year. A year full of 'call-outs', with no break between rounds, no pause, no holidays...vacations - a marathon year.

I would like to apologise to people close to me - my mother, brother, friends. I had very little time for you. Not because I didn't want to, but because one year ago I took up the responsibility upon myself of the big extended family of the millions of Kiev citizens.

And everyday, receiving the simple request from people of just a few minutes of my time - to listen, to help, I overwhelmingly try to not say no to anyone. But there is one small issue...in a day there is only 24 hours, and regardless of how much I try, I am not able to get round to - quite - everything. I really hope for understanding with this problem, especially from my loved ones.

I am aware that today many tried to call me. To those that couldn't get through - sorry, but there is no phone reception in the airplane. I am currently en route to a break for a couple of days - and tonight I will celebrate my birthday somewhere on the edge of the Earth, in some woods on the border with Canada, in a summer camp where my kids are currently staying. I promised them.

One's birthday - it is another moment, when you sum up the results of what you have achieved. Yes, my 44th year was not easy or smooth, but I did achieve a bit...my next year of life does not promise to be easier, and it will be necessary to do a lot more...and in this year, I already see it - I will have to answer to new calls. Calls to battle, where 'cabinet schemers' (corrupt politicians) try to pull you in to their field, where they destroyed many, or those that they didn't destroy, smothered and suffocated in their arms. I will say one thing - I will fight like I did in the ring - openly!

P.S. the truth is, my birthday was always a big celebration for my parents. Thank you, mother, that you gave me the chance to be in this world. And for Vladimir Rodionovich (the Klitschko Bro's father who tragically passed from cancer in 2011 which he got from being part of the Chernobyl clean up, for those who didn't know) - you will never be ashamed of your son. My children will be proud of me! I say this confidently, because all that I do, I do from my soul and truthfully.

Thank you to all, who remembered me on this day!

- Vitali Klitschko

[PainfromUkraine]

Great little piece of archive from post Sanders fight - Lennox coming in to congratulate Vitali on the win. Respect between warriors. Interesting what else they talked about...

[Weltschmerz]

Vitali's 44th birthday message to all his fans:

(my translation)

Friends, thank you all for your greetings and messages!

My 44th 'edition' of my birthday...probably, I have not ever had such an active and difficult year of events in a year of my life, as happened in this last year. A year full of 'call-outs', with no break between rounds, no pause, no holidays...vacations - a marathon year.

I would like to apologise to people close to me - my mother, brother, friends. I had very little time for you. Not because I didn't want to, but because one year ago I took up the responsibility upon myself of the big extended family of the millions of Kiev citizens.

And everyday, receiving the simple request from people of just a few minutes of my time - to listen, to help, I overwhelmingly try to not say no to anyone. But there is one small issue...in a day there is only 24 hours, and regardless of how much I try, I am not able to get round to - quite - everything. I really hope for understanding with this problem, especially from my loved ones.

I am aware that today many tried to call me. To those that couldn't get through - sorry, but there is no phone reception in the airplane. I am currently en route to a break for a couple of days - and tonight I will celebrate my birthday somewhere on the edge of the Earth, in some woods on the border with Canada, in a summer camp where my kids are currently staying. I promised them.

One's birthday - it is another moment, when you sum up the results of what you have achieved. Yes, my 44th year was not easy or smooth, but I did achieve a bit...my next year of life does not promise to be easier, and it will be necessary to do a lot more...and in this year, I already see it - I will have to answer to new calls. Calls to battle, where 'cabinet schemers' (corrupt politicians) try to pull you in to their field, where they destroyed many, or those that they didn't destroy, smothered and suffocated in their arms. I will say one thing - I will fight like I did in the ring - openly!

P.S. the truth is, my birthday was always a big celebration for my parents. Thank you, mother, that you gave me the chance to be in this world. And for Vladimir Rodionovich (the Klitschko Bro's father who tragically passed from cancer in 2011 which he got from being part of the Chernobyl clean up, for those who didn't know) - you will never be ashamed of your son. My children will be proud of me! I say this confidently, because all that I do, I do from my soul and truthfully.

Thank you to all, who remembered me on this day!

- Vitali Klitschko

Classy as always, thanks for sharing.

[IMDAZED]

Definitely doesn't deserve to be in the HOF.

[Ham Porter]

He will get knocked for dominating a weak era but he dominated the way any great fighter would have in his era.

This applies to Wladimir, who actually fought the best contenders that the division had to offer. He was facing the likes of Chagaev, Ibragimov, Haye, Pulev & Povetkin while Vitali was fighting the Johnson's, Sosnowski's, Briggs' & Charr's of the world.

Vitali was the number one heavyweght for a very, very brief period after Lewis retired and was nothing more than a titleist after he returned.

[Bermuda]

Wow, that's awesome! Congratulations Vitali! You did great work as a boxer and now you're doing even greater work helping your peoples in Ukraine! A true hero and role model for everyones everywhere!

- Bermuda

[beez721]

he doesnt have near the resume of wlad but winning the title after all those years off at an advanced age and defending it a handful of times plus his early career gets him deservedly in imo. only 2 losses and never knocked off his feet in over 40 fights. hes no atg but he is hall of fame worthy imo

[STREET CLEANER]

I like him better than his brother but I don't see why he should get in. Him and his bro being champs at the same time dominating the mediocre competition that was there might put him in.