#WBOKOCovid19 Former Unified WBO Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko opened the doors of his hotel in Kiev to support doctors

#WBOKOCoronavirus #WBOKOCovid19 Former Unified WBO Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko opened the doors of his hotel in Kiev to support doctors in their fight against the coronavirus.

The Ukrainian boxer published a statement in which he focuses on giving a helping hand to those who need it most:

“Dear friends,

What we are facing today is much more than a challenge, we are confronted with an historic task that CAN be mastered, “if” we work together on a shared goal and support each other. It depends on each and every one of us, our responsibility, our involvement and our sense of dignity, how quickly we can get past this situation?

Wladimir #Klitschko, Ruslan Oleksenko and #DEOL Partners are honored in doing their part to accommodate doctors and medical staff in Kyiv’s center. We feel the need to do whatever we can to give back to these medical professionals, true heroes. These folks are on the front lines, putting their lives, and own health ahead of ours, we can never forget.

Our doors and hearts are open to those who are fighting the virus on a day-to-day basis. Each of them are saving lives daily, forever grateful. Thank you 🙏 Telephone for details +380991557733”.

Current WBO Junior Middleweight Champion Zaur Baysangurov has already arrived to the United states and is going to start his training camp at The Summit (Big Bear Lake, CA), preparing for the upcoming fight against undefeated challenger Demetrius Andrade.

Here should be mentioned that K2 Promotions (promoted by Klitschko Brothers) won the purse bid and got the right to promote the fight, which takes place on July 6 at the Palace of Sports (Kiev, Ukraine). This will be a mandatory defense by Baysangurov.

http://www.boxingscene.com/photo-baysangurov-hits-us-andrade-camp–65008

According to the recent interviews of both contestants, the much awaited showdown between the WBO light middleweight champion Zaurbek Baysangurov (26-1, 20 KOs) and his mandatory challenger and WBO #1 154lber Lukas Konecny (47-3, 22 KOs), of the Czech Republic, is possible for the tenth of March in Kiev, Ukraine. The agreement hasn’t been signed yet but both parties hope the official announcement will come very soon, after a few small discrepancies are solved.

Baysangurov, who is promoted by K2 Ukraine, was raised in his status from the WBO interim-title after WBO has stripped then-reigning champion Sergey Dzinziruk of his crown. Konecny, who gave a close fight to Dzinziruk in 2008 only to lose by way of a dubious majority decision, hasn’t lost since and now has eleven wins in a row.

By Alexey Sukachev

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=49361

WBO/WBA/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko feels the right decision was made when he announced his withdrawal from this Saturday’s fight with former cruiserweight king Jean-Marc Mormeck. Klitschko felt ill over the weekend and had to undergo surgery on Saturday to remove a kidney stone. On Monday, Klitschko still felt  a lot of pain and knew the best decision was to withdrew from the fight, which is likely going to take place on the postponed date of March 3rd at ESPRIT arena in Düsseldorf, Germany.

“The decision to postpone the fight was the right one. The main thing is your health. I could not enter this fight without being 100% ready. I’m very sorry for the boxing fans who were anticipating this upcoming fight. But, the fight is not being canceled completely, only postponed. The pain came unexpectedly and was unpredictable and uncontrollable. Probably on March 3rd, this fight will happen,” Klitschko said.

“My mother once had a stone in the kidney. She said childbirth was easier than dealing with the stone. I can’t compare these two things, but I feel a deep respect for any woman who gives a child to the world. Anyone who has experienced this kind of pain can understand – it is difficult to describe. The last four days, I was in hell and I’m glad that I’m now in a position to give an interview.”

“A year ago, I unfortunately had to cancel another fight. This is what happens in life and sometimes in sports. When you lose, then nobody cares whether you’re ready or hwther you were 100%. When I enter the ring, I want to be ready. Right now I’m going to take further tests to make sure that there is no cause for serious concern. I am very pleased with the university clinic in Dusseldorf, they have done everything necessary. Unfortunately, it was not enough so I could go into battle, but I’m glad that life goes on without pain.”

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=46925

According to several media agencies, an agreement has been reached between K2 Promotions and Ulf Steinforth’s SES Boxing to arrange a fight between newly crowned WBO light middleweight champion Zaurbek Baysangurov (26-1, 20 KOs) and dangerous WBO #1 Czech opponent Lukas Konecny (47-3, 22 KOs).

The title affair will take place in February 2012 in Moscow, Grozny or Kiev and will be promoted by the Klitschko Brothers, who guide Zaurbek’s career. The winner should face former WBO king Sergey Dzinziruk (37-1, 23 KOs) in his first title defense. Dzinziruk has been stripped of the title recently for failing to defend it in over a year and a half since his drubbing of Australian Daniel Dawson.

Baysangurov, once a highly regarded boxer-puncher from Achkhoy-Martan in Chechnya, started his professional career in 2004, being just 19 years of age. In his fifteenth fight Baysangurov delivered probably the finest performance of his career so far, schooling Marco Antonio Rubio to almost a shutout decision. He then won European crown and defeated it twice. In December 2008, Baysangurov lost an upset TKO 5 to Cornelius Bundrage in the IBF eliminator. Bundrage went on to become a new holder of the red belt. Zaurbek bounced back with seven wins in a row (six by knockout). In July this year Baysangurov blitzed barely live Mike Miranda with a couple of shots to become the WBO interim champion. He was elevated to the full status later, after Dzinziruk had been stripped off.

Lukas Konecny, 33-year old perennial contender and possibly the greatest Czech boxer of all time, was close to dethroning Dzinziruk in March 2008 but was held to a very controversial split decision loss. He is 11-0, with 4 KOs, after that with two successful defenses of his European regalia.

By Dmitry Mikhalchuk and Alexey Sukachev

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=45539

Known as “The Steel Hammer,” Klitschko first achieved world attention at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. He defeated Paea Wolfgramm to win the Super-Heavyweight gold medal. Klitschko turned professional with Universum Box-Promotion in Hamburg under the tutelage of Fritz Sdunek. He suffered his first setback after 24 bouts without a loss to journeyman Ross Puritty, who entered the bout with a record of 24–13–1. Klitschko won the WBO Heavyweight title from American Chris Byrd. Byrd had previously upset his elder brother Vitali (who pulled out injured during their bout).

After five successful defenses of the WBO belt, but on March 2003 Klitschko suffered an upset loss to Corrie Sanders. Sanders battered Klitschko for two rounds knocking him out. After winning two minor bouts in Germany and enlisting the services of legendary boxing trainer Emmanuel Steward, Klitschko again fought for the vacated WBO title on 10 April 2004, in Las Vegas, against Lamon Brewster. Klitschko sent Brewster to the canvas in the fourth round; however, things turned around in the fifth when Brewster’s punches began backing him up. Not defending himself and leaning into ropes for support, Klitschko took a standing eight count. On unsteady legs, Klitschko went to his knees after the bell and the referee stopped the fight for his safety. Following his loss to Brewster, Klitschko began his journey back towards the top of the heavyweight division. First, he defeated DaVarryl Williamson by technical decision. He then knocked out undefeated Eliseo Castillo. Klitschko then signed to fight undefeated power puncher Samuel Peter in an IBF eliminator. The much anticipated bout proved to be hugely entertaining. It went some way towards redeeming Klitschko in the heavyweight division.

Though Peter scored three knockdowns (two in round 5, one in round 10) Klitschko withstood the Nigerian’s power and went on to dominate for long periods. He even rocked Peter in the final round. The win against Peter showed that Klitschko was capable of defeating power punchers. On 22 April 2006, in Mannheim, Germany, Klitschko again defeated Chris Byrd by TKO and won the IBF Heavyweight title. Klitschko then avenged one of his previous losses as he defeated Lamon Brewster in July 2007. Klitschko later defeated WBO Heavyweight Champion Sultan Ibragimov at Madison Square Garden in New York City on 23 February 2008 to unify the IBF and WBO heavyweight titles. On 12 July 2008, Klitschko defeated Tony Thompson by KO in the eleventh round. Klitschko was scheduled to defend his titles against Alexander Povetkin later in 2008,[6] but on 25 October, Povetkin withdrew from the fight due to an ankle injury. Instead, Klitschko faced Hasim Rahman on 13 December 2008 and won by TKO.

Rahman seemed unable to withstand Klitschko’s punch power. The referee finally called a stop to the one-sided contest in the 7th round after Rahman failed to respond to a series of good shots. Klitschko was scheduled to face David Haye who pulled out within weeks of the fight complaining of a back injury. Salvaging the 20 June 2009 date and venue, Klitschko instead retained the IBF, WBO, IBO world heavyweight titles and also won the vacant Ring Magazine heavyweight title by defeating replacement opponent and Ring #3 ranked Ruslan Chagaev when Chagaev retired after an onslaught of punches towards the end of the ninth round. As Chagaev was WBA champion in recess, the title was not on the line.

Klitschko’s win over Chagaev was seen as one of his most impressive performances in the ring. In December 2009, Klitschko defeated Chambers by KO five seconds before the end of the final round. Following the match with Chambers, a unification fight between Klitschko and David Haye, who as of May 2009 held the WBA title, appeared to be in the offing. Both sides began negotiations for a potential fight and the bout was targeted for September. The fight did not materialize and Klitschko took on mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin. The bout between Klitschko and Povetkin was tentatively scheduled to take place in Frankfurt, Germany, on September 2010. In July 2010, it was confirmed that the bout would be taking place in Frankfurt. However, Povetkin backed out of the $2 million purse fight. Samuel Peter replaced

Povetkin for the scheduled fight. Peter fought Klitschko on 11 September 2010, for the Ukrainian’s IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles. Klitschko won again, by knocking out Peter in the 10th round. Klitschko was set to fight Dereck Chisora on 11 December, but the fight was later called off on 8 December due to a Klitschko injury. On 5 January 2011, it was announced that Dereck Chisora would get his fight with Klitschko. The fight against Dereck Chisora was rescheduled for 30 April 2011. However, on 4 March, it was announced Klitschko pulled out of the fight. On 5 March, it announced that the fight against David Haye will take place on 2 July 2011. Klitschko fought David Haye in a heavyweight unification fight for the WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO and The Ring heavyweight titles. The fight took place at the Imtech Arena, Hamburg, Germany on 2 July 2011. Klitschko dominated the fight from the start. Klitschko won by unanimous decision.

REGIONAL TITLES:

1. WBC International Champion (twice)

2. WBA Inter-Continental Champion (twice)

3. EBU Heavyweight Champion

4. WBO NABO Heavyweight Champion

5. NABF Heavyweight Champion

WORLD TITLES:

1. WBO Heavyweight Champion (twice)

2. IBF Heavyweight Champion

3. WBO Super World Champion