Ukrainian · Belovodske, Kyrgyz SSR, Soviet Union · Born 19 July 1971Vitali Klitschko is a Ukrainian former heavyweight boxing champion, undefeated across two world title reigns, who has served as Mayor of Kyiv since 2014.
A six-time world kickboxing champion before he threw a professional boxing punch, Vitali Klitschko went on to win the WBC heavyweight title twice, make ten successful defences across 45 undefeated professional fights, and transition directly into Ukrainian politics — serving as Mayor of Kyiv from 2014 through Russia's full-scale invasion beginning in 2022. A six-time world kickboxing champion before switching codes, he made his professional boxing debut on the same 1996 fight card in Hamburg as his younger brother Wladimir, both men winning by knockout. Standing 6'7" with an enormous reach, Klitschko built a reputation as one of the most physically dominant heavyweights of his era, winning the vacant WBO title by stopping Herbie Hide in 1999 and defending it twice before a torn rotator cuff forced a technical-knockout loss to Chris Byrd in 2000. He won the WBC title in 2004 by stopping Corrie Sanders, but a string of injuries forced his retirement in 2005 after just one defence. He came out of retirement in 2008, reclaiming the WBC belt by stopping Samuel Peter, and went on to make ten successful defences over the next five years, remaining undefeated across a total of 45 professional fights. Klitschko vacated the WBC title in December 2013 to focus full-time on Ukrainian politics, having already founded the UDAR (Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform) party in 2010 and played a leading role in the Euromaidan protests. He was elected Mayor of Kyiv in 2014 and has been re-elected in every subsequent election, leading the capital's civil defence and reconstruction efforts through Russia's full-scale invasion beginning in 2022. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2018 and holds a PhD, earning the nickname 'Dr. Ironfist.'
Undefeated two-time heavyweight world champion who went on to become Mayor of Kyiv
How They Played
Towering, reach-dependent heavyweight with a powerful jab and disciplined, controlling style
Lasting Impact
One of the most dominant heavyweight champions of his generation and a globally recognised political figure leading Ukraine's capital through war
Career Honours
- WBO heavyweight champion (1999-2000)
- WBC heavyweight champion (2004-2005, 2008-2013)
- International Boxing Hall of Fame (2018)
- 6x world kickboxing champion (amateur/pre-boxing career)
Ukrainian Athletes