Wladimir Klitschko hung up the gloves back in 2017 after being stopped by Anthony Joshua, ending a career that included a period of dominance in the heavyweight division.
The Ukrainian was the unified heavyweight champion between 2008 and 2015. In his first reign at the top, he made five successful defences. During his second, he made 18. Tyson Fury ended the Klitschko era with an upset win in 2015.
Despite having now been retired for seven years, the Hall of Famer’s past talk of a comeback reached another level this week as it was reported he was in talks to return in an attempt to beat George Foreman’s record as the division’s oldest ever champion. Foreman did it at 45 and Wlad is now 48. He has since been linked with three big names.
Daniel Dubois
It was first reported by the Daily Mail that Klitschko was in the conversation to face Daniel Dubois, who recently made the first defence of his IBF World Title by stopping Joshua in five rounds.
Promoter Frank Warren told Seconds Out that it was ‘a brief conversation’ but that ‘anything can happen.’ Dubois is instead facing Joseph Parker on February 22 next year.
“It was a very brief conversation to be honest. I’ve got a lot of respect [for Wladimir] … We had quite a lengthy chat in Riyadh at the last show. He looks after himself. Obviously he’s an older guy, I don’t like the idea of older guys fighting, but he’s in tremendous condition … Anything can happen with these guys.”
Tyson Fury
Speaking on the Ariel and Ade show on DAZN, boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh expressed a keen interest in ‘Dr Steelhammer’ having a rematch with Tyson Fury should he beat another Ukrainian in Oleksandr Usyk this month.
“The result of Tyson vs Usyk, a lot of people are waiting for them. One of them is Dubois. Another is Joshua. At the same time, there is a third person.
I am dreaming of seeing this fight to give chance if he accepts to give Klitschko to give back to be the oldest heavyweight champion ever. To give him the chance. This is perfect. Of course, he won’t fight Usyk if he wins because they’re two heroes from Ukraine will not fight each other. This is the dream.
Deontay Wilder
Though Deontay Wilder‘s trainer Malik Scott is skeptical that the comeback happens, if it does he told Jeff Bet his man is willing to take part in ‘one of the biggest heavyweight fights of all time.’
“Wladimir Klitschko is a legend. There’s so much that comes with that brand of Wladimir Klitschko. So, that’s worth the while right there. I’m sure that would be a name to consider if that rumour he wants to return is true, that would be a name to put some attention on. If something like that were to happen, Deontay Wilder and Wladimir, it’d be one of the biggest heavyweight fights of all time.”
More is expected soon as to Klitschko’s intentions, particularly whether or not he will be willing to leave Ukraine during the ongoing conflict with Russia,
