Professional boxing brothers Vitaly and Volodymyr Klichko live and train in Germany [known there as Witali and Wladimir Klitschko] and often fly to the United States for bouts. However they are extremely popular in their home country, Ukraine. In fact, they are idolised by their fans, although most can only watch them on television; the brothers have had only a few fights in Ukraine. Such extraordinary popularity is easily explained: they have never disowned Ukraine. On the contrary, they have constantly stressed the notion "homeland" that has a special meaning to them. Thanks to their achivements, a lot of people in the West no longer regard Ukraine as just a radioactive spot on the map of Europe; there must be something about that country if it can sire such splendid athletes!

World-known personalities such as Hugo Boss consider it a matter of honour to have their pictures taken with the brothers Klichko.

Сфотографуватися на добру згадку із уславленими боксерами вважають за честь всесвітньо відомі особистості. Із модельєром Уго Боссом (Hugo Boss)

When the sporting world learned that the world champion Lennox Lewis was willing to fight both Vitaly and Volodymyr boxing aficionados were rubbing their hands, expecting to witness spectacular bouts (the chances were estimated at 50/50), however their joy proved short-lived. Lewis refused to defend his champion's belt against the Klichkos. Formally, it was explained that the British boxer was scheduled to fight Tyson in July. But perhaps he was just scared of the Ukrainian heavyweights?

In fact, Western paparazzi consider Vitaly and Volodymyr rather dull; they train, win championships, defend them and take part in charitable projects. Vitaly is an exemplary family man, cherishing his wife and two children. No scandals, no juicy affairs. The brothers only smile, hearing such complaints, and remain true to themselves: open, friendly, and with a keen sense of humour.

The habitual winner's ritual.

Звичний ритуал переможця

The Ukrainian: Several generations of our best boxers dreamed of contests with the world's top heavyweights. Now this dream is to become reality. Vitaly, you were the first to travel a long and winding road to a duel that will most probably become legendary in Ukrainian sports.

Vitaly: Indeed, a lot of talented Soviet boxers could not get to the top because there was officially no professional boxing in the USSR. Yet their efforts laid the foundations of today's attainments. We are profoundly grateful to all those that founded the Soviet and particularly the Ukrainian boxing school. We are its graduates. We've been boxing since childhood and we have learned from the experience of generations of boxers. Volodymyr and I were lucky to be born when we were. Now translating all those dreams into life is much easier, of course. I mean the current generation of young boxers have a lot more opportunities.

Volodymyr: We are happy to know that professional boxing is evolving in Ukraine, that there appear professional boxing clubs and tournaments are held. Actually, quite a few Western promoters are watching the Ukrainian lads with interest. In fact, young Ukrainian boxers Volodymyr Sydorenko, Andriy Kotelnyk, and Oleksandr Dmytrenko have joined our club Universum Box Promotion.

The Ukr.: Professional US heavyweights had been in the lead for almost forty years, until the British Lennox Lewis returned the champion's title to Europe. So fighting for the world title among European super heavyweights has become a reality. But the British heavy weight is being a bit evasive. Is he really intending to 'throw in the sponge'?

Vitaly: If I were to beat Lewis it would seriously damage his image as the number one super heavyweight. Therefore, I believe he just decided not to take unreasonable risks. After all, our bout would not add glory or money to the British athlete; he is rich and famous as he is. If they take away Lewis's belt, I'll probably fight Evander Holyfield who is placed second in the WBC ratings.

Combat weight.

Вага - бойова.

The Ukr.: Vitaly lost to Chris Byrd on April 1, 2000, and the famous Larry Merchant said on the HBO channel after the bout that the elder of the brothers Klichko lacked a champion's character...

Volodymyr: Vitaly does have that champion's character, otherwise he'd never have achieved what he did. Yet health is more precious than the champion's belt. I understand this and so does Vitaly, and I hope that Larry Merchant does, too.

Vitaly: It's hard to discuss a champion's character without the champion's belt (laughing). I'd like to get back to this subject sometime later. Time will show who is right and who is just making loud declarations. After my bout with Byrd many people showed a biased attitude and then apologized.

The Ukr.: News agencies say Lewis will challenge both Vitaly and Volodymyr. Did you expect this?

Volodymyr: I wasn't surprised, because, although the press is supposed to be omnipresent, we learn about our potential adversaries and future bouts earlier. I want to fight Lewis, he is at the peak of his career. Also, a solider who doesn't want to be a general is a poor soldier.

The Ukr.: WBO championship is considered secondary and not too prestigious in the boxing world. Do you agree?

Volodymyr: This title is absolutely equal with all the other championships. It's just that the World Boxing Organization is the youngest in the professional realm, it's only 40 years old. The prestige of every title is determined by the names of the athletes competing for it.

The Ukr.: The last time Ukrainian fans saw the brothers Klichko in the ring, live, was at the Palace of Sports, in December 1998. Regrettably, the Ukrainian fans are accustomed to watching their stars only on television. A shame, isn't it? Also, where else can an athlete find real fans except in his native land? Will our fans be able to see you live before long?

Vitaly: If you only knew how much we wish this to happen, but it is very difficult to arrange at present. We are working on it anyway and we hope to have a bout with a professional boxer at the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv.

A punch that few can take without being knocked out cold.

Такий удар витримає не кожний.

The Ukr.: Among other things, Volodymyr's opponents say that Klichko, Jr. has gained his current status thanks to the skilful managment of his promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl. Any comment?

Vitaly: Klichko, Jr. has gained his current status with his hands and his character. After all, the promoter doesn't fight in the ring. The athlete does. If a boxer lacks skill no manipulation will help him make his name.

The Ukr.: Did you visualise yourself at the top of this profession as a boy?

Vitaly: Our childhood was no different from other kids our age, whose parents served in the army. Life in a garrison town, transfers, we travelled all over the Soviet Union. There were hardships and joys.

Volodymyr: Our childhood was great, primarily because it was our childhood and anyway we won't have another. We studied, read books, made big plans, went in for sports, took music lessons, were up to mischief, fought, even composed verse. We loved watching movies and Schwarzenegger and Chuck Norris were our idols.

Bungee-jumping gives even champions an adrenalin rush

Банд-джампінг додає адреналіну навіть чемпіонам

Vitaly: We never thought of a professional boxing career, but our sport helped us to see the world, we had an opportunity to visit different countries, meet interesting people, have unforgettable experiences; our sport gave us everything we have now. We went in for sports as small boys and this put us on our life-path. Although everything was not as exciting and spectacular as it seems. There have been ups and downs, defeats and victories. I don't know whether it was what our parents instilled in us or it was all thanks to sports, but we have always tried to be immune to the star syndrome and never let our failures get the better of us. We have always competed with each other in a brotherly way and forged ahead together. Volodymyr's victory at the Games was not only a dream come true, but also an impetus. It pushed us to the question, What's next?

Volodymyr: And then it was Germany. Professional debuts. It wasn't easy. We had to learn the language and how to give interviews and communicate with people, and endure hours of posing for cameras. The biggest problem was learning to live in a different country. Germany is almost like a second homeland now, but it was difficult at the beginning.

The Ukr.: Your fans are aware that you are not totally immersed in boxing, that you have other pursuits. Don't you have to save your energy for the ring?

Vitaly: When we had made some progress in boxing we noticed that life had a lot of other aspects, that man does not live by boxing alone. We decided to study further and took up postgraduate courses at the Kyiv University of Physical Education and Sports. Goethe wrote that theory is dry, but experience reinforced by theory is twice as valuable. The more so that we had 30 years of boxing practice between the two of us to add to the theory. The topics of our research papers were quite interesting. Mine read "Talent in Sports" and Volodymyr's "Pedagogic Control". As for talent (it's part of my candidate-of-science thesis), scientists still don't know where talent comes from, whether another Mozart or Pushkin will be born, what makes some people talented and others mediocre. Well, I haven't answered these questions, either, but I have been able to trace certain interesting regularities at least in boxing.

Volodymyr: I have been able to enrich my pedagogical knowledge. After all, Vitaly and I are professional teachers, graduates of the teachers' training institute in Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky. Working with children was very interesting.

Vitaly: There is another side to life, in addition to sports, and we consider it very important. I mean public activities. Half a year ago, we acted as UNESCO envoys under the programme "Education for Children in Need". We visited Brazil recently, also under that programme, to take part in several projects. The experiences were unforgettable. We marvelled at children's talent and were horrified by their living conditions. I think that, whereas beauty will save this world, education will save our children from misery, criminality, and drug abuse. We plan to carry out one of the next UNESCO projects in Ukraine.

The Ukr.: Boxing is regarded as a hazardous sport. Now your fans will know that the brothers Klichko are fond of hazardous experiences. Don't you get enough adrenalin in the ring?

Volodymyr: Yes, we do, but there is life outside the ring. The more so that the kind of emotions you get from bungee-jumping and from boxing are quite different. Boxing means hard work in the first place. The rest is fun, an opportunity to test yourself & learn more thrilling experiences. We did bungee-jumping twice. Once from height of 60 metres, then from a helicopter at 450 m. Scary but thrilling. The most exciting thing is that feeling of flight, of total freedom.

Vitaly: Actually, I'm more on the aquatic side. As in that joke: there are considerably more people able to swim than those able to fly. I love water skiing, surfing, and diving.

The Ukr.: Volodymyr, you developed a fancy for the saxophone at one time, you took lessons. Will you play something when in Kyiv? Our maybe you'll play the guitar, your other hobby of long ago?

Volodymyr: I'll surely play, but not now. Playing off key is as bad as throwing awkward punches in the ring. It's the same as in boxing. It takes training, then doing bouts. With music, it's practising, then playing in a concert.

Kyiv Mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko never misses a single bout starring his favourites.

Олександр Омельченко не пропускає жодного бою своїх улюбленців.

The Ukr.: Our readers would wish to congratulate Natalia and Vitaly on a happy addition to the family: your daughter Yelizaveta. Vitaly, would you tell us about your family?

Vitaly: It's the most precious thing I have in life. I mean my family, my parents, my brother, my wife Natalia, my son Yegor, and now my small daughter Yelizaveta. Too bad I couldn't be with my wife in the delivery room, for a very good reason. I had my bout with Larry Donald and learned about my daughter several hours before the meet. As soon as it was over, I rushed to the airport. I am a veteran father, so to say, but I can't even try to describe the emotions flooding through me as I picked up that little darling in my arms. Natalia and I are very happy. Our son Yegor is also happy, although he was a bit mystified at first. He couldn't figure out who that baby was and where she came from. Now he is a big and loving brother, helping his mum. You can tell there is another man growing in the family. Our daughter just eats and sleeps, and smiles. Actually, her name is Yelizaveta-Victoria. Yelizaveta because Natalia chose the name and Victoria because I won that night.

The Ukr.: How do the Klichko boxers spend their weekdays? Doing what?

Vitaly: The same as other people. Working, resting, being with the family. I try to spend all my spare time with them. Of course, there are press conferences, television sessions, but this only diversifies our life.

Volodymyr: Getting ready for the next bout is a very special period. The daily schedule must be strictly observed: two training sessions, medical check-ups, and sparring fights. Dull, of course, in the eyes of people having nothing to do with sports. But after the bout you can spend more time with friends, indulge your hobbies, and study.

The Ukr.: Are you superstitious? How do you get yourself into the right mental state before stepping into the ring?