Vitalii Klitschko KOs Larry Donald, earning right to fight Lennox Lewis

by Roman Kernitski

DORTMUND, Germany - In front of a crowd of 10,000 people in the Westfalenhalle arena in Dortmund, Germany, Vitalii Klitschko successfully defended his World Boxing Association title against Larry Donald on November 23.

Klitschko boxed skillfully throughout the fight before knocking Donald out in the 10th round. It was the first time the 35-year-old Donald was knocked out in his 44-fight career. Klitschko, 32-1 with 31 knockouts, dropped Donald five times before the referee counted "The Legend" out with 23 seconds left in the 10th round. The win paved the way for Klitschko's WBC title fight with Lennox Lewis.

"Nobody had knocked him out because he's fast and an uncomfortable opponent, but I was able to do this," said Klitschko. "I look forward to fighting Lewis in three or four months. I will do my best so that it turns out even better than this fight."

For the Ukrainian boxer the fight was not only physically tough but mentally tough as well. With his future on the line, there was no second chance. Well-known boxing trainer Tommy Brooks said, "The one who loses this fight will end his boxing career." And then, just before walking into the ring, Vitalii received a message from his wife: "It's a girl." His wife gave birth to a baby girl just hours before the fight.

"My wife told me that she gave me a gift and it was my turn now to come home with a big victory," Klitschko said during a press conference following the bout. And that's exactly what he did. He did not allow his emotions to endanger his victory in the fight but instead remained highly focused as he fulfilled his mission.

Klitschko appears to be quite a happy man now. With his second child born and a title bout with the "king" of boxing, Lewis, tentatively scheduled for March 2003, his only worries are for his kid brother, Volodymyr, who will fight Jameel McCline on December 7 in Las Vegas. The fight will be shown on HBO.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, December 8, 2002, No. 49, Vol. LXX

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