INTERVIEW: Volodymyr Klitschko comments on loss of WBO title
South African Corrie Sanders knocked out Ukrainian Volodymyr Klitschko to take the World Boxing Organization title during a boxing match in Hanover, Germany, on March 8. The loss was Klitschko's second in his professional career, giving him a record of 40 wins and two losses.
Sanders, 37 stunned Klitschko, 27, with repeated punches throughout the short fight, knocking him to the mat twice in the first round and twice in the second round. The final blow came 27 seconds into the second round and shocked much of the boxing world as Klitshcko was widely expected to win.
A special correspondent for The Ukrainian Weekly recently had an opportunity to speak with Volodymyr Klitschko, and his older brother, Vitalii, regarding the upset. The following is a portion of that interview conducted by Roman Kernitski.
Q: Volodymyr, what happened Saturday night?
A: I think that everyone that was present at the arena or that has watched the fight on TV saw perfectly what happened. In my 12-year career as a boxer nothing like this has ever happened to me. Even my fight with Ross Purity was something completely different than this loss to Corrie Sanders.
I started the fight confidently and dominated until the moment when I missed Corrie's punch. Instead of starting to box, I made a mistake, which affected the outcome of the fight. I tried to rehabilitate myself and win back the fight with combinations. I started attacking and exchanging blows with him. What happened next, I think you already know.
Q: What do you think about your loss?
A: I think that nothing tragic has taken place. Many great boxers have lost. However, the most important thing is to find the power to rise up and return into the ring.
Q: Vitalii [Volodymyr's older brother] said last night that Corrie won by a lucky punch. What do you think?
A: I think that's the way it was. Sanders had a one in a hundred chance to win the fight against me. He utilized that one chance. To be more precise, I helped him use it. On the one hand it was a lucky punch, and on the other hand it was my hasty tactics. Corrie was able to use my mistakes against me and he was able to finish the fight with a victory.
Q: Volodymyr, many say that after your first knockdown the fight should have been stopped, since the punch that sent you to the canvas was rather powerful. What do you think?
A: As you saw, I was not hit with punches that would have sent me into a deep knockout. Corrie was able to hammer me only because I was unable to recover. But I did not want to give up that easily. I am sure Fritz Sdunek [Volodymyr's trainer] could have stopped the fight but I still believed that I could turn the fight around. However, I was unable to do that.
Q: Volodymyr, there is an opinion that your preparation for this fight was not good enough and there is some talk that you underestimated your opponent.
A: Believe me when I say that I prepared for this fight like any other. I considered this opponent to be as serious as any other opponent. Sanders' punch and my desire to look impressive had its toll. I would say, however, that my weight was somewhat too heavy for such a fight. It's not an excuse, just an observation.
Q: After your loss HBO did not react as they did when Vitalii was defeated, but were rather reserved and reasonable toward your loss. What was the reason that Larry Merchant was so reasonable about the loss?
A: I think that Larry, as well as most other people inside the arena, were in shock and could not say much. On the other hand, HBO had to understand that this loss did not destroy my future potential, and that this loss did not bring an end to my professional career. On the contrary, now there is intrigue, which is always interesting.
Q: Will you have a rematch with Corrie?
A: This has to be decided by my promoter and Corrie Sanders' promoter.
Q: When are you planning on going back into the gym to start training again?
A: In about three to four weeks.
Q: And what will you be doing during those weeks?
A: I don't know yet, but I can tell you one thing - boxing will not be on my mind during those weeks that I have off.
Q: When can we expect your next fight?
A: In about three to four months, though not earlier. I will impatiently wait to return into the ring.
Q: What can you say to all those who support you?
A: Only one thing - a huge thanks for all your letters and words of support. This obligates me to return into the ring and to confirm your hopes.
Q: Volodymyr, your answer to your skeptics?
A: I don't know whether it's worth to keep on persuading them. If I had won, their reaction would have been the same, though not as loud.
* * *
Q: Vitalii, what happened with Volodymyr?
A: What happened is what can happen to any boxer. Corrie Sanders had one chance in a hundred, and he used this chance. The lucky punch was powerful and sent Volodymyr into a very groggy condition and he could not recover.
Q: How is Volodymyr feeling?
A: He's feeling normal. Unfortunately, it is necessary to acknowledge that boxers experience victories and they also experience defeats. But most important for him is to be able to rise up and return to the gym so that he can shortly return into the ring and prove his right to be considered as one of the strongest boxers in the world.
Q: Vitalii, we're all interested to know if there will be a rematch?
A: Volodymyr has a right to this. When and where this will happen - I have no answer now. But the revenge will show the validity of Sanders' win, or if it was luck.
Q: Vitalii, probably your plans need some rethinking. Is America on hold now?
A: No! Our plans that we made public earlier continue to be true. Certainly, this loss is a step back for both Volodymyr and me. But there was no tragedy - everyone loses. However, the real champions are the ones who return to the ring.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 30, 2003, No. 13, Vol. LXXI
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