Boxing
Fighting
Long before fighting Russians, Kyiv’s mayor was “Dr. Knockout” in the pro-boxing ring
A post shared by Віталій Кличко (@vitaliyklitschko)As Russians attack Kyiv with missiles and bombs, Vitali Klitschko, the 50-year-old mayor of Ukraine’s capital city, has emerged as an icon of Ukrainian resistance, bravely joining his city’s citizens to fight off the invaders.But long before he fought the Russians, Klitschko fought as a heavyweight boxing champion, a detail that underscores his warrior spirit.Klitschko, who stands at 6-foot 7-inches, fought as a pro-boxer from 1996 to 2013, ending with an astounding record of 45 wins and only 2 losses (both of which happened in response to injuries sustained during his matches). His overall record includes 41 knockouts, 15 defeated opponents in world heavyweight title fights and 12 successful title defenses — it’s no wonder he earned the nickname “Dr.