Vitali Klitschko, WBC heavyweight champion and Kyiv city politician, plans to retire from boxing in 2010, news agencies reported on Feb. 17.
In 2009, the 38-year-old Klitschko defended his heavyweight title three times. His next opponent could be former WBA champion, Russian Nikolai Valuev, nicknamed the Beast from the East. Klitschko is known as Dr. Ironfist to his boxing fans. “I only have one belt left to win. So this year, I will hang up my boxing gloves. And I’ll stop visiting different cities to beat somebody’s face in,” he said. Klitschko is hoping to continue his political career instead. He is currently a deputy of the Kyiv City Council, controlling a small oppositional faction. He has run for mayor once, and plans to do so again in the next election, the date for which is yet to be set. In this file photo, Klitschko rests after defending his WBC title in October 2008.
