VITALI KLITSCHKO – heavyweight boxing legend turned Kyiv Mayor and front-line soldier – is willing to die fighting Ukraine’s battle against the Russian invasion.
The 50-year-old has taken up arms alongside younger brother and fellow ex-world champ Wladimir and will only leave his capital city victorious or dead.
The Klitschko brothers are prepared to die to defend their country
Vitali Klitschko has already taken up arms to defend his city Kyiv
Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk (centre,right) will also fight to defend Ukraine
“I am very proud to see how patriotic people are,” he told CNN . “We’re not interested in how strong the Russian army is, we’re ready to fight.
“And we’re ready to die for our home country and for our families, because it’s our home.
“It’s our future and somebody wants to come to our home and steal our future from us.”
When asked how long he thinks his makeshift army can hold off Vladimir Putin’s marauding brutes, he admitted his own mortality is part of the equation.
“I’m not ready to give you a clear answer,” he said. “So long, such a long time – if we’re still alive”.
Klitschko’s compatriot and current WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has also taken up arms and revealed he is ready to kill invaders who threaten his people.
The incredible resilience and commitment is something Klitschko is fiercely proud of.
“We stayed in front of one of the strongest armies in the world,” he added.
“The will to be independent is the main priority for us. And we’re defending our families, our city, our country and our future.”
And the powerhouse who lost to Lennox Lewis in 2003 – nicknamed Dr Ironfirst – revealed it is not just millionaire sportstmen who are valiantly standing their ground.
“There is a huge patriotic movement right now,” he said.
“Old people, can you imagine? doctors, actors, actors from the theatre, many professions that never had no expectation to fight, to keep weapons.
“But right now they are coming to us, they’re ready to fight. It’s amazing.”
