“I dream about it”
Wladimir Klitschko’s sensational comeback?
Updated on December 9, 2024 – 5:26 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
A return of the former heavyweight world champion to the ring no longer seems to be out of the question. Now an expert has spoken out – and is giving hints.
Is “Dr. Steelhammer” actually coming back to the boxing ring? The speculation about Wladimir Klitschko’s comeback continues. One man in particular seems to be convinced of Klitschko’s return: the Saudi Arabian businessman Turki Al-Sheikh, who has brought numerous major boxing events to the capital Riyadh in recent years.
In an interview with the renowned martial arts reporter Ariel Helwani, Al-Sheikh expressed his desire for a mega comeback from the now 48-year-old. A rematch against Tyson Fury is particularly in focus. “I dream of seeing this fight,” Al-Sheikh said.
Fury defeated Klitschko on points in Düsseldorf in November 2015 and took his world title from him. A planned rematch never materialized as Fury struggled with addiction and depression for a long time after the win and only got back into the ring after Klitschko ended his career.
Al-Sheikh now continues: “If Fury accepts, I would give him (Klitschko, editor’s note) the chance to become the oldest heavyweight champion of all time.” If Klitschko were successful, he would break the record of boxing legend George Foreman, who became heavyweight world champion again in 1994 at the age of 45 years, 9 months and 25 days. Klitschko is now 48 years old and only said in an interview with the “Bild” newspaper in 2022: “Maybe I have this dream of breaking George Foreman’s record.”
Al-Sheikh’s comments come at a time when there has already been speculation about a Klitschko comeback: The British “Daily Mail” recently reported on alleged negotiations for a fight against IBF world champion Daniel Dubois.
Ahead of the eagerly awaited World Championship rematch between Fury and title holder Oleksandr Usyk (December 21st), Al-Sheikh continued: “Many people are waiting for the result of Tyson vs. Usyk. One of them is Daniel Dubois. Another is Anthony Joshua. At the same time there is a third person.” And this should be Klitschko. A comeback by “Dr. Steelhammer” really doesn’t seem to be out of the question anymore.