Wladimir Klitschko quotes

Wladimir Klitschko is a Ukrainian former professional boxer and Olympic gold medalist. Noted for his dominant reign as heavyweight world champion, he is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of his era. He remains influential in boxing and is active in philanthropy and education. Here are 32 of his quotes:

I've been many times to Dubai and the U.A.E., and I have friends that live there. It would be exciting to stage world heavyweight championship fights in the Arab world. It's something Muhammad Ali achieved when he fought in Zaire or the Philippines. It's absolutely exciting to fight in countries where you have never fought. (Wladimir Klitschko)
My goal is not getting hit and to knock the other guy out. Some people might complain because they want to see boxers beat up on each other, but you cannot last long in professional boxing if you take a lot of punches. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
I have a Ph.D. in philosophy and sports science. At 14, I went through this really tough Soviet training system. A lot of my roommates got psychologically broken or physically injured. Either you came through, or you were out. I made my Ph.D. work in the field of young athletes aged 14-19 because at this age any human is changing. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
I've fought everybody without ducking anyone. I have beaten 10 undefeated guys, and I never was comparing myself to the greatest in the sport. I was not thinking of breaking any records. I'm just enjoying my time in boxing. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
Radiation doesn't recognize borders. A meltdown in Japan or India, say, is a danger to the whole world. Wind circulates the radiation everywhere. Water quality is affected. We all eat the same fish. We use products from all over the world - if something is contaminated, it will cause harm. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
Only younger brothers will understand me. We're following in the footsteps of older brothers. You are looking up to your brother. You want to do the same things. You want to do as good as he and do it even better. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
Mental strength is really important because you either win or lose in your mind. And I'm not solely talking about sporting matches, boxing events - anything you do, you do it first with your mental strength. And you can actually train and develop it, and I am responsible for what I'm saying because I have experience with that. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
If I am 100% prepared for the fight, my opponent has no chance to win the fight. I am saying what I mean: He has a 0% chance to win the fight. There is going to be no luck involved; there is going to be nothing else to stop me from winning the fight. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
I learned in my Ph.D. the discipline I needed to be successful. Most boxers are not that disciplined. They have talent, but the self-organization - the ability to schedule yourself and your priorities - is lacking. My studies were about the control of training on both the psychological and the physical side. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
The first thing I learned in boxing is to not get hit. That's the art of boxing. Execute your opponent without getting hit. In sports school, we were putting our hands behind our backs and having to defend ourselves with our shoulders, by rolling, by moving round the ring, moving out feet. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
I run, but boxing conditioning is different, so you have to get used to running in the ring. Boxing movements are very different. Swimming is one of the best because every single muscle is working. I swim a lot. I train very hard at things that mimic boxing. I have to do mostly sport-specific training, such as lots of sparring. (Wladimir Klitschko)
I have decided to make a personal message to David Haye. I want him to fight me, to be a man. I wish there will be enough excitement, pressure and courage for David Haye to fight me. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
I'm playing right now a role, and the role is called the 'Heavyweight Champion of the World.' And it takes all of the time. And I love this role, and it takes a lot of attention for me for the sport, and I just don't want to lose the title, so that's why I have to stay focused and not become an actor. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
I would say that Roger Federer is pretty amazing. And Manny Pacquiao - he's such a tiny, little lightweight guy, but the way he fights makes people so excited. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
I always train and prepare with highest concentration and focus on my next opponent. To me, it does not matter what his name is. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
I never fought in my life outside of a ring. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
It is up to the people and boxing fans to give me the respect I deserve once I have finished my career. I personally do not think about my legacy. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
I know he's retired, but I'm a big fan of Shaquille O'Neal, his game and his personality. I have a pair of his shoes in my office. You see the size of his shoe and think, 'This is not real, this couldn't belong to a human being.' But he is human! View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
After Chernobyl, thousands and thousands of people, if not millions, were given a death penalty and had to pay the price, our father among them. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
These nuclear plants are more dangerous than people realize. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
I'm trying to keep the face of my opponent more or less not damaged but eventually to execute the plan and knock him out. (Wladimir Klitschko)
I think a fight with David Haye, even if he is not American, is going to give positive vibes about the heavyweight division for the American fans and fans worldwide. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
I respect the IBF obligation to fight Povetkin, but I would like the exception to fight David Haye. That is the only title the Klitschkos don't have. We have them all except the WBA, which is why Haye is such an interesting cookie for me to eat. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
In the old days, when Muhammad Ali was fighting Ken Norton, Joe Frazier and George Foreman, there was a lot of excitement in the heavyweight division, I have to admit it. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko
All the champions - you go and ask Mike Tyson or Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Lennox Lewis and myself included, and I'm sorry for putting myself in line with all the other great names - but the champion's attitude is it doesn't matter who is in front of me, I am going to conquer this person and win the fight and knock the person out. View quote
Wladimir Klitschko