Wladimir Klitschko thinks that Canelo Alvarez should not be allowed to fight Dmitry Bivol, a Russian of Kyrgyz origin on May 7.
The former heavyweight champion has called for a boycott of all Russian athletes as a way to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his invasion of Ukraine, Klitschko’s hometown.
And that includes Bivol, the WBA light heavyweight titleholder. He will defend his belt against Alvarez.
“All sanctions… and nothing against personalities or athletes… it is about Russian politics,” Klitschko said. BBC 5 live radio station. “Every representative of Russia in this case needs to be punished, because in this way we show Russia that the world is fighting its pointless war, and this war is unprofitable.” .
Klitschko told Daily Mirror: “Isolate Russia from all competitive sporting activity is not an act of aggression. We do this to prevent war, in the name of peace. I have nothing personally against athletes, but I have a lot against the aggression of Russian leader Putin.
“We believe that sanctions at various levels, including sports, are extremely important. If you eliminate athletic competition, athletes will ask their leaders, ‘Why isn’t anyone competing with us?’ I repeat, this is not against the athletes, it is in the name of peace in Ukraine”.
Bivol was in favor of peace.
“I have a lot of friends in Ukraine,” he said at the opening press conference against Alvarez. “I have a lot of friends in Russia, and my family in Russia. I have a lot of friends everywhere.
“I wish everyone peace and only the best. Really sad for me. Every day, I wake up and read the news. I hope this ends soon.”
The four main sanctioning bodies have agreed not to sanction fighting cases in Russia.
