Wladimir Klitschko received the right to enter the International Boxing Hall of Fame via video from Ukraine

By: Sean Crose

It’s perhaps the greatest honor the long and historic sport of boxing has to offer – being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. Former longtime heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko was introduced on Sunday. Unlike other legends like Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones, all legends, Klitschko was unable to travel in person to New York to attend the lauded showcase. Instead, he had to film a video accepting his war-torn homeland of Ukraine, which has been divided by hostilities since a Russian invasion began last winter. Klitschko was right when he spoke well of the sport he once dominated.

“What’s the matter, Canastota?” he said in the video. “I never dreamed of being able to get this far in the sport, especially being one of the respected champions in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. It was wonderful and a great honor. Unfortunately, the Russian aggression in my homeland Ukraine and the war have prevented me from sharing this ceremony with you live. This war changed not only me, but the whole world. I also remember how boxing changed my life. Boxing just made me a better person. Even though it was a bit scary at first, as time went on, I really started to enjoy it.”

Klitschko also took a moment to compare himself to the iconic Mayweather, who he pointed out takes safety in combat very seriously, as he did himself. “Contrary to popular expression,” he said, “every punch I take makes me smarter. Don’t be greedy too much, it’s not good. One important principle has served me a lot: safety first. This principal has allowed me to stretch, which is the secret to my endurance, and so has Floyd Mayweather.”

Then Klitschko, somewhat surprised, spoke to Roy Jones, his colleague, who holds dual Russian and American citizenship. “There is one person that I have a real question with,” Klitschko said. “A person violated Ukrainian law by going to [Russian] Crimea is occupied through Russian territory. That person is Roy Jones. So Roy, whose side are you on, the aggressor’s side or its right to life defender? I respect you as a warrior but I really question your moral compass. ” Bold words go from one legendary fighter to another.

In another video, Klitschko continues to address safety issues in the sport, making it clear that boxer safety is an issue of considerable importance to him.