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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

KLAUS KOHL: KLYCHKO IS THE MOST POPULAR BOXING NAME IN GERMANY

13 November, 2012 - 00:00

By Oleksandr Inhulets

After fighting Dick Ryan of the US for the WBA intercontinental championship, Vitaly Klychko arrived to Kyiv, Ukraine, accompanied by his brother Volodymyr, promoter Klaus Kohl and coach Fritz Zdunek. We met with Mr. Kohl and asked him to answer a few questions.

Q: “They consider you the best champion maker in top boxing circles, some kind of sports couturier. Are you satisfied with these titles?”

A: “Well, yes. But I didn’t make anybody and I am not a couturier. I’m sort of treasure hunter. In this kind of business you should have an instinct, a feel, because this is what helped me hit the bull’s eye with Klychko brothers. I got to them even before the Atlanta Olympics.”

Q: “You seem very ambitious man from what you said about hitting the bull’s eye.”

A: “Yes, I am. And I am proud to do my job well. All 24 boxers in our club are world class fighters from Germany, Croatia, Romania, Cuba, Ukraine, and Armenia. Professionals, such as Fritz Zdunek coach them; he has trained several Olympic champions. Here in Hamburg we have our launch site to America, because that’s the center of professional boxing. The Klychkos can beat both Tyson and Hollyfield. By the way, we have a scheduled training match with Hollyfield on June 6. I would also like to add that the Klychkos have 37 victories over Americans. This means that boxing fans in the US already know their names and call them the Great White Hope.”

Q: “Judging from the broadcast from Hamburg, Ukrainian boxers are very popular in Germany.”

A: “According to the results of a poll, boxing is one of the five most popular televised sports in Germany. The gardens where big time boxers fight are always full. For instance, 2.2 million of my fellow Germans watched the fight between Vitaly Klychko and Dick Ryan.”

Q: “People recognize them on the streets. Even Rudi Feller asked for an autograph at the soccer game between veterans from Germany and Brazil. In France a taxi driver refused to take money for the ride.

A: “There’s also one more thing. We, Germans, love our Motherland very much. No matter where they are, the Klychkos always say they are from Kyiv, Ukraine. The fans respect them for that.”

Q: “There are many rumors in Kyiv about the fight between Vitaly Klychko and Axel Schultz, which did not take place due to the latter’s refusal. Are there any chances we will see them in the ring?”

A: “Axel knows he could be knocked out. That’s why he’ll postpone the fight as long as possible. In the immediate future he will meet Scott Watche of England. If he wins, we’ll send him another challenge which he won’t be able to turn down. I think the fight will take place this fall.”

Photo by Volodymyr Rasner, The Day:

The brothers Klychko, “To our victory”

 

By Oleksandr Inhulets
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