Wladimir Klitschko’s long pursuit of heavyweight champion George Foreman’s oldest record is coming to an end as he turns 50, with the ongoing war in Ukraine finally unsettling him.

For years, World Boxing News documented Klitschko’s desire to return to boxing solely to break Foreman’s historic mark.

The former unified heavyweight ruler has repeatedly said that he has no interest in exhibitions, farewell fights or simply returning to the ring for nostalgia.

“It’s a record-breaking comeback,” Klitschko said as speculation about a comeback gained momentum following his 2017 retirement.

Now, after almost a decade away from the sport and after his 50th birthday, a dream that once seemed realistic during the turmoil of the heavyweight division has quietly faded away.

Bernd Boente

No one understands Klitschko’s way of thinking better than Bernd Boente.

Boente spent 18 years as manager and CEO of Klitschko Management Group during one of the most dominant eras in heavyweight boxing history before leaving the position in 2018.

Today, Boente works as an analyst for DAZN DACH, covering major heavyweight fights including Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven.

His experience goes back even further, after decades of working in the ring with Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Julio Cesar Chavez and many others during his television work in Germany from 1987-2000.

When asked by WBN if Klitschko was unhappy about potentially losing his chance to break Foreman’s record, Boente made it clear that boxing was no longer a priority.

“We talk on the phone quite often, but we never talk about boxing,” Boente told World Boxing News exclusively.

“Vitali, Vladimir and their compatriots are currently engaged in completely different matters in the country.

“They are fighting the most essential fight of their lives, namely the fight for the freedom and independence of their homeland, Ukraine!”

George Foreman’s record

The comments add a sense of finality to the comeback story that WBN has been following since 2018.

Klitschko has talked about Foreman’s record many times over the years and has openly admitted that it remains one of the few motivations that could pull him back into professional boxing.

“I still have it. Can I fight? Yes,” Klitschko said earlier.

“There will be no comeback to break your jaw. It’s a comeback to break the record.”

The pandemic initially put a damper on those ambitions after DAZN discussed a massive comeback deal that included multiple fights and a world title shot.

Then the Russian-Ukrainian war changed everything.

Instead of preparing to return to heavyweight at the age of 45 or 46, Klitschko stood by his brother Vitali during the darkest period in Ukraine’s contemporary history.

Even amid speculation about Turka Alalshich’s desire to facilitate Klitschko achieve the record, the Ukrainian legend has repeatedly emphasized where his priorities actually lie.

“At the moment, I am not interested in my return to boxing, but in the return of Russians to their country outside Ukraine,” Klitschko declared at the end of 2024.

The return of the heavyweight division

Exceeding the age of 50 effectively eliminates any chances for Klitschko to return to the ring.

It’s been almost a decade since he retired, and even then, many considered him over the top.

Given the current state of the heavyweight division, Daniel Dubois or Murat Gassiev would be the obvious choice for any comeback attempt.

However, Klitschko’s decision was largely ignored by the ongoing situation in Ukraine.

The opportunities may still exist from a boxing standpoint. Foreman’s desire to chase achievement may even still be lurking in the background.

But the reality described by Boente paints a completely different picture.

For Wladimir Klitschko, the fight that matters right now has nothing to do with the heavyweight titles.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has been interviewing world champions, breaking down international titles exclusively and reporting from the ring. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.