Boxing
The dream of foreman Wladimir Klitschko’s record lost to a bigger fight
Published
2 months agoon
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.
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Boxing
Fury vs Joshua Tickets Now Available for Highly Anticipated British Heavyweight Clash
Published
16 hours agoon
July 28, 2026
World Boxing News has found tickets for Tyson Fury’s long-awaited showdown with Anthony Joshua already being offered online despite no official confirmation that Britain’s biggest heavyweight fight has been signed.
Multiple ticket websites are advertising seats for the proposed contest, one complete with seating plans, pricing and availability, despite no official announcement from either fighter or their promoters.
The listingsfor a November 21 clash at Wembley Stadium have fuelled speculation that Fury and Joshua are finally on course to meet after both returned to winning ways this month.
Fury stopped Mariusz Wach in Thailand before Joshua recovered from two first-round knockdowns to halt Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia.
Ticket Listings Raise Questions
One ticket marketplace is already claiming to be selling secondary seats, while another company is taking registrations despite acknowledging that key details are still to be confirmed.
The sale has naturally sparked excitement among fans desperate to see Britain’s biggest heavyweight rivalry finally settled after years of failed negotiations, retirement announcements and missed opportunities.
However, none of the major parties involved in the negotiations have officially confirmed the contest.

Still Plenty to Be Decided
How tickets can be on sale for a fight that isn’t even confirmed is anyone’s guess. While some websites are already advertising Fury vs. Joshua seats, there’s no guarantee any of the details prove accurate until the fight is officially announced.
The proposed staging also raises questions for one obvious reason: the British weather. Holding the biggest fight in UK boxing outdoors at that time of year would be a significant gamble given how unpredictable conditions can be.
Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn proved a major late-autumn event can work when they fought at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year. However, Fury vs. Joshua is on another level commercially, and risking Britain’s biggest heavyweight showdown in freezing temperatures or heavy rain would be a bold call.
If the fight does happen on British soil during that period, the safest option would surely be a stadium with a roof. That immediately brings Cardiff’s Principality Stadium into the conversation, offering organisers protection from the elements without taking the event away from British fans.
Even then, there remains a strong belief that the powers behind the event would still prefer the United States.
For now, the appearance of tickets is simply the latest twist in a rivalry that has frustrated British boxing fans for years.
Until Fury, Joshua and the promoters officially announce the fight, supporters should treat any ticket listings as speculative, no matter how convincing they appear.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.
Boxing
Heavyweight Shocks Again: Tyson Fury Left Bloodied and Knocked Out Cold
Published
2 days agoon
July 27, 2026
Otto Wallin, the heavyweight who left Tyson Fury covered in blood and was later stopped by Anthony Joshua, suffered another crushing setback when Vladyslav Sirenko knocked him out cold in the final round of their Zuffa Boxing clash in New York.
Wallin was trailing on all three scorecards before Sirenko landed a devastating right hand followed by a left hook in the closing seconds of the tenth and final round.
The Swedish southpaw crashed to the canvas and remained down long enough for a stretcher to be brought into the ring, although he later sat up and responded to medical staff.
From Tyson Fury Scare To Another Knockout
Wallin’s career has become one of the heavyweight division’s biggest “what if” stories.
In 2019, he came within touching distance of ending Tyson Fury’s unbeaten record after opening a horrific cut above the Briton’s right eye that required 47 stitches. Many believed the contest could have been stopped before Fury battled through to win on points.
Speaking exclusively to World Boxing News three years later, Wallin insisted the fight would have been waved off had the roles been reversed.
“I think the cuts that he had were very bad. He had 47 stitches after the fight. If I had those cuts, the doctors would have stopped the fight, for sure,” Wallin told WBN.
Despite that disappointment, Wallin rebuilt his career by defeating current WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev before earning high-profile clashes with Joshua and Derek Chisora.
His defeat to Joshua ended in a fifth-round stoppage. This latest loss to Sirenko marks the second knockout defeat of Wallin’s career and leaves the 35-year-old facing the toughest questions yet over his future.

Vladyslav Sirenko Scores Career-Best Win
For Sirenko, the victory represented the biggest win of his professional career.
The Ukrainian improved to 23-1 with 20 knockouts by stopping one of the heavyweight division’s most respected contenders after bouncing back from last year’s defeat to Solomon Dacres.
Wallin once looked destined for another world title opportunity after pushing Fury to the brink and defeating future WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev.
Two knockout defeats later, that dream looks further away than ever.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.
Boxing
Terence Crawford Declares One Current Fighter Unbeatable: He Will Take Over
Published
2 days agoon
July 27, 2026
Terence Crawford believes one man will follow in his footsteps and retire as an unbeaten world champion, essentially becoming a generational great in the process.
‘Bud’ became not only a world champion but a three-division undisputed king, ending his career with a legacy-defining unanimous decision triumph over Canelo Alvarez.
Even before that, Crawford was considered an elite pound-for-pound operator for over a decade, with many believing his most complete performance came against Errol Spence Jr in 2023.
But while the American is perhaps in a class of his own, he nonetheless believes that four-division world champion Shakur Stevenson can achieve a similar degree of success.
The 29-year-old claimed a career-best victory in January, losing just one round as he dethroned Teofimo Lopez with a masterful unanimous decision victory.
Having now signed with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, though, it remains to be seen whether he defends his WBO super-lightweight title or pursues opportunities elsewhere.
Either way, Crawford has told Fight Hub TV that Stevenson has the mental and physical attributes to remain unbeaten at the highest level.
“I think Shakur [will take over]for sure, Shakur hands down. I think, given the opportunity, he’s going to show the world that he’s the best. His mental, his defense [sets him apart]takes his craft serious. He’s the type of the fighter that you gotta pull out the gym. [Is he beatable?] Not at all. Everybody [is] beatable, but I don’t see nobody beating him.”
Since inking a promotional deal with Zuffa, Stevenson has named Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis as two potential opponents who would cement his greatness.
The slick southpaw could therefore compete anywhere between lightweight and 147lbs, depending on which division offers the most realistic opportunities.
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