By Jeff Aranow: Former heavyweight champion Wladimir ‘Steelhammer’ Klitschko took the time on Friday to quash the rumors that he plans on coming out of retirement to resume his boxing career. Wladimir, 42, says he’s not planning on making a comeback a this time unless it’s to take on Sacha Baron Cohen.
There are a lot of boxing fans that would favor Wladimir to defeat World Boxing Council champion Deontay Wilder if he were to make a return to the sport.
There were rumors that surfaced recently that Klitschko (64-5, 53 KOs) was going to be making a return to the ring soon to get back in action to look for some big fights. Apparently that was false info started up by someone likely hoping that the talented former IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Klitschko would return to the sport.
In Wladimir’s last fight, he came close to knocking out Anthony Joshua last year in April 2017 at Wembley stadium in London, England. Wladimir knocked the 6’6″ Joshua down in the 6th, and had him looking hurt and tired until the 10th round. Joshua was able to recover and come back to stop Wladimir. However, if Wladimir had put his foot down on the gas pedal, he very likely would have finished off the 28-year-old Joshua. The British heavyweight was completely gassed out and hurt. Wladimir wouldn’t go after Joshua to finish him off. It’s hard to imagine Klitschko not finishing Joshua if he had his late trainer Emanuel Steward still in his corner. Steward had a way of motivating Wladimir like no one else before or after to get him to go for the knockout against dangerous opposition.
The mistake Wladimir made against Joshua in letting him stick around was the same mistake he made in his 12 round unanimous deciion loss in his previous fight against Tyson Fury in November 2015. Still, for a fighter who hadn’t fought in close to two years, Wladimir did an admirable job against Joshua. There aren’t too many heavyweights that would come off of a long two-year layoff to fight Joshua the way that Wladimir did. It looked like Wladimir was cashing out and not serious about wanting to give himself the best chance of winning.
To address any rumors about my possible comeback to the ring: I do not see it happening for the time being (unless it’s against @sachabaroncohen who I have a beef with))). Currently I’m focusing on spreading the word of #FACEtheCHALLENGE method and taking care of my ventures. pic.twitter.com/VSfX21NIUf
— Klitschko (@Klitschko) November 9, 2018
It’s too bad that Wladimir isn’t coming out of retirement to resume his career, as it would give the division a big shot in the arm. Joshua has not shown himself to be an exciting champion with the match-making that’s being done for him and his lack of interest in fighting Wilder.