We refused to believe that Vitaly Klychko’s loss to American Chris Byrd was not an April Fools’ Day hoax. Unfortunately what had seemed impossible still happened. In the tenth round, owing to a shoulder injury, Vitaly Klychko and Fritz Zdunek decided to throw in the towel, and victory went to Byrd.
Vitaly entered the ring under the sounds of Richard Strauss’ famous piece, “The Song of Emperors.” He was going to win. Vitaly would say on Monday that what had happened on April 1 was “just an intermission.” “I lost the bout but not yet the title. It has gone to Byrd just temporarily. As soon as I finish my rehabilitation, I’ll manage to win back the championship belt.” He apologized that the old injury kept him from winning in this fight. Vitaly also said that health is the athlete’s most cherished possession.
“First of all, there’s nothing terrible in all this,” brother Volodymyr said after arriving in Kyiv. “After the ninth round Vitaly refused to continue the bout in which he was defending for the third time the WBO world championship. The refusal was caused by a left shoulder joint injury he received in the middle of the second round. You must be very well aware that it is just impossible to box with one hand. Vitaly was leading on points in this fight and could continue to dodge Byrd’s punches, but even one blow can decide the outcome of a bout, especially when super heavyweights are on the ring.
“You could also see more than once in the bouts Vitaly and I fought, when just a single accurate punch knocked an opponent out. Thus, to avoid the obvious risk to Vitaly’s health (for a knockout could have caused a serious injury), Fritz Zdunek, my elder brother, and I decided to forfeit. Vitaly himself complained about pain even after the second round, then the pain increasing with each succeeding round. After the ninth round Vitaly said his hand just failed to obey him. This is why we decided to stop.”
“Will Vitaly agree to a grudge match after recovery?”
“Beyond doubt. Nobody knows my big brother better than I do. After Vitaly gets well again, he will enter the ring again to win back the world champion’s belt! The post-match press conference heard some comments that Vitaly “couldn’t muster strength to win,” that “Vitaly lacks the winning spirit,” and many other unpleasant things.
“All I can say is that Vitaly boxed with one hand for six rounds, with increasing pain. The defeat in no way undermined his fighting spirit. It is Vitaly the athlete, not Vitaly the person, who lost the bout. Vitaly will win back the title in the grudge match.”
“And is Byrd himself ready to meet Vitaly in a return match?”
“Byrd said at the post-match press conference: ‘I am ready to fight Vitaly in the grudge match. The date of the bout only depends on when Vitaly will be able to get well. I felt Vitaly had problems with his left arm. I think I was very lucky this time. But I am ready to meet Vitaly in the ring again. I wish Vitaly a speedy recovery.’”
“Now that Vitaly has lost, can there be a question of him fighting Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis, and other famed boxers?”
“Practically all world champions have lost. This is Vitaly’s first defeat in his professional career. I think Vitaly will draw some conclusions from his loss. And our statements that we are ready to meet the world’s top boxers are not just empty words, as some skeptics think. After some time, we will enter the ring, without empty talk, against Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis, and other boxers making up the world elite.
“Try to understand one thing: this is sports. Our true fans will stay with us both in victory and defeat. And Vitaly and I will do our best to make them happy of our bouts. Sports is life. A white streak gives way to a black one. But then life goes on...”
The chronology of the bout
Round 1: Vitaly won on points
Round 2: Vitaly won on points
Round 3: Vitaly won
Round 4: “a well-deserved draw”
Round 5: Chris Byrd won on points
Round 6: Chris Byrd won on points
Round 7: Vitaly won
Round 8: Byrd won
Round 9: Byrd won on points
of the Klychko brothers’ official Internet site
(http://www.klichko.com)
