Our world champion’s next fight can be held as early as next year at the newly rebuilt Olympic National Sports Complex before the beginning of Euro-2012. Oleksandr KRASIUK, director general, K2 Promotions Ukrainian office, shared with The Day about this and other details.
Volodymyr and Vitalii Klitschko have recently expressed a wish to hold one of their next fights at the rebuilt Olympic Stadium in Kyiv. What have already been done in this respect?
“Vitalii really wishes to do that. His attitude towards Ukraine is known to everyone. It is clear that he will not get as much support anywhere else but at home. That is why holding a tournament in Ukraine or even in Kyiv has always been his dream.”
Can any problems emerge due to the realization of such an event?
“Until recently, in particular before 2005-06, such event could not be held in this country even for technical reasons. Now we have a place to do it, we have the Olympic Stadium. A real opportunity to hold a fight involving the Klitschko brothers has presented itself, and now we are in a process of negotiations to make it happen. That is why their fight will perhaps take place at the Olympic Stadium next year. It will probably happen sometime before Euro-2012 or maybe after it. The opponent is most likely to be Russia’s Nikolai Valuev.”
Does holding such a fight in Ukraine mean that professional boxing is so very popular in Ukraine now? Because, as far as I remember, in one of your interviews you stated that people in this country were not really willing to pay “European” prices to see a fight.
“Our mission is to create a culture of boxing consuming. If you compare it, let’s say, to soccer – it has been popular ever since the war time, and people are accustomed to this sport. In particular, Dynamo (Kyiv), Spartak, and other teams have had old traditions ever since the Soviet time. Now, let’s be honest here, professional boxing was brought to Ukraine by the Klitschko brothers. It dates back to 1996, when Volodymyr and Vitalii became professional fighters after the Olympics in Atlanta. That is when the Ukrainian public came to realize that there is a difference between amateur and professional boxing.
“Though Ukrainians need to be taught to consume professional boxing just like concerts or movies. That is the reason why we hold boxing tournaments for title fights in different cities of Ukraine. We want to give Ukrainians an opportunity to enjoy professional boxing itself as a sport, and show people that this is an interesting way to spend their free time. There is something else beyond cinemas, theaters, and concerts: you can attend sporting events as well. This is a show that puts you in a great mood. And for those who watch TV it is an opportunity to watch a quality domestic product.”
