Vitali Klitschko To Run For Ukraine Presidency In 2015

Vitali Klitschko has announced his intention to become the president of Ukraine in 2015.

Despite the brutality of his day job, Klitschko is actually an ideal candidate for the role. Not only was he the first heavyweight boxing champion to hold a PhD, but he has also gone on to become an MP, after winning a seat in the Ukrainian parliament just last year.

Klitschko has announced his intention to shake up the political landscape in his country, and he is apparently looking to modernize the country and to also improve the living conditions for ordinary Ukrainians, both of which he has promised to do.

Klitschko made the announcement in Mexico, where he is currently promoting his next fight, which will see the WBC heavyweight champion battle his number one challenger, Bermane Stiverne. However, his progress has been hampered by a hand injury.

The WBC released a statement that confirmed that Klitschko’s hand is “swollen and puffy,” and if his therapy doesn’t cure his injury, he might need to have an operation.

Klitschko apparently announced his intention to run for office when he was in discussion with World Boxing Council president Jose Sulaiman.

The WBC released a statement on Wednesday, which read, “Vitali explains that he wants to keep participating in politics and run for the presidency of his country, Ukraine, in 2015.”

Klitschko will challenge, Viktor Yanukovych, who is currently the president of Ukraine. Yanukovych defeated Yulia Tymoshenko in 2010, and the 63-year-old became the country’s fourth president in the process.

The boxer has reportedly generated a lot of momentum in the race, and Reuters have reported that he is currently running alongside the current president, as both of them have 16 percent support from citizens.

Klitschko has yet to confirm that he will be running for office, or when he will defend his title against Stiverne.

[Image via Telekhovskyi/Shutterstock]