Only younger brothers will understand me. We're following in the footsteps of older brothers. You are looking up to your brother. You want to do the same things. You want to do as good as he and do it even better."
--Wladimir Klitschko
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- Blood is thicker than water.
Now a full-fledged politician as head of the Kieve City State Administration and mayor of Kieve, Vitali Klitschko might be forced to step on the ring once more to avenge the shocking technical knockout loss of his brother, Wladimir, who was badly butchered by British IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in a double world title tussle at the Wembley Stadium, London on April 29, 2017.
The 11th-round stoppage defeat was an ugly sight and was witnessed by Vitali at ringside.
Wladimir's loss is also Vitali's loss. The mighty brothers have been terrorizing the heavyweight division with total dominance since the retirement of Lennox Lewis.
When his crestfallen brother, nicknamed "Dr. Steelhammer", was being led to his corner after being officially declared as loser by TKO, Vitali's face was gloomy like he was fighting back tears.
Before the referee rescued Wladimir (64 wins, five defeats with 54 KOs), Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs) wobbled the knees of the 1996 Olympic super-heavyweight gold medalist with a wicked left uppercut in the chin for a mandatory eight count.
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Wladimir pretended he wasn't hurt and moved his body side to side only to be shellacked by Joshua's murderous combinations.
He was never the same again. It was only a matter of time before the once Europe's deadliest Olympic champion would exit the historic arena as a dethroned champion (also at stake were the WBA and IBO baubles).
The signs that Wladimir was fading out were recorded on November 28, 2015 when another Briton Tyson Fury outduked him via unanimous decision in 12 heats before his countrymen in Düsseldorf, Germany.
At 41, Wladimir could be heading for retirement unless there was a clause in the contract that he would face Joshua in a rematch, or unless Vitali, 45, will rise from retirement and enter the picture to fight Joshua.
The mayor Klitschko hasn't fought since disposing of Manuel Charr on a fourth round TKO for the WBC heavyweight title on September 8, 2012 in Moscow, Russia.
Vitali has been known to be "his brother's keeper."
When Wladimir lost by second round TKO to Corrie Sanders for the WBO heavyweight belt on March 8, 2003 in Munich, Germany, Vitali was furious as it interrupted his brother's six-title fight winning streak.
The mayor avenged the defeat via 8th round TKO in Los Angeles, California on April 24, 2004.
Will he fight Joshua next?
