Wladimir Klitschko is a fighter.
Professional boxing , or prizefighting , emerged in the early twentieth century as boxing gradually attained legitimacy and became a regulated , sanctioned sport . Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse which is divided between the boxers as determined by contract . Wladimir Wladimirowitsch Klitschko ( Володи́мир Володи́мирович Кличко́ , ; born 25 March 1976 ) is a Ukrainian professional boxer . A strategic and cerebral boxer , Klitschko is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time , as well as among the hardest punching knockout artists in the history of the division ; his strong jab , straight right hand and left hook being his most formidable weapons . Klitschko 's first reign as champion ended in an upset knockout loss to Corrie Sanders in 2003 , which was followed by another knockout loss to Lamon Brewster in 2004 .