One prominent International Boxing Hall of Fame electee was not able to make the trip to Canastota, New York, for his induction on Sunday.
That’s because former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine is at the side of the Mayor of Kyiv – his brother and fellow Hall of Famer Vitali Klitschko – in defending the besieged country against Russian invaders.
However, Klitschko, part of a three-class group of stars who will be inducted, took time to acknowledge the honor by posting two videos on Twitter. He said:
Thank you, fans and officials.
When I was 14 and started my journey in boxing I’ve never dreamed of being among all these champions in the HOF.
All of us here have a huge responsibility. It is up to us to build the future of boxing.
Keep on punching#HallOfFameCanastota pic.twitter.com/KSX5dhJ9WK
— Klitschko (@Klitschko) June 11, 2022
“What’s up Canastota? Thank you fans and officials for the recognition. I remember when I was 14 and started my journey in boxing, I used it as a tool how to travel at a very young age. And I never, ever dreamed of getting that far in this sport, especially being among all the respected champions in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Amazing and a huge honor.
“Unfortunately the Russian aggression in my home country Ukraine and the war have prevented me from sharing in person this ceremony with you. This war has changed not just me but the entire world.
“Also I remember how boxing changed my life. Boxing just made me a better person, period. Even if it was a bit scary in the beginning … but later on I really started to enjoy it. You know how it is. It taught me a lot.
“Contrary to the popular expression, every punch I ate made me smarter. Don’t take too many of those, not good. One key principle served me enormously: safety first. This principal allowed me to last, which was the secret to my endurance, and Floyd Mayweather’s too.”
Klitschko (64-5, 53 KOs) also took the opportunity to challenge fellow inductee Roy Jones Jr., who became a dual American-Russian citizen and met with Russian President Valdimir Putin in 2015.
“I’m super happy to be able to address you all tonight, almost all of you,” Klitschko went on. “There’s one person for who I have a real question. One person broke Ukrainian law by going to the [Russian] occupied peninsula Crimea through Russian territory. That person is Roy Jones. So Roy, who’s side are you on, the side of the aggressor or the defender of its right to live? I respect you as a fighter but I really question your moral compass.”
In the second video Klitschko challenged the powers that be in boxing to improve economic and safety issues for it’s athletes.
“Love ya all,” he said. “Keep on punching. And cheers from Kyiv.”