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Home » Vitali Klitschko says politics tougher than boxing, you get hit below the belt more

Vitali Klitschko says politics tougher than boxing, you get hit below the belt more

The retired WBC Emeritus Champion, who ruled as holder of the green belt during two spells, has been fighting fires in Ukrainian politics for some time now.

As tensions continue with neighbours Russia, Klitschko spoke out to compare his two separate and very different careers.

“I tell you very openly: it’s much easier to be the heavyweight champion of the world than to be the mayor of Kiev,” Klitschko told The Guardian. “Because [in politics] there are no rules. It’s hitting you in the back. It’s hitting you under the belt line. It’s really tough. And you are responsible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“I remember the Soviet Union and when the Iron Curtain fell down in 1991. I was just 20 years old and everybody had a dream to live in a modern democratic society, in a modern country.

“More than 15 years passed and nothing changed. There’s a saying I like very much: if you want a thing done well, do it by yourself.

“We open the mayor’s office, we open all commissions, we open our budget. Every journalist and every citizen right now know all incoming and spending from our budget. It’s very important.

“Transparency is our main goal. Also our main weapon against corruption. The money before was in the shadows, right now it’s open and working for the community.

“It’s not easy because some people who are inside the system, defend (themselves first) and defend the system,” he added.

Klitschko fought the likes of Lennox Lewis, Shannon Briggs, Larry Donald and Dereck Chisora during a successful spell in the squared circle and is now preparing to oversee the WBC Convention later this year.