Former WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has been sidelined by the reoccurrence of an old back injury.
Klitschko enjoyed a skiing trip to Austria when news broke of a visit to the hospital for the Mayor of Kyiv.
Spokesperson Oksana Zinovieva outlined the fact Klitschko would not require surgery.
“Vitali Klitschko is undergoing an examination and rehabilitation in Austria. The consequences of an old back injury have exacerbated,” Zinovieva told LIGA.net.
“Details are unknown to me. There was no surgery,” she added.
The 47-year-old was forced to postpone his career some years in 2004 due to the impact on his body. Klitschko then returned in 2008 to rule the division again.
‘Dr. Ironfist’ eventually retired in 2012 with an impressive record of 45-2.
During his career, Klitschko would only lose to Chris Byrd and Lennox Lewis. Alongside his brother Wladimir, the pair took over the 200 pounds plus scene with devastating effect.
Winning the world heavyweight crown three times, Vitali is only a handful of fighters to achieve this feat.
VITALI KLITSCHKO WORLD TITLE FIGHT RECORD
2012
WBC – Manuel Charr (Olimpiyskiy, Moscow) TKO 4
WBC – Dereck Chisora (Olympiahalle, Munich ) UD 12
2011
WBC – Tomasz Adamek (Stadion Miejski, Wroclaw) TKO 10
WBC – Odlanier Solis (Lanxess-Arena, Cologne) KO 1
2010
WBC – Shannon Briggs (World Arena, Altona) UD 12
WBC – Albert Sosnowski (Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen) KO 10
2009
WBC – Kevin Johnson (PostFinance Arena, Berne) UD 12
WBC – Chris Arreola (Staples Center, Los Angeles) RTD 10
WBC – Juan Carlos Gomez (Hanns-Martin-Schleyer Halle, Stuttgart) TKO 9
2008
WBC – Samuel Peter (World Arena, Kreuzberg) RET 8
2004
WBC – Danny Williams (Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas) TKO 8
WBC – Corrie Sanders (Staples Center, Los Angeles) TKO 8
2003
IBO/WBC – Lennox Lewis (Staples Center, Los Angeles) LOST – TKO 6/12
*Fight stopped due to cut
2000
WBO – Chris Byrd (Estrel Convention Center, Neukoelln) LOST – RET 9
*Fight stopped due to a Klitschko shoulder injury
1999
WBO – Obed Sullivan (Sporthalle, Alsterdorf) RTD 9
WBO – Ed Mahone (Koenig Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen) TKO 3
WBO – Herbie Hide (London Arena, Millwall) KO 2
