Boxing legend Wladimir Klitschko spoke to the Daily Mirror from war-torn Ukraine and admitted: “This is the biggest fight of my life.”
The former world heavyweight champion and his brother Vitali, who is mayor of besieged Kyiv, are inspiring freedom fighters against the Russian invasion.
Wladimir, who fought Britain’s Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, today asks Mirror readers to support a global campaign to make Kremlin despot Vladimir Putin ’s Russia a sporting outlaw.
The 6ft 6in Ukrainian giant, whose run of 19 consecutive world title fight wins was ended by Fury in 2015, is now on the front line in his home country.
He said: “Boxing is sport – this is war, and our people are dying.
“During this conversation with you, innocent women, children and civilians will be subjected to bombs, missiles and horrifying reality of war. People say this is the biggest fight of my life, and I agree – it’s so sad to realise how terrifying the war is.
“This is why I ask your readers, all the people of Britain, to back our campaign and to act now, in any way possible, to help Ukraine.
“To isolate Russia from all sporting competition is not an act of aggression. We do this to stop the war, in the name of peace. I have nothing personal against the athletes, but I have a lot against the aggression of Russian leader Putin.
“We believe sanctions on different levels, including sport, are crucially important.
“If you take away sporting competition the athletes will ask their leader, ‘Why will nobody compete against us?’ I repeat, this is not against the athletes, it’s in the name of peace in Ukraine.”
Klitschko, 45, had earlier been filmed smiling while visiting a maternity hospital in Kyiv.
In the clip, he said: “Life goes on – 82 kids were born in this hospital since the beginning of the war, so more Ukrainians are coming up and will arrive daily.”
But an estimated two million people have now fled the country as refugees and, according to United Nations figures, there have been at least 1,200 civilian casualties since the Russian invasion began – although the UN has warned the real toll is likely to be much higher.
Speaking to the Mirror, Klitschko said: “Let me tell you the reality of war – while you are talking to me now, Ukrainian women and children are dying at the hands of Russian aggression.
“Innocent civilians are being forced from their homes. Our military personnel are defending the honour of an independent and free Ukraine.
“I want to thank the people of Great Britain for sharing our story with the world, but with each passing moment the situation becomes more serious and Ukrainians are dying.
“It’s important to act now in any way possible. Don’t wait for a few weeks, don’t delay because every single minute, every single hour of every day counts.
“Women and children are fleeing their homes, leaving behind their country, and they have no idea if they will see their husbands or fathers or sons again.
“This is the reality of Russian aggression – the reality of brutal aggressors.
“Sport has a crucial role to play and that is why it is so important that governing bodies follow the IOC [International Olympic Committee] example by excluding Russian athletes from international events.”
He added: “We must exclude Russian teams to play whatever sport, like the FIFA World Cup.”
Klitschko and his 6ft 7in brother Vitali were national heroes as boxers with 40 world title fights between them, which regularly generated worldwide TV audiences of up to 500 million.
They are sons of a former Soviet air force major-general, and their feats and invincible aura have turned them into standard-bearers for Ukraine’s resistance of the Red Army.
Wladimir Klitschko holds records for the longest cumulative heavyweight tile reign of all time, after spending 4,382 days as world champion, and for beating the most fighters (23) for the world heavyweight championship.
Last month he signed up for the Kyiv Territorial Defence Brigade and pledged to fight to defend the capital. Prime Minister Boris Johnson claims Britain has been at the forefront of the West’s co-ordinated response to Putin’s war machine through sanctions.
But the UK’s intake of refugees has been dwarfed by Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova, Romania and other EU nations.
Mr Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel have been shamed into expanding and speeding up the issue of visas for Ukrainian’s seeking refuge.
It comes after desperate families drove more than 1,000 miles to the Channel Tunnel, only to be greeted with signs reading: “No visas delivered in Calais.”
When told by the Mirror that critics had branded the UK government’s treatment of Ukrainian refugees pathetic, Klitschko replied: “I agree. In a crisis, it is always possible to do more.”
