Wladimir Klitschko world heavyweight champion) dominated heavyweight boxing, a period typically known as the "Klitschko Era" of the division. Klitschko was born in Semipalatinsk (now Semey), Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union (now Kazakhstan). His father, Vladimir Rodionovich Klichko (1947–2011), was a Soviet Air Force major general and a military attaché of Ukraine in Germany; he was also one of the commanders in charge of cleaning up the effects of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and was afterward diagnosed with cancer. Wladimir's mother is Nadezhda Ulyanovna. He is the younger brother of former WBC, WBO and Ring magazine heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, the current
Wladimir Klitschko vs. David Haye came to nothing. Haye reiterated a challenge to Klitschko to fight him in 2009. In his second fight, he wanted to fight JD Chapman who he claimed was a similar style to the Klitschkos. Haye also added that the heavyweight division was scared of him. In July 2008 Wladimir Klitschko said that Haye was a possible opponent for him to fight next. Haye started to call out the Klitschkos after he knocked out Monte Barret in the 5th round in 2008. In late 2008 Haye and Vitali verbally agreed to terms to fight in the summer. However Klitschko fought mandatory