Ukraine

November 2009 - Vitali Klitschko, World Heavyweight Champion Boxer, visits SPA-SOS Shelter

The SPA-SOS shelter has had some very special guests over the years, including Ex-President of Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk; and to add to the shelter’s list of famous supporters is World Heavyweight Champion boxer, Vitali Klitschko.

On 3 November the Ukrainian star swapped his boxing gloves and knock-out punches for loving cuddles with homeless puppies and kittens.

Vitali Klitschko is a world-famous, sporting hero and is loved by all, especially in Ukraine.  With TV cameras in tow, his visit raised public awareness of the Kyiv SPA-SOS as images of the shelter's homeless animals were splashed across television screens throughout Ukraine.  Vitali was full of admiration for Tamara and the shelter staff who work tirelessly to improve the lives of stray animals in Kyiv.

Vitali began his career as a successful kickboxer where he became a six-time Kickboxing-World-Champion.  It was not long after this that he discovered his passion for boxing, in which he became the World Boxing Orginasation (WBO) Heavyweight World Champion in 1999. 

He lost his world title in 2000 to Chris Bryd, but became a World Champion again in 2004 when he won the belt of the World Boxing Council (WBC) against Corrie Sanders, and again last year in Berlin against Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter.  This makes Vitali Klitschko the fourth boxer alongside Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis
to win a heavyweight belt three times.

Since then, Vitali has successfully defended his title and will fight again in Berne, Switzerland on 12 December 2009.  Over the years, he has clocked up a total of thirty-eight fights, winning a staggering thirty-six of them, thirty-five of which were Knock Outs! 

But his boxing isn’t all that the Ukrainians are proud of.  Vitali is a passionate campaigner, fighting to end Ukraine’s notorious corruption – a fight that will prove to be the biggest of his life.  Keen to do his bit, Vitali spends a lot of his free time doing all he can to improve the lives of both animals and people in his country, which led him to visit the SPA-SOS shelter.

To have such a celebrated Ukrainian icon take time to visit the shelter is fantastic as it clearly demonstrates the high regard he holds for Tamara’s campaign and charitable work.  In addition, his visit has drawn the attention of otherwise oblivious Ukrainian citizens to the plight of stray animals in Kyiv.

Thank you Vitali – on behalf of everyone at Naturewatch Foundation, the Kyiv SPA-SOS shelter and the homeless animals, we are incredibly grateful to you!

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