The career of the Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko includes many brilliant victories over the stars of the first magnitude. The defeats of the great champion can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

A good lesson was taught to Vladimir by an opponent who came to professional boxing from American football. He gave a tough thrashing to the famous boxer in front of the Ukrainian public.

The staggering Klitschko Jr. was saved only by a running coach.

Passing footballer as an opponent

In the winter of 1998, 22-year-old Wladimir Klitschko was already considered an experienced boxer. During a short professional career, he managed to hold 24 fights, eight of which took place in that calendar year. The overwhelming number of fights Dr. Steel Hammer held in Germany, only once did a Ukrainian get out to Austria and the USA.

The team of Klitschko Jr. planned to complete the calendar year with a duel in the homeland of the boxer. It cannot be said that Vladimir in all previous confrontations boxed with strong opponents: almost none of them could hold out for all the planned rounds. But for the Ukrainian fight for Klitschko, they tried to pick the most safe opponent. In order not to spoil the boxing celebration for the public with a quick victory, the organizers wanted to choose a boxer who can take a punch, but is not very successful in attack.

The choice of the Ukrainian boxer’s team fell on the strong American Ross Purity, who could not boast of any serious achievements, except for the ability to withstand a beating even from strong opponents. The Boss didn’t have much boxing skill, and where could he come from if Purity began to build a professional career after leaving American football. There was no amateur experience behind him.

Another indisputable advantage of Klitschko was a big difference in size. The Ukrainian was ten centimeters taller than his opponent, and also had superiority in arm span. We should not forget about the 13 defeats that Purity suffered before this fight with 28 wins.

Ross Purity / Photo: © Mark Sandten / Staff / Bongarts / Gettyimages.ru

“I didn’t stick to my fight plan”

Before the start of the fight, the only concern among experts and fans was Klitschko’s lack of experience in long fights. The Ukrainian athlete did not spend more than eight rounds in the ring. But at the beginning of the fight, Vladimir looked confident, giving no chance to doubt his superiority over his opponent.

Klitschko was never considered a fast boxer, but against the background of Purity, who came to Kyiv with a few extra pounds, Wladimir looked like a very fast athlete. The hard left jab of the Ukrainian regularly passed between the gloves of the American. Ross’ sweeping blows practically did not reach the goal. Klitschko regularly dodged them.

From the second round, Klitschko also connected a series of blows, and the American took most of them with his face and body. But Purity fully justified the reputation of a boxer with an iron chin.

The natural beating of the American boxer continued until the end of the eighth segment. By this point, Klitschko had taken all the rounds without exception. Even with a strong desire, it was impossible to find at least one segment in which Ross fought with the Ukrainian on equal terms. But in the ninth round, Purity suddenly perked up and seized the initiative. Vladimir practically stopped hitting his opponent. It was evident that he left too much strength at the beginning of the fight and was exhausted by this point.

In the tenth round, an out of the ordinary event occurred. Several uppercuts fired by Purity hit the target. This shocked Klitschko and he began to back away. The American immediately rushed to finish off Vladimir. The fatal right side sent the Ukrainian to the floor of the ring. Klitschko showed character and quickly got up, but after a few seconds he was again in a horizontal position. Only the gong saved him.

The next round was decisive in the duel. Ross felt that his time had come. In 18 seconds, he simply threw Vladimir with the most powerful blows, from which the Ukrainian no longer dodged. To help Klitschko, his coach Fritz Zdunek arrived in time. He did not wait for the American to destroy the Ukrainian, running into the ring and becoming his chest to protect the boxer.

Naturally, the fight was immediately stopped, and Klitschko received his first defeat in his professional career.

Wladimir Klitschko / Photo: © Martin Rose / Staff / Bongarts / Gettyimages.ru

– I could not contain my emotions in front of my compatriots in Kyiv. I can usually keep my cool in the ring. That evening was not like that. He did not stick to his plan for the duel, wasting energy and blows. But I have gained a lot of experience. I feel 10 years older, – Vladimir explained the reason for the defeat in the battle with Purity.

The defeat hit the pride of the Ukrainian boxer hard. He immediately began to demand a rematch from the American.

“I want to have a rematch with Ross Purity as soon as possible. And I want to fight him again in Kyiv. I am indebted to my compatriots,” Klitschko said after the fight.

But the prudent American was in no hurry to agree to a second fight, which greatly upset Vladimir. Only three years later, Vitali Klitschko managed to avenge the loss of his brother, who inflicted one of the few knockout defeats in Purity in his long career.