Boxing: Wladimir Klitschko sets his sights on becoming undisputed world heavyweight champion after brother Vitali relinquishes WBC title
The younger brother already holds the IBF, WBA and WBO titles and will look to claim the vacant WBC to become the first heavyweight to hold all four belts at the same time
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Your support makes all the difference.Wladimir Klitschko has set his sights on becoming undisputed world heavyweight champion and win the WBC crown vacated by his brother Vitali.
The younger Klitschko, who has won 61 of his 64 professional contests, has a legitimate claim to the belt as he holds the IBF, WBA and WBO titles, and has looked nigh-on unbeatable for nearly a decade, with his last defeat coming in 2004 against Lamon Brewster.
He made his 15th world title defence with a comprehensive points victory over the previously unbeaten Alexander Povetkin in his last outing in October, and many have suggested the only legitimate threat to his domination of the division was his elder sibling.
The two Klitschkos had refused to fight each other on numerous occasions, but Vitali's decision to step away from boxing and focus on politics means Wladimir can become the first heavyweight boxer to hold all four of what are considered to be the major belts.
"It is of course my goal to win the WBC title back for the Klitschko family," Wladimir told German newspaper Bild.
The Ukrainian's hopes of completing his set in early 2014 could be derailed by the WBO's ruling earlier this month that Wladimir had 30 days to negotiate a fight with mandatory challenger Alex Leapeal, with a purse bid to be ordered if a deal can not be struck.
Vitali was earlier this week appointed 'champion emeritus' by the World Boxing Council and although the 42-year-old has not ruled out fighting again for his title, he admitted it was unlikely.
PA
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