WBC Congress: Klitschko Receives Memorial Belt

At the 62nd World Boxing Council (WBC) Congress, former heavyweight world champion and Ukrainian icon Wladimir Klitschko was presented with a commemorative belt featuring a mural created during the last congress in Uzbekistan.

During the event, Klaus Meine and the band Scorpions performed an updated version of their iconic song Winds of Change, reflecting the events in Ukraine by replacing "Gorky Park" with "Ukraine".

Klitschko gave an emotional speech about the war in Ukraine:

"Since the war began in 2014 and escalated into a full-scale invasion in February 2022, I remember that day—I was there. Since then, 450 athletes have died defending Ukraine, including 60 boxers like us.

I knew some of them—those who could no longer travel or compete, but whose hearts forever held the spirit of a warrior," Klitschko said.

Wladimir Klitschko, at the height of his career, held the WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO titles. The WBC belt was the only one missing from his journey to becoming an undisputed champion.