DORTMUND, GERMANY, June 19, 2009 - Vitali Klitschko's historic achievement in regaining the WBC World Heavyweight Championship for the second time, at the age of 37, has been chosen by the legendary sports stars of the Laureus World Sports Aacdemy as the 2009 Laureus World Comeback of the Year.
Klitschko's victory against Nigeria's Samuel Peter in October 2008 made him only the fourth boxer in history, along with Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis, to win a heavyweight belt for the third time. Since then, Ukrainian-born German-based Klitschko has successfully defended his title against Cuba's Juan Carlos Gomez - his 37th win in 39 fights.
The announcement that Vitali Klitschko had won the Laureus Comeback Award was made by Laureus World Sports Academy Chairman Edwin Moses and fellow Academy members Boris Becker and Katarina Witt in Dortmund on the eve of brother Wladimir Klitschko's fight against Ruslan Chagaev.
After receiving the Laureus statuette, Vitali Klitschko said: "I would like to thank Laureus for this very special Award. It is a unique honour. This is one of the highlights of my career. I would like to thank individually the members of the Laureus Academy who voted for me. They have all competed at the highest level and know how much commitment is needed to stay at the top, and even more to get back to the top after a break. The fight against Samuel Peters was a big gamble for me, returning for a title fight without a warm-up. I knew if I lost the fight, I would not get a second chance. It was a one-way ticket and I used my chance."
German tennis legend and Laureus Academy Vice-Chairman Boris Becker said: "Vitali certainly deserves this Award. He is a great fighter and an awesome champion, but he also understands the importance of giving
something back to society. I am delighted that my fellow Academy members have acknowledged Vitali's great achievement in regaining one of the great titles in sport. There is something very special about winning one of the great iconic sports championships and that is clearly what my fellow Laureus Academy members felt."
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