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Already the holder of the IBF, WBA "super," and WBO world heavyweight titles, Wladimir Klitschko now has an opening to potentially go after the WBC belt, which until recently had been held by his older brother Vitali since 2008. Vitali Klitschko was named "champion emeritus" by the WBC this week after 15 months of inactivity, and a cemented focus on his political career in Ukraine, where he'll run for President in 2015 and is already a notable figure.
Wladimir (61-3, 51 KO) wants to fight for that WBC title, and if he does and is successful in winning it, he would be the first fully unified world heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. If the WBC were to allow Wladimir to fight for the vacant title, it would most likely be against Bermane Stiverne, the current mandatory challenger.
Vitali, 42, says he doesn't see himself fighting again, though he has not officially announced his retirement from the sport. The 37-year-old Wladimir currently has nothing scheduled, and last fought on October 5, routing Alexander Povetkin in a long-awaited showdown.