Bovada Sportsbook JustBET BetOnline Sportsbook.com Bovada Poker

Vitali Klitschko has been forcedto retire from boxing due to a knee injury and with that the world'smost respected heavyweight champion leaves boxing in a big fix.

In 1996 Vitali was forced to withdraw from Ukraine'sOlympic team because of his knee and this week he withdrew fromSaturday's WBC defense against Hasim Rahman in Las Vegas becauseof the very same knee.

The surgery that he has opted for will take atleast 6 months of recovery time. In accordance with the WBC'sregulations, Klitschko would have been stripped of his title onDecember 10th, having not fought since December 11th. After lookingat all his options he decided that it was time to throw in thetowl and quit. (retire)

Klitschko turned professional in November of1996 and knocked out or had the fights stopped in vs. his first27 opponents and won the World Boxing Organization heavyweighttitle. In April 2000 he lost his WBO title when he was forcedto retire in the 10th round against Chris Byrd because of a damagedshoulder.

In 2003, Klitschko was winning on points butstarting to tire when he was stopped by Lennox Lewis because hehad sustained a series of cuts across his face.

Since that fight with Lewis, Klitschko has sufferedmany injuries from damaged hands to injured thighs and a bad backwhich required surgery in April of this year.

This is a fighter who will be missed in the boxingworld as he seemed unstoppable at times. So it seems, his ownbody was his most fierce opponent and the only thing that couldbeat him.

He decided to go out on top and move on withhis life, we all should be so lucky.

At age 34 the injuries heal a little slower thesedays so hanging them up was a tough but necessary decision anddecided that he will not be use steroids like he says he did inhis autobiography before the Olympics where his replacement (hisyounger brother) won gold in the super heavyweight.

Ultimatecapper.com salutes Vitali Klitschko,a rock solid fighter who will be missed by many.