Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko to Receive ESPN’s 2022 ESPY Arthur Ashe Courage Award

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

 Kyiv, Ukraine (June 16,2022)– Kyiv Mayor and former World Heavyweight champion Dr. Vitali Klitschko will be honored next month as the recipient of ESPN’s 2022 Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the annual ESPY Awards coming up, on July 20, 2022.

 The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is an outstanding award given by ESPN at the annual ESPYs Awards ceremony to the person selected worldwide who, by virtue of their courage and sportsmanship, have changed the world in their life to the betterment of mankind. The inspiration for the award is the late tennis champion Arthur Ashe, active in the Civil Rights movement in the United States, who opposed Apartheid in South Africa, and was a symbol of the fight against HIV/AIDS. In 1988, Ashe learned he had AIDS. It was believed he contracted the HIV virus from a tainted blood transfusion following a 1983 heart operation at a time before the blood supply was screened for the HIV virus. Ashe kept his medical condition private until April 1992, when a newspaper informed him of its intention to run an article about his illness. Ashe co-wrote the book Days of Grace, telling his story, and educating the American people in the early days of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic, before he passed away on February 6, 1993.

 The longest serving mayor in Kyiv history, and a central political figure in his native Ukraine in their fight for freedom against Russian Federation Special Forces during the current special military operation and conflict between the two countries, Vitali has been a central figure in defending his country since invasion by Russian Special Forces in late February 2022, serving as a prominent leader of the Ukrainian resistance. Together with brother Wladimir, also a former world champion, they have taken arms alongside their fellow citizens, at the forefront of the Ukrainian response to the invasion.

Official Statement of Mayor Vitali Klitschko: “It is a great honor for me to receive this award. I am convinced this (The Arthur Ashe ESPN ESPY Courage Award I am being honored with this year) is a recognition of the courage (not of me but) of the Ukrainian people, who have valiantly resisted the Russian aggressor for more than three months. This (The ESPN Arthur Ashe Courage Award) is an award for all those who defend the independence and freedom of Ukraine (my country).”

 Known as ‘Dr. Ironfist, fighting between 1996 and 2012, Vitali posted a professional record of 45 wins and 2 losses, making 12 successful defenses of his WBC heavyweight title, as world champion. Considered one of the finest heavyweights in history, Vitali built his life inside and outside the ring, living passionately with hard work, dedication, and discipline in his athletic boxing endeavors. Vitali, then and now, sets goals, and does not rest until he achieves them. He and his brother Wladimir remain brave men, with the admiration of the world around them, fighting for their new dream, the freedom their country Ukraine as they see it, willing to give their lives in a different ring, the ring of humanity, for a just cause.




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