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Klitschko brothers demand Russian boxer Bivol is BANNED from fighting Canelo Alvarez after country’s invasion of Ukraine

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THE Klitschko brothers have urged the WBA to ban Russian fighter Dmitry Bivol from fighting Canelo Alvarez.

Bivol is the light-heavyweight world champion in the organisation and is set to face Alvarez in a money-spinning bout in May.

The Klitschko brothers have been on the frontline in Kyiv
Dmitry Bivol (right) has agreed to fight Canelo AlvarezCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Wladimir Klitschko believes Bivol should not be allowed to fight AlvarezCredit: AP
Vitali Klitschko feels sporting sanctions can have a big impactCredit: Reuters

But the Klitschkos feel the WBA must follow the precedent set by other sporting governing bodies by banning Bivol from fighting.

Russia were kicked out of the 2022 World Cup play-offs by Fifa and stripped of their Grand Prix by Formula One, with Russian F1 driver Nikita Mazepin also sacked by Haas.

Wladimir Klitschko is supportive of those measures as he feels sanctions must be imposed against Russia in every possible way.

Asked if Bivol should be allowed to fight Canelo, Wladimir told BBC 5 Live: “Absolutely not.

“Every sanction, and it’s nothing against the personality or athletes, it’s about the politics of Russia.

“Every Russian representative in this case needs to be sanctioned, because this way we show to Russia that the world is against this senseless war and that there’s no good in this war.”

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And elder brother Vitali is in agreement, calling on the Russian population to put pressure on President Vladimir Putin.

He feels a ban from sports would signal to Russian citizens that the war is senseless.

Mayor of Kyiv Vitali said: “The Russian population have to put pressure on the government, on Putin, from inside the country and show that it’s actually a senseless war.

“People pay with their lives, already thousands from both sides have died. The question is: for what?

“For what [purpose] is the war? For our idea of being part of the European Union? For our idea of being part of the European family?

“We see our future as a democratic, modern country and that’s why we’re fighting for values, for principles, for our country.”

The former boxing world champions are physically fighting to defend their country, taking to the front line in Kyiv.

Russian airstrikes have edged ever closer to the capital, forcing thousands to flee the outskirt towns of Irpin and Bucha.

But Vitali and his brother have stayed with the mayor stating he is “willing to die” for his country.

Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk

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