Wladimir Klitschko in 2008, his debut match held on February 23. Ukrainian attended the first since 1999, the unification bout in nadvazhky category. In the ring of New York "at Madison Square Garden," made friends with IBF champion title holder of the WBO Russian to Sultan Ibragimov. After the meeting nadvazhlivist both athletes behaved in the ring very carefully. When the battle will be over a half – the audience has no pity, gave the tickets from hundred to a thousand dollars. Vladimir stopped to save strokes more often pidklyuchayuchy his straight right. Under these conditions, the Sultan felt that plays for points and was forced to rush forward. Tactic used not only attacks, but strong obiymiv only amused the audience.
In the end, the battle lasted all reserved under the rules of 12 rounds. After the closing bell unanimous decision Wladimir Klitschko is recognized champion versions IBF and WBO. The Ukrainian was the victory anniversary – pyatdesyatoyu in their professional career. A Russian experienced pros-ring first defeat. In the middle of summer – namely, July 12 – Wladimir Klitschko stepped into the ring again: this time to to defend their titles. In the German city of Hamburg, "Dr.
Steel Hammer" had a duel against the official challenger for the IBF American Tony Thompson. Throughout the battle Ukrainian acted first number. First, Thompson fell in the 10th round. But it seems not to strike, and fatigue. But be that as it may be, Klitschko used the advantage. In the eleventh trihvilintsi, after a few test pairs, Vladimir made a right crossing 36-year-old American, the eternal candidate. December 13, 2008 was younger Klitschko fight in Mannheim Germany with Olympic champion in Athens and the mandatory challenger by the International Boxing Federation Alexander Povetkin. But six weeks before the fight Russian was injured, so the team had to quickly search for Vladimir Povetkin replacement. An applicant for two champion belts found quite quickly – it was Ex-world champion, 36-year-old Hasim Rahman. For the first time an American has fallen in the sixth round. But the boxer who survived a collision with a truck and the body which, after the dismantling of the street was visited by 5 balls at the same time and stood up. And even dotyagnuv trihvilinky to the next. In the seventh round, after a strong left hook Rahman beginning Hitachi. Without hesitation Daryl Katz explained all about the problem. Referee Tony Weeks U.S. decided to maintain the health and spivvitchizniku stopped the fight.