WelshDevilRob Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 Ukraine boxer Vitali Klitschko to seek presidency The Ukrainian WBC heavyweight boxing champion, Vitali Klitschko, has confirmed he will run in the country's 2015 presidential election. He made his announcement in response to a bill passed in parliament that bars candidates who have lived outside Ukraine during the past 10 years. The pro-Western Udar party MP has permanent resident status in Germany. "Everything that has taken place in parliament today... does not intimidate me and will not stop me," he said. "To head off these various schemes and attempts at getting even with me as a possible candidate, I want to declare this: I will run for president." Mr Klitschko is the first declared contender against the incumbent, Viktor Yanukovych. He has actively campaigned against what he calls the president's "authoritarian policies". The bill adopted on Wednesday amended Ukraine's current tax code. It now states that if a Ukrainian national holds permanent resident status in another country they cannot be considered a resident of Ukraine. Previously, they only had to live in Ukraine for at least 180 days a year. According to the constitution, a presidential candidate must have been resident in Ukraine for 10 years prior to polling day. Mr Klitschko said the amendment clearly had a "political context", something denied by a member of Mr Yanukovych's Party of Regions. 'European standards'The 42-year-old boxer heads the Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reforms (Udar), whose acronym means "Punch". It came third in last year's parliamentary elections. "My main goal is for Ukraine to be a European, modern country with European standards of life," Mr Klitschko told the BBC in August. "I will decide with people who have the same vision, the same dream, to go into politics and from the inside to change the situation." He has spoken out against corruption in the country and the jailing of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko for abuse of office - a charge that her supporters claim was politically motivated. "We can't be a democratic country with political prisoners," he said. Mr Klitschko is also pushing to strengthen Ukraine's links with the EU. "We see our future in the European family. We are European with our mentality, with our history," he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted October 24, 2013 Author Share Posted October 24, 2013 Re: Ukraine boxer Vitali Klitschko to seek presidency David Tua is at it aswell. Professional heavyweight boxer David Tua hopes to step out of the ring and into the Beehive. Tua told Fairfax Media this afternoon he has been approached by fans to enter the political arena to represent the Pasifika community - and he's agreed. "They've approached me and I said, 'Look, it's a big call but it's a simple call because I will only be a voice for you'. I will only stand and run for the things that inspire them," he said. The 40-year-old said it was important that Pasifika people in New Zealand had a voice. "At the end of the day, it's really about having a voice for those who don't have a voice. I'm thinking about Pacific Nations and those who've had the courage to come to this country. We're strong in numbers and if we stood together, we will survive." Tua said the courage people had in him to stand up for their needs was "humbling" and "exciting", but stressed he would not be pushing his own agenda. "It's about the people and it will always be about the people, it's very simple. I will run because of them. I will run according to their needs, not mine. At the end of the day I will only be as good as those who surround me." He also hoped that as a long-standing role-model, he would be able to positively influence Pasifika youth. "It's about the future generations. It's about inspiring, I love that word ... if I can inspire them to vote and if I can inspire them to be more accountable for anything and everything they put their minds, hearts and souls into then the rest will take care of itself." Although Tua hasn't set himself a deadline for when he will launch his political party, he said his biggest focus at the moment was his November 16 bout against 36-year-old Belarusian, Alexander Ustinov. "I have the appointment on November 16 to deal with first, once that's done I will seriously look into it, timing is everything," he said. And he believes the time is right for asifika people to have their own political party because he has that support behind him, unlike previous attempts to do the same. "I've been talking to some very good friends of mine that have been involved with politics for years just to see how they feel about it," he said. Tua is not the first to try a party appealing to the Pasifika, and mainly south Auckland vote. In 1999, Tau Henare launched the short-lived Mauri Pacific political party, which collapsed after it failed to win seats. Disgraced MP Taito Phillip Field formed the Pacific Party in 2008 after leaving Labour to became and independent MP. He failed to win support in the election with corruption charges hanging over his head. Tua is also not the first Pasifika sports star to attempt to enter the political arena either, with former All Blacks Michael Jones and Va'aiga Tuigamala both putting themselves forward to stand for the National Party in 2011 and 2009. Neither were successful. - © Fairfax NZ News Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mofo2 Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 Re: Ukraine boxer Vitali Klitschko to seek presidency Running for the Presidency ehhh I have to say it pisses me off when Personalities use their fame to move into the political arena!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavpowell Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 Re: Ukraine boxer Vitali Klitschko to seek presidency Klitschko is a major opposition figure so this is hardly news to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemurphy Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Re: Ukraine boxer Vitali Klitschko to seek presidency Well, it's been 14-months since he last defended his belt and I'm sure the WBC will allow him another 14-years if he wants it. They let this guy get by with murder, don't be surprised if Bermain Stiverne's Silver Belt is the only thing that gets defended in 2014 :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mofo2 Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Re: Ukraine boxer Vitali Klitschko to seek presidency 14 months....I never realised it was so long! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted October 27, 2013 Author Share Posted October 27, 2013 Re: Ukraine boxer Vitali Klitschko to seek presidency Yeah Bermane Stiverne has waited long enough. Klitschko fans moan, to this day, about how long Lennox held on before retiring, but are quiet when it comes to their poster boy - double standards! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavpowell Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Re: Ukraine boxer Vitali Klitschko to seek presidency He was granted a delay because of his political activities and also an alleged hand injury - WBC said he could wait 'til March provided he fights Stiverne when he comes back(unless Stiverne loses in the mean time). At least Vitali is waiting for a reason, not because he either can't be arsed or is regretting his decision to promise a rematch to a guy who gave him nightmares. I don't know why they can't just strip fighters after 6 months' inactivity and say "You want the belt? Come win it back." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted October 27, 2013 Author Share Posted October 27, 2013 Re: Ukraine boxer Vitali Klitschko to seek presidency He was granted a delay because of his political activities and also an alleged hand injury - WBC said he could wait 'til March provided he fights Stiverne when he comes back(unless Stiverne loses in the mean time). At least Vitali is waiting for a reason, not because he either can't be arsed or is regretting his decision to promise a rematch to a guy who gave him nightmares. I don't know why they can't just strip fighters after 6 months' inactivity and say "You want the belt? Come win it back." So, if he suddenly defends against David Haye next year - you won't criticise him? Out-side of the ring activities shouldn't delay him defending his title. The injury was fair enough but now he is just sitting on the belt and seemingly waiting for David Haye. If he plans to defend against anyone other than Stiverne he should be stripped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavpowell Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Re: Ukraine boxer Vitali Klitschko to seek presidency So, if he suddenly defends against David Haye next year - you won't criticise him? 1) I never said anything of the sort. 2) Every time the Klitschkos even consider dealing with David Haye, they go down in my estimation. Out-side of the ring activities shouldn't delay him defending his title. The injury was fair enough but now he is just sitting on the belt and seemingly waiting for David Haye. I agree - hence my statement about stripping after 6 months' inactivity. But regardless of how ridiculous it is, at least Klitschko is doing something during his year out, whereas Lewis didn't do much of anything. I suppose because he was like a fine wine, he needed to sit for a while before bottling. If I were over 40 and heavyweight champion, I wouldn't like to run the gauntlet of trying to fight David Haye - Vitali could be 45 before Haye manages to even get in the ring. I have never been shy of criticising the Klitschkos and will do so again if Stiverne loses out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted October 27, 2013 Author Share Posted October 27, 2013 Re: Ukraine boxer Vitali Klitschko to seek presidency 1) I never said anything of the sort. 2) Every time the Klitschkos even consider dealing with David Haye, they go down in my estimation. I agree - hence my statement about stripping after 6 months' inactivity. But regardless of how ridiculous it is, at least Klitschko is doing something during his year out, whereas Lewis didn't do much of anything. I suppose because he was like a fine wine, he needed to sit for a while before bottling. If I were over 40 and heavyweight champion, I wouldn't like to run the gauntlet of trying to fight David Haye - Vitali could be 45 before Haye manages to even get in the ring. I have never been shy of criticising the Klitschkos and will do so again if Stiverne loses out. It doesn't matter if he was running for Pope - he shouldn't get a pass. Lewis got rightly criticised and so should Vitali. I have no thoughts or interest in the Ukrainian Presidency but I do want to see an active Heavyweight Champion. It wouldn't hurt him to name a date for the Stiverne fight, so at least we know his intentions are noble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavpowell Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Re: Ukraine boxer Vitali Klitschko to seek presidency I do want to see an active Heavyweight Champion. So do I, but then I also criticised Lewis for doing the same thing, so evidently Vitali wants to pay homage to Lewis by claiming to be heavyweight champion while doing fuck all. In any case, Vitali is only a distraction, whether he fights Stiverne or otherwise - Wlad is the de facto heavyweight champion and has been for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemurphy Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Re: Ukraine boxer Vitali Klitschko to seek presidency So do I, but then I also criticised Lewis for doing the same thing, so evidently Vitali wants to pay homage to Lewis by claiming to be heavyweight champion while doing fuck all. In any case, Vitali is only a distraction, whether he fights Stiverne or otherwise - Wlad is the de facto heavyweight champion and has been for years. Agreed, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but Vitali has kind of gone Lennox one better, ten fights in nine years and off for a year now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavpowell Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Re: Ukraine boxer Vitali Klitschko to seek presidency Agreed, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but Vitali has kind of gone Lennox one better, ten fights in nine years and off for a year now. German efficiency! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemurphy Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 Re: Ukraine boxer Vitali Klitschko to seek presidency German efficiency! LOL. Yeah, Vitali = Porsche. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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