The day before, the World Boxing Council issued an official statement regarding the departure from boxing of the WBC heavyweight champion, Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko. \n \n"The WBC is saddened by the departure from boxing of world heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, who did much to uphold the good name of boxing, but we believe that there is nothing more important than the physical and mental health of boxers, who are, above all, people. This decision by Vitali Klitschko shows that he treated his WBC world champion title with pride, dignity and respect, because instead of earning a multi-million fee by entering the ring and refusing to continue the fight at any moment, out of respect for the sport he loves and for boxing fans, he made his decision. \n \nVitali Klitschko does not yield to difficulties - everyone saw that, despite a large and very dangerous cut, Klitschko categorically objected to stopping the fight with Lennox Lewis, who was considered the best boxer of the decade. Vitali Klitschko, the WBC champion from Ukraine, leaves boxing as a champion who did not lose his title in a fight, and the WBC, in accordance with its rules, proceeds to the procedure of voting by the Board on the issue of appointing WBC interim champion Hasim Rahman as the full world champion according to its version. The Board of Governors consists of 35 members, each of whom has the right to vote." \n