STATUS: WBO Heavyweight Champion
HT: 6-5 WT: 238

BORN ON: March 25, 1976 IN: Kiev, Ukraine

CHILDHOOD HEROES: "I had very many heroes. Bruce Lee, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, my brother (Vitaliy), all the best boxers, so many people. Max Schmeling. He's my idol. He's 96 now and still very strong. He has a great personality. He was a successful boxer and businessman. I met him three years ago with my brother and his mind is still sharp. We talked a long time with him. He was 93 then and remembers everything. And speaks clearly, not like Ali. Max Schmeling is a great example that a boxer should get out of the game with their health. Boxing can be a brutal sport."

HOBBIES/INTERESTS: "I like my doctorate work. Computer, surfing the Internet. I like to wakeboard, snowboard...it's so fun. I have a helicopter pilot's license. Languages...I'm from Ukraine. I now live in Hamburg, Germany. I speak very good German. My English is not so good now but I know I must learn how and I hope soon I can do much better."

CHILDHOOD DREAM: "I dreamed about everything as a boy...military man, doctor, spaceman. But not boxing."

EARLY BOXING MEMORY: "We drove away to a tournament in Kazakhstan (age 14). About 40 boxers were there. I wait for my first fight. I wait, wait. I wonder, what happened? Where's my opponent? (Tournament official) says, 'You win. You don't have an opponent. Only you here in heavyweight division.' My first championship and I don't have an opponent [smiles]. After that, my first amateur fight, I lost (on points). And after my first fight, I win everything that I can."

FAVORITE MEAL: "I like desserts. Every kind of dessert [smiles]. I like good food...Italian, Chinese, Japanese, French."

FAVORITE BREAKFAST: "Cottage cheese and strawberries."

FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR: "Vanilla."

FUNNY BOXING MEMORY: "In Germany, we have two round card girls per fight. Before one of my fights, one of the round card girls started talking to me...'I love you, I'm really a big fan.' A beautiful girl. But she was a little bit too forward. And she said, 'I will give you the keys to my house when I come into the ring between rounds.' I thought she was joking. But I was scared she would really do it. But I scored a knockout in round one and I never saw her again [laughs]."

PREFIGHT FEELING: "Concentrating and calming down. Caaaaaalm. I think about my fight. And the very many people looking at my fight. I've been waiting for this moment. And I know only one can leave the ring as the champion. And I want to be the champion."

FAVORITE BOXERS TO WATCH: "All boxers. From every boxer, one can take the best from him. Having the best style needs the best styles to learn from."

GREATEST SPORTS MOMENT: "Olympic Games as an amateur. The Olympic Games I had a dream to go as a child. Then I have gold medal around my neck. After three days, I got home (to Ukraine). Then I see the interest from the people...the parades for me, attention from TV. And winning the WBO title from Chris Byrd."

MOST PAINFUL MOMENT: "My fight with (Ross) Purrity. I lost to myself (TKO 11 in '98). I win all rounds. And after round nine, I'm tired. No stamina. I learned not to do too much hard punching. I was too young for that fight, didn't have enough experience. It was an important and big experience for me."

FAVORITE MOVIES: "I like action movies...Matrix. The Mummy. Titanic is not so bad. Rocky's really interesting. Terminator. Running Man."

MUSICAL TASTES: "Classical, Mozart, Beethoven, jazz, pop, Whitney Houston, Phil Collins."

FAVORITE ATHLETES TO WATCH: "Difficult question. A part of Ali, a part of Holyfield, a part of Tyson. (Formula 1 racer) Michael Schumacher. Yevgeny Kafelnikov. Marat Safin. Anna Kournikova [smiles]."

FIRST JOB: "I am a school teacher and I teach biology and physical culture. But I have too much work in boxing now."

PEOPLE MOST ADMIRED: "People who have good character, strong character. A will. And a wish."