Wladimir Klitschko may be one of the most menacing human beings you'll ever see, standing at 6-foot-6 and boasting one of the most dominant resumes (64-4, 53 knockouts, various world titles) in the history of boxing. But he's also a gentle family man.
That starts with his partner, actress Hayden Panettiere, who measures in at about 18 inches shorter than Klitschko. "I know that I'm small, but he's large," says the Nashville star. "That's how we met. I said, 'You're huge.' And he said, 'You're tiny.' And that was it."
Engaged in 2013, Klitschko and Panettiere have yet to officially tie the knot, but they did welcome a daughter, Kaya Evdokia Klitschko, to the world on December 9, 2014. “She can communicate with her eyes and smile,” said the former heavyweight champ. “Even if you’re tired and haven’t slept enough, when you look at your child’s eyes, [it’s like], ‘For you, little angel, I’m going to do everything. Literally everything.’ I don’t know what appreciation she’s expressing but it’s something like, 'Thank you for being here in my life, Dad, and being around.’ It’s something that gives you a boost of energy."
In addition to his fiancee and daughter, Klitschko's support system also includes his mother (his father passed away in July of 2011) and successful older siblings. Most are well aware of his brother, Vitali, who was also a dominant world champ, while his sister-in-law Natalia (Vitali's wife) recently released her own album.
Klitschko's ability to sustain success for so long hinges on the strong support of his family, and you can click through the gallery to see and learn more about his fiancee, daughter and everyone around him. (Getty)
How They Met
The relationship between Klitschko and Panettiere goes back to 2009, when they met at a party of a mutual friend. The difference in their sizes originally broke the ice. "I know that I'm small, but he's large," joked Panettiere. "That's how we met. I said, 'You're huge.' And he said, 'You're tiny.' And that was it."
Distance forced them to amicably split up in 2011, but they were back together two years later, and in October 2013, she announced that they were engaged.
"We've never not been close," she says. (Getty)
Battle With Postpartum Depression
Following the birth of their daughter, Panettiere talked in September of 2015 about her ongoing postpartum depression. "It’s something that needs to be talked about," she said on Live! with Kelly and Michael. "Women need to know that they’re not alone, and that it does heal."
She voluntarily checked into a treatment center in October 2015, then again in May 2016. “The postpartum depression I have been experiencing has impacted every aspect of my life,” she said. “Rather than stay stuck due to unhealthy coping mechanisms I have chosen to take time to reflect holistically on my health and life.” (Getty)
Career As an Actress
Panettiere is a highly accomplished actress with more than 60 credits to her name. Most first met her as the daughter of Coach Yoast in "Remember the Titans," but her star really exploded in 2006 with the role of world-saving cheerleader Claire Bennet in "Heroes." She now stars in "Nashville," a show in which she has starred with Connie Britton for five seasons. (Getty)
A World Champion Brother
Wladimir, of course, isn't the only boxer in the family. His older brother, Vitali, ruled the heavyweight division for much of the same time as Wladimir (though they never fought each other), finishing his career in 2012 with 45 wins (41 knockouts) and just two defeats. He hung up his gloves as the WBC heavyweight champ, a belt he successfully defended 10 times overall.
Vitali has turned political in his post-boxing life, as he serves as the Mayor of Kiev. Vitali and his wife Natalia, who is quite successful in her own right, have three children together. (Getty)
His Father Passed Away in 2011
Wladimir's father, Vladimir Rodionovich Klitschko, was a former colonel in the Soviet Union Air Force who was stationed near Chernobyl during the 1986 nuclear disaster. He was later diagnosed with lymph node cancer, which was linked to the disaster, and he passed away in 2011 at the age of 64.
"When the first message came through the only thing it said was that something bad had happened. The alarm was raised," Vladimir recalled about Chernobyl. "I was the leader of an air force unit that was immediately relocated to the scene of the incident. From the very beginning, the government tried to cover up the truth and play down the situation. We were given the impression that it wasn't all that serious. Those who were able to leave Kiev took the opportunity to do so, but if you are a soldier you have to fulfill your duties." (Getty)
Wladimir Klitschko & Hayden Panettiere: Meet Their Family