Russian state broadcaster VGTRK has opted against purchasing the rights for the world heavyweight boxing match between Ukraine’s unified champion Wladimir Klitschko and Australia’s Alex Lepai.
The VGTRK-owned Rossiya-2 sports channel normally shows fights featuring Klitschko – the long-serving WBO, IBF and WBA champion. Lepai’s challenge for his belts takes place in Oberhausen, Germany this Saturday, but VGTRK told Russian news agency RIA Novosti that it will not broadcast the fight.
Klitschko is the younger brother of Vitali Klitschko – the former WBC heavyweight champion who vacated his crown last December to focus on his political ambitions in Ukraine, including a recent announcement that he will run for mayor of Kiev.
Vitali Klitschko is one of the opposition leaders in the Euromaidan movement that ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Russia has condemned this regime change and does not recognise Ukraine’s interim government.