Wladimir Klitschko's ego ensures he will put on a record show against Tyson Fury

Klitschko is not expecting Fury to pose him too many problems, even aged 39

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO, on the verge of creating history on Saturday, has a giant ego – and he is happy to admit it.

 

The Ukrainian will surpass one of the longest-standing records in sport – the mark of 27 world title contests achieved by Joe Louis when he took on Ezzard Charles in a challenge to his heavyweight title in 1950 after notching 25 successful defences in a row.

Whatever happens against Tyson Fury at the ESPIRIT Arena in Dusseldorf, Klitschko will set a new mark of 28 heavyweight title fights.

And it is the staunch self-belief in his abilities that the WBO, IBF and WBA heavyweight champion believes makes him so good – and why he wants to continue dominating the division after 18 title defences in a row.

 

“This probably sounds selfish but I have a very big ego,” he said. “It’s not about somebody else, it is about my own satisfaction and my own ego that needs to be satisfied. It gives me the motivation.

“I just feel comfortable in my skin. I feel good about myself. I don’t feel bad about being egotistic, I’m comfortable with that and I know it’s healthy.”

Yet it is the fear of losing that also adds to this great champion’s desire to not only continue in the sport but also avoid a fourth defeat in his career. Klitschko, nicknamed Dr Steelhammer, is unbeaten since October 2004.

 

Jonathon Banks, Klitschko's trainer, believes he will be rated better once he has retired

“I think that’s the core of any successful person – ego,” he said. “We could talk about it negatively as someone being egotistical, like fear and fear is also negative. But fear is also healthy because fear makes you alert, aware, punctual, being in the right place in the right time. It makes you fast, it makes you alive.

“So I wouldn’t say to put ego in a negative box, it’s controlled ego, it’s big and that’s probably the core of your motivation.”

Klitschko’s manager Bernd Bonte, to use a football analogy, believes his man is more Jurgen Klopp than the Special One, Jose Mourinho. But whoever he is more like, there is no doubting Klitschko’s confidence on the eve of facing Fury in front of 55,000 fans here.

He said: “If I’m 100 per cent focused, then the only person who can beat me is myself.

“I would have to allow someone to beat me – but I won’t allow that because my ego is my protection. I can only lose to myself.”

 

Klitschko divides opinion probably as much as Mourinho, as many claim he has killed the heavyweight scene with his so-called ‘boring’ style.

Klitschko tends to box on the outside, not taking chances, rather than slugging it out in ferocious fashion like a Mike Tyson. But in fact he has probably saved the big bruisers from becoming a laughing stock as the former Olympic champion, who won gold at Atlanta in 1996, has brought a class which the other contenders over the years have lacked.

Klitschko said: “There are guys that have done more than me. There is always somebody I look up to.”

But he would certainly like this fight not to be classed as another boring display.

“What would be better than a spectacular finish?” said Klitschko. “That is what it is all about. It is always the cherry on the cake.”

Klitschko v Fury is live on Sky Sports Box Office on Saturday. Buy now.