Lifestyle magazine GQ honored Vitali Klitschko as "Man of the year" in the category "Comeback of the year" for his impressive return to the boxing ring after 1400 days of retirement. In October 2008 he regained the WBC heavyweight belt from the Nigerian Samuel Peter. 

First encounter of the opponents: Five weeks before the fight, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and mandatory challenger Hasim Rahman met at a press conference. On December 13, Klitschko will defend his three titles against the 35-year-old US-American at the SAP ARENA Mannheim, Germany.