Klitschko brothers in arms: Boxing greats Vitali, Wladimir in fight of their lives for Ukraine

During the historic reigns of brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko as co-heavyweight boxing champions, there was nagging critique they were too stoic, too mechanical, too impersonal.

In other words, where was the heart? The passion? The soul? 

What a foolish dismissal given how the brothers have answered the desperation of their Ukrainian homeland’s underdog fight against the bloody invasion of Russian forces directed by Vladimir Putin.

Once celebrating with arms raised in the center of the ring, the Klitschkos are now taking up arms in the center of a war zone — Vitali as mayor of Ukraine's capitol, Kyiv, and Wladimir by his side with the military's reserve forces.