The critics might tell you there is no place for politics in sports, and Vitali Klitschko, the world’s most scholarly heavyweight boxer, will tell you they are wrong.

While the mammoth-sized fight tactician looks to defend his heavyweight title for the first time in Las Vegas on December 11, his native country, Ukraine, continues its fight for a fair election.

Yesterday, protestors in the streets of Kiev celebrated the Ukrainian Parliament’s vote of no confidence in pro-Kremlin Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich. Klitschko, meanwhile, spoke in support of opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko.

“Everybody hopes we move to a democratic way,” the 33-year-old heavyweight champ told reporters during a national telephone call yesterday. “If people who were communist before suddenly change their colors and say Ukraine is democratic – and the rules of government do not change – people will not be happy with that.”

“I wish for my country, for my people, for my children, and the next generation a great future,” he added.

“We hope there is no violence, no bloodshed,” said Vitali’s younger heavyweight brother, Wladimir, who had just spent four days in Kiev rallying alongside protesters and conducting press interviews.

The impact of Ukraine’s political struggles has been felt inside Vitali’s training camp, located in his adopted home of Los Angeles. At one point, Vitali flirted with the idea of canceling his upcoming title bout against Danny Williams, a come-from-nowhere contender from London, England.

But Vitali, whose father was a helicopter pilot in the Soviet army and now serves in the Ukrainian armed forces, came to the conclusion that he could do more for his country by beating Williams in Las Vegas than supporting Yushchenko in Kiev.

“I think this fight will be a very important message for Ukraine, but not only in Ukraine, but in the world,” Vitali said.

Still, he can’t help but worry. When he wakes at 6 a.m. for his morning run before training and sparring, Klitschko spends about an hour calling friends and family in Kiev to gauge the political climate. Then he runs.

Yesterday, Klitschko said he was focused. He said he was ready. He said he wants to beat Williams because Vitali’s dream was to beat Mike Tyson; Williams shocked the boxing world by knocking out Mike Tyson in Kentucky this July, so now Vitali wants to “destroy the dream of Danny Williams.”

He couldn’t be more confident of winning that fight. As far as the other battle, winning reform in Ukraine, his answer is not so certain.

“I am very afraid everyday,” he said.