World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (64-3, 53 KOs) reportedly enlisted the help of his elder brother Vitali as his sparring mate to prepare him during the last week of training against challenger Tyson Fury (24-0, 18 KOs), whom he will face on Saturday at the Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany.

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The 6-foot-6 champion, one of the longest-tenured heavyweight titlists of all time, is facing his tallest opponent so far in Fury, who stands at 6 feet and nine inches tall. And to somehow mimic that height and range disadvantage, the younger Klitschko sought the assistance of the retired 6-foot-7 fighter Vitali, who currently serves as Kiev Mayor in their native Ukraine.

Of course, big brother was more than willing to answer his younger sibling's call.

Boxing News 24 noted that Wladimir, who will defend his The Ring, IBF, WBO, IBO, & WBA (Super) Heavyweight titles this weekend, sparring with Vitali in preparation for Fury is an "overkill" as the 44-year-old former champion is "still likely more than good enough to step inside the ring and beat the likes of Fury on short notice if he were to be the one fighting this Saturday night".

Vitali is said to be "arguably the far better of the Klitschko brothers, which means that Wladimir is taking Fury's challenge seriously enough for him to seek him for support.

Meanwhile, Fury declared that he wants to lure Vitali out of retirement and fight him next after "he has flattened younger brother Wladimir", according to SkySports.

The report said that the 27-year-old Briton "believes the age difference will see him beat 39-year-old Wladimir and then prove his point by taking on Vitali, who is five years older".

This is said to be the latest round of verbal tirades Fury is unleashing on his more illustrious opponent, and now he is even involving his elder sibling in the dialogues.

"I'd beat both of them," the flamboyant Manchester native told SkySports Box Office's The Gloves Are Off. "Give me a couple of weeks, I'd prepare for both of you, no problem."

Tags Boxing News, Boxing News & Rumors, Wladimir Klitschko, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko vs Tyson Fury, Vitali Klitschko