Former unified heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko revealed that he had once pranked renowned actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, known for his eccentric character Borat.
It all began when Klitschko, 43, shared in an Instagram Q&A that he was born in Kazakhstan, which is why he sounded similar to the fictional Borat character from the 2006 movie. This revelation prompted Cohen to share an intriguing story about his encounter with Klitschko.
According to Cohen, he was in a restaurant when someone informed him that Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir’s brother, wanted to speak with him. However, when Cohen approached the table, it was Wladimir Klitschko who grabbed his hand in a firm grip.
“I could tell by the way he grabbed my hand that this was not going to be fun,” Cohen recalled. Klitschko then proceeded to reprimand him, saying, “You have humiliated my country. You humiliated Kazakhstan, and you humiliated me.”
Thinking he was in trouble, Cohen tried to pull his hand away, but Klitschko refused to let go. “He goes, ‘No, no, no, you don’t go.’ He goes, ‘You humiliated me, and it’s time for revenge.'”
Concerned for her partner’s well-being, Cohen’s wife, Isla Fisher, tried to intervene by asking Klitschko to sign an autograph, but he dismissed her request, saying, “Go away.”
The tension continued for about two minutes, with Cohen feeling helpless against the heavyweight boxing champion and his companions, who were even larger in size.
Just when Cohen thought the situation was taking a dangerous turn, Klitschko suddenly started laughing, revealing that he had been pranking the actor the entire time. “He was basically tricking me,” Cohen said, relieved that the confrontation was nothing more than a harmless prank.
This unexpected encounter between the boxing champion and the comedic actor serves as a reminder that even the most serious of individuals can have a playful side. Klitschko’s ability to pull off such a masterful prank on Cohen, a renowned prankster himself, is a testament to his quick wit and sense of humor.
