22.08 - Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko have returned to Germany and begun "slight training" after a two-week vacation spent with family and close friends on the southern Italian island of Sardinia.

"We had a great time, just relaxing and having fun on the beach," said Wladimir. "It was good for us to get away and just kick back for a while. I think both Vitali and myself needed something like that, but now it is time we get back to the gym. With no fights lined up for either of us in the immediate future, we are taking it slow for now. But once something is definite, we will begin our preparation in earnest. Usually, that means about eight weeks out from the time we sign to fight."

The younger of the two brothers, the 6-foot-7, 26-year-old Wladimir (39-1, 36 KOs) says he expects to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight title one more time before year's conclusion. In his last start, he retained his crown for the fourth time when he registered a decisive, impressive sixth-round TKO over Ray Mercer June 29 in Atlantic City on HBO. He became the first boxer to stop Mercer.

"I expect to fight in November or December," Klitschko said, "hopefully again in the United States. I have heard a couple of rather prominent opponents mentioned as possible challengers, but I am not at liberty to say who they are. I will say, however, that I am anxious to fight any of the world's top heavyweights and that, of course, includes Lennox Lewis.''

The 6-foot-8, 31-year-old Vitali, meanwhile, reports that the back injury that forced his scheduled July 20 World Boxing Association (WBA) Intercontinental title defense against Larry Donald in Germany to be canceled, has completely healed.

"It feels great and I am anxious to get back in the ring again," the former WBO heavyweight champion (31-1, 30 KOs) said. "I also hope to fight at least one more time this year, probably in November or December. I am still the mandatory challenger in the WBC to fight Lennox Lewis, but if he doesn't want to fight me, or decides he does not want to fight at all, I would gladly accept a fight with Evander Holyfield, who is ranked just below me (No. 2) in the WBC.''