The couple shares a 2-year-old daughter, Kaya.
Wladimir Klitschko is retiring from boxing.
Hayden Panettiere's fiance announced that he will be focusing on the next chapter in his career in a heartfelt video message on Thursday.
"27 years ago, I started my journey in sports, and it was the best choice of a profession I could have ever picked," Klitschko began his message. "Because of this choice, I've traveled the world, learned new languages, created businesses, built intellectual properties, helped people in need."
"I was and am still capable of doing all this because of the global appeal of the sport of boxing, my own talent, and most importantly because of you, my loyal fans." he continued. "At some point in our lives, we need to, or just want to, switch our careers and get ourselves ready for the next chapter and chart our course toward fresh challenges. Obviously I am not an exception to this, and now it's my turn."
"I'm honestly doing this with greatest respect for the new challenges, but also with tremendous excitement, passion, dedication, expecting and hoping that my next career, which I've already been planning for some years, will be at least as successful as my previous one, if not even more successful," Klitschko said. "Finally, instead of just saying, 'Hey, thanks and goodbye,' I want you to continue to join me on this new and exciting journey. When we're together, we're more creative, more efficient, more productive and simply stronger in every way. Together, we're the driving force."
Klitschko and Panettiere share a 2-year-old daughter, Kaya. See the actress open up about family life and her battle with postpartum depression in the video below.