'Heroes' star and boxer boyfriend split
Hayden Panettiere and her boyfriend Wladimir Klitschko have split up.
The actress and the heavyweight champion boxer have decided to call time on their 18-month romance because they could not cope with having a long-distance relationship.
Hayden, 21, lives in the US, while 35-year-old Klitschko – who was raised in the Ukraine – is based in Hamburg, Germany.
A statement from Panettiere said: “While we decided to split, we feel great sympathy and respect for each other and will surely stay close friends."
Klitschko added: "We had a great time together. But more and more we realised how difficult it is to maintain a relationship when living on two continents … I cherish Hayden as a person and woman. I'm sure we will stay friends."
Wladimir – whose brother Vitali Klitschko is also a world champion boxer – is currently in training for his heavyweight title unification bout with British fighter David Haye which takes place at the Imtech Arena in Hamburg, Germany, on July 2.
