Absence doesn’t always make the heart grow fonder …
Actress Hayden Panettiere has split with her boxer boyfriend Wladimir Klitschko. The Heroes star has been dating the Ukrainian heavyweight boxer since 2009.
The couple reportedly found it too difficult to maintain a long distance relationship. Panettiere, 21, confirmed the news in a statement obtained by Germany’s Bunte.de: “While we decided to split, we feel great respect for each other and will stay close friends”
Klitschko, 35, has had an impressive 15 year pro boxing career with 58 bouts. He has racked up 55 wins and 3 loses — 49 of the wins by KO.
The uber-athlete had this to say about the split: “We had a great time together. But more and more we realized 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.”
The actress gained additional exposure when she became Candie’s new ‘It Girl’ in 2008 — check out her sexy print ad photos.
Hayden previously dated her Heroes co-star Milo Ventimiglia beginning in 2007 when she was 17 and he was 30. They split in early 2009.
Check out another recent photo of the newly star-crossed lovers below:
Photos – WENN