Family rivalry was never big in the Klitschko household. Brothers Vitali and Wladimir, the sons of a former Red Army captain from Ukraine, always shared the same dream, to stand side by side on top of the world. Should Vitali regain the WBC heavyweight title from Samuel Peter tonight, that dream will have been fulfilled.

For the past four years, the world has watched with indifference as Wladimir has established himself as the world's best heavyweight, winning the WBO, IBF and IBO titles. But big brother is back. He says the injuries that have dogged him since he took over Lennox Lewis's title in 2004 are in the past and, while the comeback may not be long, the dream is what counts now.

“We have a dream to be brothers at the same time being the world champion, to write the history of boxing,” Vitali Klitschko said. “I was the best heavyweight in the world and, just a few months after I retired, the same name takes that place only with a W instead of a V.” A Klitschko win tonight, though, would mean that hopes of a unified heavyweight champion can take a back seat, because the two will never box one another.

“We have always supported each other, there has never been rivalry,” Wladimir, 32, said. “I always get more nervous before Vitali's fights than I get for my own, but I see how sure he is of himself in the last few weeks and that makes me confident.” It has been a long way back for Vitali, 37, who last boxed when smashing Danny Williams around a Las Vegas ring nearly four years ago. He retired in November 2005 after back and knee injuries twice forced him out of a defence.

The WBC, though, gave him a get-out, inventing the title “champion emeritus” to grant him a direct shot at the title, should he get fit. A planned warm-up against Jameel McCline last year was cancelled because of another injury, so he finally cashes in the emeritus ticket against Peter, who is the third WBC champion of his absence.

“I didn't lose my title,” he said when asked if he deserved his chance. “In my record, I have two lost fights but both were because of injury. Against Chris Byrd, I tore a ligament in my shoulder and the fight against Lennox Lewis, the doctor stopped because I had a cut.” Since he has been out of the ring, Klitschko, whose defence against Williams took place against the backdrop of Ukraine's “orange revolution”, has twice run unsuccessfully for mayor of Kiev. He is an adviser to Viktor Yushchenko, the Ukraine President. Win or lose tonight, he may go straight back to politics.

Peter, 28, is seven inches shorter than Klitschko, but weighed in half a stone heavier yesterday. The only defeat on his record was at the hands of little brother in 2005. He knocked down Wladimir three times, but lost on points. Sometimes ponderous, though a big puncher, the Nigerian has yet to show star quality. He lost to Audley Harrison as an amateur, Harrison finding Peter so unmemorable that he referred to him as Peter Samuels in his autobiography.

In Germany, where the Klitschkos are huge stars, Peter, despite being champion, really is just the guy in the other corner. The brand new O2 World Arena is sold out to its 18,000 capacity and few are here to watch the Nigerian.

If he is as good as he was four years ago, it would be hard to oppose Klitschko. But ring rust is a fear, as is Klitschko's fitness. He has spoken of wanting to go for a quick knockout, possibly before his body lets him down. Klitschko is chasing a dream, but, as lessons of a host of champions from James J Jeffries through Joe Louis to Muhammad Ali could tell him, comebacks seldom work.

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