The family crowded around the strange can, unsure how to open it.

They looked at it, admired it, poked at it.

Finally, they figured out how to open it and heard the hiss of escaping air.

Seventeen-year-old Vitali Klitschko, who had brought the can of Coca-Cola back from the United States to their home in Ukraine, beamed.

His brother, 12-year-old Wladimir Klitschko, held the can to his nose, inhaled and asked, "Is this what America smells like?"

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Looking at the Klitschkos today, it's hard to be believe that, only 14 years ago, they were so innocent, so naive, so insulated from the world.

Today, they are educated and worldly, each holding a PhD and fluent in four languages, goodwill ambassadors for UNESCO and residents of Los Angeles.

The sights, sounds and smells of America now are second nature to them.

So are the sights, sounds and smells of a boxing gym. They are heavyweights with a common dream of winning a major championship and a common vow never to defend those titles against each other.

Wladimir, 27, was thought to be the more likely of the two to realize the dream. It was he who was matched against heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis for a scene in the movie "Ocean's Eleven," a fantasy fight for the screen that was considered a sure preview of real life.

Earlier this year, Wladimir seemed right on course for a title shot after signing a nine-fight deal with HBO. In March, he entered a ring in Hanover, Germany, to fight journeyman Corrie Sanders.

Not even two rounds later, Wladimir was on the canvas, his championship dream having turned as hazy as his vision. Sanders, a southpaw, confused, frustrated and ultimately demolished Wladimir, knocking him down four times before the bout ended only 27 seconds into the second round.

So for now, the family's championship hopes have passed to Vitali, considered a tougher but less skilled fighter. He got his chance at a title fight quickly and unexpectedly. After Mike Tyson refused to honor a commitment for a rematch with Lewis, the champion agreed to fight Vitali. But when negotiations collapsed, Lewis turned to Kirk Johnson.

A partially torn chest muscle, suffered by Johnson in training camp, again opened the door to Vitali as swiftly as it had slammed shut.

And this time, it took only 24 hours to get Vitali's name on a contract.

Lewis-Klitschko, though not the Klitschko originally envisioned, will happen Saturday at Staples Center.