GERMANY: BOXING - Klitschko unwilling to let Eddie Chambers take his titles

Record ID: 402353

  • Title: GERMANY: BOXING - Klitschko unwilling to let Eddie Chambers take his titles
  • Date: 18th March 2010
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (German) WBO, IBF AND IBO CHAMPION, VLADIMIR KLITSCHKO SAYING "I feel great. I'm obviously happy to be back in the ring after a nine month break and in front of a big audience like here in Duesseldorf. This is a special motivation for me."
  • Embargoed: 2nd April 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA4SJ60IPZC6087QJRAB5KJFZY5
  • Story Text: World Boxing Organisation (WBO), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and International Boxing Organisation (IBO) heavyweight boxing champion Vladimir Klitschko of the Ukraine and his American challenger Eddie Chambers faced the media at a training session in Duesseldorf on Wednesday (March 17) before their world title fight there next Saturday (March 20).
    Chambers, aged 27 from Philadelphia, has won 35 and lost just one of his fights since turning professional in 2000, but he now faces the biggest challenge of his career so far.
    "It's going to be very difficult and I'm prepared, I'm prepared for it," he said. "I worked very hard with my preparation for that particular weapon that he has and also his heavy right hand, things like that as well. So I'm going to do my very best, stick to the game plan. I want victory."
    Klitschko, 33, last fought in June when he beat Ruslan Chagaev with a technical knockout in the ninth round and is looking forward to the challenge.
    "I feel great. I'm obviously happy to be back in the ring after a nine-month break and in front of a big audience like here in Duesseldorf. This is a special motivation for me," said Klitschko.
    "He is definitely dangerous and super fast," Klitschko said of his American opponent. "He is very agile and very fast, as we saw today, very athletic and above all, he is mentally prepared to take the title away from me.
    "Of course I won't allow that. I have to say, I will be very alert and punchy on Saturday night," he added.
    This will not be the first time Klitschko, whose brother Vitaly holds the World Boxing Council (WBC) belt, will be fighting in a soccer stadium. His previous bout was held in Schalke 04's soccer stadium in front of 61,000 fans.
    According to the organisers, 46,000 of the 51,000 tickets are sold for the fight at Duesseldorf's Esprit arena on Saturday.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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