GERMANY: BOXING - Wladimir Klitschko outweighs challenger Francesco Pianeta ahead of their 4-title World Heavyweight contest in Heidelberg

Record ID: 863265

  • Title: GERMANY: BOXING - Wladimir Klitschko outweighs challenger Francesco Pianeta ahead of their 4-title World Heavyweight contest in Heidelberg
  • Date: 3rd May 2013
  • Summary: HEIDELBERG, GERMANY (MAY 3, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE WAITING FOR BOXERS RING ANNOUNCER, MICHAEL BUFFER ANNOUNCING BOXERS BOXER FRANCESCO PIANETA WALKING TO WEIGH-IN PHOTOGRAPHER RING ANNOUNCER, MICHAEL BUFFER ANNOUNCING BOXERS VARIOUS OF VLADIMIR KLITSCHKO ARRIVING PHOTOGRAPHER VARIOUS OF PIANETA BEING WEIGHED PEOPLE TAKING PICTURES PANIETA ON SCALES JOURNALISTS VARIOUS OF KLITSCHKO ON SCALES AUDIENCE VARIOUS OF KLITSCHKO AND PIANETA FACING EACH OTHER KLITSCHKO AND PIANETA POSING PIANETA SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS (SOUNDBITE) (German) BOXER, FRANCESCO PIANETA, SAYING: "Of course its an honour to box against him but I wasn't handed it on a plate. I really worked for it. There's a reason why I'm in the top 15 in most associations and now I have an opportunity and I want to make the most of it. I know that I am clearly the outsider and the experts say there is only small chance of me winning but I want to use this chance. I will try. But if I don't succeed then I will say: I tried. But I want to try and use the opportunity." VARIOUS OF BOXERS TRYING ON BOXING GLOVES
  • Embargoed: 18th May 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • City:
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: General,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACDB680TWQY5IAYO1FM2DEIRHP
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Hitting the scales the day before the big fight, Ukraine's Vladimir Klitschko weighed in four kilograms heavier on Friday (May 3) than his opponent, German-Italian Francesco Pianeta.
    The Ukrainian, who will be defending his four world heavyweight title belts in Mannheim on Saturday (May 4), came in at 113kg compared to Pianeta's 109kg.
    Klitschko, who holds the IBF, IBO, WBO and WBA crown had used the 28-year-old Pianeta as a sparring partner last year.
    The 36-year-old Ukrainian's record stands as 59 wins and three defeats after his three successful title defences in 2012, including a November victory over Poland's Mariusz Wach.
    Pianeta, who at 1.93 metres is five centimetres shorter than his opponent, is still undefeated with 28 wins and one draw.
    "I know that I am clearly the outsider," he said after the weigh-in. "The experts say there is only small chance of me winning but I want to use this chance. I will try. But if I don't succeed then I will say: I tried. But I want to try and use the opportunity," he said.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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