by Ruslan Chikov

IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko discussed the reasons behind the finalized fight with former cruiserweight champion Jean Marc Mormeck, who everyone views as a huge underdog. Wladimir defends his title against the 39-year-old Mormeck on March 3rd in Germany. Klitschko says his team attempted to approach Tyson Fury, Robert Helenius and Alexander Povetkin, but all three fighters turned him down for various reasons.

"Before the fight was made with Mormeck, we made an offer to Tyson Fury. Fury said 'I'm not ready.' We asked Helenius, who replied that he would be ready, but not until next year. We asked Povetkin - and he's also not ready. His coach [Teddy Atlas] specifically said that he is not ready - and he needs more time to be adjusted. We talked to every name and settled on Mormeck: who I consider a good choice and he is ranked in the top ten [in the ratings of the WBA, WBO and IBF]," Klitschko told Alexander Pavlov.