By Mark Vester
The camp of WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko is taking no chances with mandatory opponent Juan Carlos Gomez. Their fight takes place on March 21 in Germany. According to reports coming out of Klitschko's camp, they are going to bring in Chris Byrd and Tony Thompson to spar with Vitali.
Probably no heavyweight is more familiar with the Klitschko brothers than former two-time heavyweight champion Byrd. He is still the only fighter to actually defeat Vitali [by stopping him and not via a doctor stopping the fight as the case with the Lennox Lewis loss]. The older Klitschko was ahead on points in their 2000 bout, but suffered a shoulder injury during the fight and was unable to continue past the ninth round. A few months later, younger brother Wladimir dominated Byrd over twelve rounds to get revenge. In 2007, Wladimir once again beat Byrd - this time a dominating seven round stoppage. Vitali will use Byrd to match the movement and speed of Gomez.
Tony Thompson is a rugged, big heavyweight, who was recently stopped by younger brother Wladimir in eleven rounds last July.
In quite a twist, Gomez is bringing in Vladimir Virchis for sparring. Gomez decisioned Virchis last September in a WBC eliminator to earn the shot at Klitschko.
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