Liakhovich: "Be a Man Klitschko, I Already Knocked Brock Out"

By Rick Reeno

After hearing the details of IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko choosing to fight undefeated contender Calvin Brock on November 11 in Madison Square Garden, WBO heavyweight champion Sergei Liakhovich and manager Ivailo Gotzev were furious with Klitschko's decision.

"I think HBO is making a bad decision with this fight. They are taking a step backwards. HBO and Shelly Finkel should be ashamed of running (Shannon) Briggs out of this fight. Calvin Brock does not deserve to be in this fight. He's going to be gone in 60 seconds. It wont even be a fight. He's a smart kid, a nice kid, but should not be in the title fight against Klitschko." Gotzev said.

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Liakhovich wanted Klitshcko to be a man, take the fight against him, and not against challenger Calvin Brock.

"I knocked this guy (Brock) out in the gym five years ago with headgear and gym gloves. He was out. When they picked him up he was wobbling and shaking, his legs were gone. Imagine what would happen in a real ring. Don tried to make a fight with me and Brock, he didnt want to fight me. Klitschko should be a man and fight me. I know I want to unify the world titles, I don't know what Klitschko wants," Liakhovich said.

Gotzev told BoxingScene that discussions are ongoing with Shannon Briggs to stage a fight with Lyakhovich for November 4, on Showtime.

"We are talking right now. Don King is talking with Showtime, working out a good deal to take care of his champion and we go there on November 4 and knock Briggs' ass out" Gotzev said.

Originally the fight for Wladimir Klitschko was against Shannon Briggs, but quickly the target changed to Oleg Maskaev, once Maskaev obtained the WBC heavyweight title by knocking out Hasim Rahman three weeks ago.

"They run to the old man. They want the guy with the old legs. He (Maskaev) is 37-years-old, all sorts of injuries from the Rahman fight, just went through a war and this is the guy they to fight. They could have had a tough strong fighter from Brooklyn (Briggs), who can punch, who can trash talk, dangerous fighter, and they basically turn their backs on him by keeping him waiting around for months. We were ready for the November date. Klitschko knows Liakhovich is the true heavyweight champion. Klitschko wants easy fights, " Gotzev said.

If negotiations go as planned, Liakhovich will defend his WBO title against Shannon Briggs, in the main event of November 4 card, televised nationally by Showtime.