By Andrey Krikunov
As previously reported, the next opponent for WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko has announced. After the lengthy negotiations the Ukrainian champion couldn’t reach an agreement with Nikolai Valuev and his co-promoter Don King. So on May 29 Vitali will face European champion Albert Sosnowski (45-2-1, 27 KOs) at Veltins-Arena Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
Klitschko’s manager Berndt Boente revealed to BILD that Don King turned down the offer of $2.5 million, while the Polish boxer was happy to accept the bout for a $1 million reward and even cancelled his meeting with Audley Harrison, which was set on April 9, to fight Klitschko.
Albert Sosnowski, 31 in his last bout decisioned Paolo Vidoz and won the vacant EBU (European) heavyweight title. There are two defeats in Sosnowski’s record – in 2001 he was stopped by Arthur Cook, and in 2008 he lost by decision to Zuri Lawrence.
“I want to thank team Klitschko for the offer”, - wrote the boxer at his site Albertsosnowski.pl. – “I deeply respect my opponent and his level, but that doesn't mean that I fear him or don’t have any chance to win. I want to do what Golota couldn’t. I am able to do this. No one will be disappointed that I was substituted for Valuev in this fight. I accepted the challenge. Some may say that I’m not ready for this fight, but, as Shakespeare said, it’s better to come 3 hours earlier than 1 minute later. I won’t be late for the most important fight of my life”.
