Vitali Klitschko: I aint ducking nobody

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vitali: I'm not ducking anybody! July 18, 2005 WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko would like to make one thing perfectly clear: He has always wanted to fight Hasim Rahman. “I read things, but I do not believe what I am reading,” Klitschko said. “Three months ago (April 20), a press release was sent out on my behalf stating that I would be ready to fight again in September. It included a letter from my doctor, Dr. Hyun Bae of Los Angeles. “I am the world heavyweight champion. I am not ducking any fighters, especially Rahman. I want to prove that I am the best, but to be the best you have to fight the best. I read things that are totally unbelievable.’’ Shelly Finkel, an advisor to the Klitschko brothers, says that two weeks after the Klitschko press release, Don King convinced the WBC to hold a heavyweight fight for the interim championship on July 23. “No matter what Don tells you, he then changed it from July 23 to Aug. 13, leaving Vitali no time to fight the winner on Sept. 24,” Finkel said. “What television network could program a fight of this magnitude – any heavyweight title fight -- on six weeks notice, without knowing the winner or potential injury to the winner?” said Bernd Boente, Klitschko Brothers Personal Manager and longtime former television executive. “The answer is zero. None would. It is totally unfeasible, and Don King knew that.’’ In regard to King’s comments that Klitschko is afraid of Rahman, Finkel said: “I really don’t know where Don is coming from on this. Rahman has done absolutely nothing recently to strike fear in any top-notch heavyweight, much less the heavyweight champion, Vitali Klitschko. “Look at Rahman’s last six fights,” Finkel continued. “He lost to John Ruiz. He could not knock out Al Cole, a blown up light heavyweight who Klitschko once sent home from sparring, and had to settle for a decision. He beat the dreaded Mario Cawley, who had lost six in a row, four by knockout, and Rob Calloway, a 36-year-old from Kansas that no one knows, and Terrance Lewis, who was 31-15 and had lost six of his last seven fights. Then, in an eliminator for the WBC No. 1 position, Rahman beat Kali Meehan, a fighter who was knocked out in one round by Danny Williams. “Going off those fights, does anyone really believe Vitali is afraid of Hasim? What is perplexing to me is that Rahman is fighting Monte Barrett next month and Don promotes them both. You would think that he only promotes Rahman and that he already won the fight.’’ Added Finkel: “When the WBC sanctioned Vitali to fight the winner of Rahman-Barrett at a 65 percent-35 percent split, Vitali was willing to go directly to the winner. This is the split we originally agreed with Rahman and King on. They sure went through a lot to end up where they began.’’ u hating bitches will soon see

Comments (20)

cwazz, there never was only one world title.

20y ago

cwazz

Biggest problem with that article. He'a A Heavyweight titlist. Not "THE". "THE" Heavywieght Champion has unified titles, and beat better opponents than Johnson, Donald and Sanders. Hats off to you. It is very seldom I see someone who recognizes the fact that in order to be THE heavyweight champion of the world, there needs to be unification. On that note. I miss the days of only one world title, but business is business and having 4 makes more $$$. Captain Wazz

20y ago

_Mr_Soprano

Vitali: I'm not ducking anybody! I didn't see anyone post this July 18, 2005 WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko would like to make one thing perfectly clear: He has always wanted to fight Hasim Rahman. “I read things, but I do not believe what I am reading,” Klitschko said. “Three months ago (April 20), a press release was sent out on my behalf stating that I would be ready to fight again in September. It included a letter from my doctor, Dr. Hyun Bae of Los Angeles. “I am the world heavyweight champion. I am not ducking any fighters, especially Rahman. I want to prove that I am the best, but to be the best you have to fight the best. I read things that are totally unbelievable.’’ Shelly Finkel, an advisor to the Klitschko brothers, says that two weeks after the Klitschko press release, Don King convinced the WBC to hold a heavyweight fight for the interim championship on July 23. “No matter what Don tells you, he then changed it from July 23 to Aug. 13, leaving Vitali no time to fight the winner on Sept. 24,” Finkel said. “What television network could program a fight of this magnitude – any heavyweight title fight -- on six weeks notice, without knowing the winner or potential injury to the winner?” said Bernd Boente, Klitschko Brothers Personal Manager and longtime former television executive. “The answer is zero. None would. It is totally unfeasible, and Don King knew that.’’ In regard to King’s comments that Klitschko is afraid of Rahman, Finkel said: “I really don’t know where Don is coming from on this. Rahman has done absolutely nothing recently to strike fear in any top-notch heavyweight, much less the heavyweight champion, Vitali Klitschko. “Look at Rahman’s last six fights,” Finkel continued. “He lost to John Ruiz. He could not knock out Al Cole, a blown up light heavyweight who Klitschko once sent home from sparring, and had to settle for a decision. He beat the dreaded Mario Cawley, who had lost six in a row, four by knockout, and Rob Calloway, a 36-year-old from Kansas that no one knows, and Terrance Lewis, who was 31-15 and had lost six of his last seven fights. Then, in an eliminator for the WBC No. 1 position, Rahman beat Kali Meehan, a fighter who was knocked out in one round by Danny Williams. “Going off those fights, does anyone really believe Vitali is afraid of Hasim? What is perplexing to me is that Rahman is fighting Monte Barrett next month and Don promotes them both. You would think that he only promotes Rahman and that he already won the fight.’’ Added Finkel: “When the WBC sanctioned Vitali to fight the winner of Rahman-Barrett at a 65 percent-35 percent split, Vitali was willing to go directly to the winner. This is the split we originally agreed with Rahman and King on. They sure went through a lot to end up where hey began.’’

20y ago

Leo_Pradun

That's what I said when I saw Sturm fight Delahoya. u guys aare all stupid and keep arguing for no reason, the truth is Vitali Klitschko is wbc HW Champ...

20y ago

PBDS

Sorry Rick, I do that too...I will start looking on the front page first. ...It's because we are so anxious to get to the forums we blow past the front page. I know that's what happens to me anyway. When the forums bore me then I go back and read all the articles and they are always worth it.

20y ago

Truth8215

Why do people post things in the forum, from other websites when the same story is up on our main page....even before these websites had it up. I see it happen all the time, starts getting annoying after a while. http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=1567 Sorry Rick, I do that too...I will start looking on the front page first.

20y ago

PBDS

I am not taking VK 's side here but like I have said before when it comes down to lobbying/fight negotiations and promoter quotes.... You cant believe shit! Until a fight is signed all of the rhetoric is bullshit I like talking about fights, predicting outcomes and talking about all time greats...shit like that. What I dont like talking about is fight negotiations, the only way you can be 100% right is to be in the room and there are lots of people here that appear to be at the negotiation table quite often...is this a new behind the scenes feature you get with your boxingtalk membership? If it is I might have to dump maxboxing! By the way Sturm get your head in the game, if it is on the main page then it is on the main page, keep pissing Rick off and your ass will be out of here and you will be back posting on the EZ boards at felixsturm.com...get you head in the game your better than that Sturm! ...Your negotiating comment is beautiful because it hits the nail on the head. We have more than a few guys on here that must be at every fight negotiation or at least they are on the conference call. Why the hell would Vit be afraid of Rahman? The idea was rediculous to begin with IMO.

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

Do everyone a favor & jump of the nearest bridge. You are blind, you're an idiot, you're a nut-hugger & your knowledge of boxing is zero. End yourself! Take all of that, look in the mirror and say it to yourself, and it's bang on. Like I siad, one look at the last thread you created (http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41331) and it's obvious what you're about.

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

You are the same way with Hopkins. So you really shouldn't be calling anyone a nut-hugger, because you are one of the biggest nut-huggers on this board. Your knowledge of boxing 0. Why, because I scored Hopkins Taylor for Hopkins? You're an idiot. Taking one look at that latest poll you made sums you up to a tee.

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

ROFL, nice one Boz Its funny because it's true. There's about 7-10 guys on this site that get their panties in a bunch at ANY mild critisism of a Klitschko. I call them on it, and they all gang up on me. One comes in out of nowhere, and they quote eachother's posts and add a ton of "LOL!!!!!!" and think it makes their fanatical case more credible. It's too easy.

20y ago

Diablo

0x0x0x0 = 0 ROFL, nice one Boz

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

OK, so now you resort to calling me a nuthugger now that you've been dealt with. Typical hater. I have no more time for you, I'm going to bed right now. The sun's coming up in an hour down here in the south. It's been alot of fun putting you down. It's not like a nut hugger to violently debate (clearly in a losing effort) in favor of a fighter they claim they're not even a big fan of, now is it? :rolleyes:

20y ago

legend

Proven wrong by a fanatical nut hugger who denies he's a big Klitschko fan, who hasn't posting anything even remotly close to being a "fact"? The bottom line is the 1st thing you said in this thread tonight was that you're not a big Klitschko fan, and my calling you a nut hugger isn't justified. That's a bigger joke than any of the non sense you're trying to spew now. OK, so now you resort to calling me a nuthugger now that you've been dealt with. Typical hater. I have no more time for you, I'm going to bed right now. The sun's coming up in an hour down here in the south. It's been alot of fun putting you down.

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

Also, if VK had been offered fights with no options, why aren't there any fights?!! VK's goal has always been to UNIFY the belts. Your "proof" and logic makes no sense. With his one fight in 14 months (against Danny Williams) he sure seems very serious about that goal. You're only getting more and more fanatical. He tried everything he could to get out of his mandatory defense, and was lobbying to fight Oleg Maskiev and Calvin Brock. That's the whole point Mrs Klitschko. He's the most hyped fighter in the division, has very few impressive wins on his resume, is 0-1 agaisnt the current group of top fighters, and looks to have no interest or drive to make big fights happen.

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

Bury my head in the sand? WTF!? LOL. Yeah man whatever. Your a dumbass like I've never encountered. Even when confronted with facts, you act like it's all bullshit. You sit there and praise DON KING, FUCKING DON KING for his honesty. HAHAHAHA!!!! You know jack shit and you've been proven wrong on this subject. You're the one who is not having a good night son. Proven wrong by a fanatical nut hugger who denies he's a big Klitschko fan, who hasn't posting anything even remotly close to being a "fact"? The bottom line is the 1st thing you said in this thread tonight was that you're not a big Klitschko fan, and my calling you a nut hugger isn't justified. That's a bigger joke than any of the non sense you're trying to spew now.

20y ago

legend

Also, if VK had been offered fights with no options, why aren't there any fights?!! VK's goal has always been to UNIFY the belts. Your "proof" and logic makes no sense.

20y ago

legend

Vitali has used this excuse before, and I've given you several direct examples from THIS YEAR where contracts were offered and TURNED DOWN with NO OPTIONS asked of Klitschko. You provided one of the most pathetic links possible, and have done nothing since but burry your head in the sand. You've been exposed as a raving delusional nut hugger in this thread, and are now trying to hang on to an tiny aside of a point because you're bitter and spiteful. Bury my head in the sand? WTF!? LOL. Yeah man whatever. Your a dumbass like I've never encountered. Even when confronted with facts, you act like it's all bullshit. You sit there and praise DON KING, FUCKING DON KING for his honesty. HAHAHAHA!!!! You know jack shit and you've been proven wrong on this subject. You're the one who is not having a good night son.

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

Bozo_no_no thinks he knows everything, to be honest with you, he talk out of his ass 99% of the time. I recommend that you ignore this idiot. I don't know everything, but I do know how to watch black and white fights on my TV without being overcome with confusion and an inability to tell what's going on....

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

You can't debate something that happened on LIVE TV. I only posted the link because you wouldn't believe that it happened. Well son, it DID happen. I don't give a shit about what King or his boy Goosen said after King exposed himself on HBO. King has always been a poser, why does the fact that it involves VK make him suddenly honest? Your so damn gullible. I bet you would stick your head in the oven if I told you you could see hell in there. Vitali has used this excuse before, and I've given you several direct examples from THIS YEAR where contracts were offered and TURNED DOWN with NO OPTIONS asked of Klitschko. You provided one of the most pathetic links possible, and have done nothing since but burry your head in the sand. You've been exposed as a raving delusional nut hugger in this thread, and are now trying to hang on to an tiny aside of a point because you're bitter and spiteful.

20y ago

legend

Here's Dan Goosen talking about the SAME PROBLEM he encountered with Vitali: "It goes beyond that. The best fight is Vitali and James. As you know, Chris will fight anyone and Rahman is fighting Barrett. But we could only get to one great heavyweight champion with Klitschko. I'm not talking options and neither is Don, but still the only one who refuses to partake in it is Klitschko. It's not a matter of standing behind our word. The best thing for boxing is one heavyweight standing on top of the division. It would take about a year to do. Then you take Samuel Peter, Brock and Audley Harrison and every other talented young heavyweights. In a year or so we could have one true champion and one great young heavyweight. "We're determined to fight the best out there and so are the other top heavyweights. Vitali Klitschko should not be rewarded for ducking his responsibilities. I think what all this boils down to is that Shelly and Vitali thought that Don and I wouldn't be able to agree about James fighting Vitali. Don (KING) wanted the fight as bad as me and James did. And that shocked them. They never thought Don would give his approval without options. The bottom line is, we need to get the best heavyweights fighting the best heavyweights. Clearly, that's not what Klitschko's about." How do you like them apples? :fuckyou: The link you posted was a joke. You've been made to look like a bitter and desperate ass, and that's after being exposed as a rabid fanatic. Not a good night for you. You can't debate something that happened on LIVE TV. I only posted the link because you wouldn't believe that it happened. Well son, it DID happen. I don't give a shit about what King or his boy Goosen said after King exposed himself on HBO. King has always been a poser, why does the fact that it involves VK make him suddenly honest? Your so damn gullible. I bet you would stick your head in the oven if I told you that you could see hell in there.

20y ago