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Wladimir Klitschko: “The unification fight of the world championship titles is closer to reality. But to accomplish this I need to win over Ray Austin!”
As New Year’s and Christmas holidays ended, the time has come to return to work.
Mass media have become over flown with conflicting information about Wladimir Klitschko’s next fight – who, when and where. We decided to talk to Wladimir to find out as much as possible about his next fight.
Welcome Wladimir! The first question – how was your vacation? What did you do?
Vacation…well actually more like a change of scenery. After we finished dealing with all of the organizational aspects of Calvin Brock’s fight, and decided on our future plans, I traveled to a small town of Fortaleza, Brazil, where I rejuvenated so that I could accomplished our 2007 plans.
I devoted my break to my favorite hobby of kitesurfing, which involves using a power kite to pull through the water on a surfboard. If you really want to find out how my vacation went, check out my pictures. You’ll be able to tell a lot from them. I also want to add one more thing – I’m very pleased with my vacation, it was fascinating and cheerful.
Now I’m ready to start preparing for my upcoming fight and move closer to accomplish my goals.
As far as we know, your top goal has remained to unify world championship titles?
You’re absolutely correct.
Wladimir, ever since you started getting ready for your next fight, various media networks reported about there being a possible fight with Oleg Maskaev…then there were rumors of potential fight with Valuev… Can you confirm or deny if you are negotiating with these fighters?
Negotiations are on going with both Maskaev and Valuev. However it’s unfortunate that in todays boxing world, a fighter’s desire does not matter. The deciding factor in a fight of such level and importance is to receive sanctioning from the boxing organizations.
Current world champions have obligations to adhere to rules set up by these boxing organizations, which makes them obligated to carry out a defense of the championship title against a mandatory challenger. This makes it impossible to accomplish unification fights, which I’m sure most boxing fans would find more interesting.
Believe me, I know that the fight of such magnitude will occur. For now, I will carry out a mandatory defense of the championship title against the official challenger Ray Austin.
Wladimir is it fair to say that a unification duel would be impossible for you…partly due to IBF strict policy towards its champions that don’t carry out a mandatory defense. Last year three of its champions were stripped of their belts…
I’m obligated to follow the rules of this boxing organization. There was a chance that the executive committee of the IBF would allow me to temporarily postpone my mandatory defense due to a unification fight. However, regrettably this didn’t happen due to the fact that the WBC declined to sanction a unification fight. Since there is no unification fight, I have to follow an IBF rule, which is to carry out a mandatory defense of my title.
Wladimir, when did you sign a contract for the upcoming fight against Ray Austin?
On Monday, January 22 in the evening.
When and where is your next fight against Ray Austin?
On March 10, at SAP-Arena in Manheim, Germany.
Wladimir, rumors have appeared that Don King, who not only holds great influence in the world of boxing, but also promotes the official WBC challenger Samuel Peter, prevented your unification fight with Oleg Maskaev.
I have no desire to spread the blame. As I have stated before, unification fights are not easy to make.
We spend a lot of time with Oleg Maskaev’s team, and this fight should have taken place at the end of last year. However due to Oleg’s hand injury in a fight with Hasim Rahman, and then his desire to fight Peter Okhello made it impossible for us to face each other earlier.
Now, with everything that’s going on lately it’s not possible to get our fight sanctioned.
Wladimir, how would you respond to those experts who claim that your fight against Ray Austin is taking place in Germany, due to the fact that there is no interest in America, where as they say “…it can’t be sold…”?
Such statements are easy to counter, since already HBO has decided to show my fight with Austin in delayed broadcast right before Shannon Briggs WBO mandatory fight against Sultan Ibragimov. So if my fight against Austin didn’t interest the American public then HBO wouldn’t make such a decision.
I understand completely why many experts and boxing fans wish to see me fight more known and experienced fighters. However it isn’t up to me to chose my opponent. Ray Austin is the official challenger and I am obligated to face him.
I have already heard comments made by my challenger, where he described me as weak and so on…and that he’s going to knock me out and take my belt. I guess I better hit the gym and train as hard as I can…
To tell you the truth, I don’t want to underestimate my opponent, but also there is no reason to overestimate him.
I’m sure that we will hear even more comments from both Ray and his promoter Don King. Probably on Tuesday, when the both of you will have a joint press conference. Let’s talk about Ray for a minute. Most boxing experts consider his size his biggest strength as well as his ability to withstand direct punches. In your opinion how is Ray dangerous?
Any boxer facing me can be rather dangerous. In my sports career I had my ups and downs, and I have learned to be prepared for my opponents, and never to underestimate them.
Therefore, I don’t pay attention to those characteristics that experts and boxing fans make. It’s my full responsibility to be prepared for a fight. I’m completely serious about my opponents, no matter how much physical or experience advantage I have over them.
Besides, let’s not forget that in the heavyweight division one punch can decide a fight.
Wladimir where will you be training for the upcoming fight?
The same place I always prepare for my European fights. In my training camp on Majorca.
Wladimir, while we know that you don’t like to talk about your future plans when you have a fight coming up, we still wanted to ask you about a possibility of carrying out a unification fight with Valuev?
Truthfully, I would be glad to have such a fight. I’m pleased that Nikolay wants to fight me. However he also needs to carry out a mandatory WBA defense against Ruslan Chagaev. Besides negotiations with Sauerland and Don King would be complex. Therefore it all depends on what conditions they will put forward, and what I can accept.
Wladimir are you ready to give up part of your pay or accept any terms just to make this fight with Valuev a reality?
Any terms or agreements should be mutually advantageous for both my opponent and me. I’m not going to sacrifice anything and I’m not asking for sacrifices from my opponent.
Wladimir, any final words for the boxing fans…
I’m sure that my upcoming fight will be a step towards my dream – a unification fight. For now I started my training for the upcoming fight, with my full concentration devoted towards it. I assure you that you will see an intriguing and fascinating fight.
As New Year’s and Christmas holidays ended, the time has come to return to work.
Mass media have become over flown with conflicting information about Wladimir Klitschko’s next fight – who, when and where. We decided to talk to Wladimir to find out as much as possible about his next fight.
Welcome Wladimir! The first question – how was your vacation? What did you do?
Vacation…well actually more like a change of scenery. After we finished dealing with all of the organizational aspects of Calvin Brock’s fight, and decided on our future plans, I traveled to a small town of Fortaleza, Brazil, where I rejuvenated so that I could accomplished our 2007 plans.
I devoted my break to my favorite hobby of kitesurfing, which involves using a power kite to pull through the water on a surfboard. If you really want to find out how my vacation went, check out my pictures. You’ll be able to tell a lot from them. I also want to add one more thing – I’m very pleased with my vacation, it was fascinating and cheerful.
Now I’m ready to start preparing for my upcoming fight and move closer to accomplish my goals.
As far as we know, your top goal has remained to unify world championship titles?
You’re absolutely correct.
Wladimir, ever since you started getting ready for your next fight, various media networks reported about there being a possible fight with Oleg Maskaev…then there were rumors of potential fight with Valuev… Can you confirm or deny if you are negotiating with these fighters?
Negotiations are on going with both Maskaev and Valuev. However it’s unfortunate that in todays boxing world, a fighter’s desire does not matter. The deciding factor in a fight of such level and importance is to receive sanctioning from the boxing organizations.
Current world champions have obligations to adhere to rules set up by these boxing organizations, which makes them obligated to carry out a defense of the championship title against a mandatory challenger. This makes it impossible to accomplish unification fights, which I’m sure most boxing fans would find more interesting.
Believe me, I know that the fight of such magnitude will occur. For now, I will carry out a mandatory defense of the championship title against the official challenger Ray Austin.
Wladimir is it fair to say that a unification duel would be impossible for you…partly due to IBF strict policy towards its champions that don’t carry out a mandatory defense. Last year three of its champions were stripped of their belts…
I’m obligated to follow the rules of this boxing organization. There was a chance that the executive committee of the IBF would allow me to temporarily postpone my mandatory defense due to a unification fight. However, regrettably this didn’t happen due to the fact that the WBC declined to sanction a unification fight. Since there is no unification fight, I have to follow an IBF rule, which is to carry out a mandatory defense of my title.
Wladimir, when did you sign a contract for the upcoming fight against Ray Austin?
On Monday, January 22 in the evening.
When and where is your next fight against Ray Austin?
On March 10, at SAP-Arena in Manheim, Germany.
Wladimir, rumors have appeared that Don King, who not only holds great influence in the world of boxing, but also promotes the official WBC challenger Samuel Peter, prevented your unification fight with Oleg Maskaev.
I have no desire to spread the blame. As I have stated before, unification fights are not easy to make.
We spend a lot of time with Oleg Maskaev’s team, and this fight should have taken place at the end of last year. However due to Oleg’s hand injury in a fight with Hasim Rahman, and then his desire to fight Peter Okhello made it impossible for us to face each other earlier.
Now, with everything that’s going on lately it’s not possible to get our fight sanctioned.
Wladimir, how would you respond to those experts who claim that your fight against Ray Austin is taking place in Germany, due to the fact that there is no interest in America, where as they say “…it can’t be sold…”?
Such statements are easy to counter, since already HBO has decided to show my fight with Austin in delayed broadcast right before Shannon Briggs WBO mandatory fight against Sultan Ibragimov. So if my fight against Austin didn’t interest the American public then HBO wouldn’t make such a decision.
I understand completely why many experts and boxing fans wish to see me fight more known and experienced fighters. However it isn’t up to me to chose my opponent. Ray Austin is the official challenger and I am obligated to face him.
I have already heard comments made by my challenger, where he described me as weak and so on…and that he’s going to knock me out and take my belt. I guess I better hit the gym and train as hard as I can…
To tell you the truth, I don’t want to underestimate my opponent, but also there is no reason to overestimate him.
I’m sure that we will hear even more comments from both Ray and his promoter Don King. Probably on Tuesday, when the both of you will have a joint press conference. Let’s talk about Ray for a minute. Most boxing experts consider his size his biggest strength as well as his ability to withstand direct punches. In your opinion how is Ray dangerous?
Any boxer facing me can be rather dangerous. In my sports career I had my ups and downs, and I have learned to be prepared for my opponents, and never to underestimate them.
Therefore, I don’t pay attention to those characteristics that experts and boxing fans make. It’s my full responsibility to be prepared for a fight. I’m completely serious about my opponents, no matter how much physical or experience advantage I have over them.
Besides, let’s not forget that in the heavyweight division one punch can decide a fight.
Wladimir where will you be training for the upcoming fight?
The same place I always prepare for my European fights. In my training camp on Majorca.
Wladimir, while we know that you don’t like to talk about your future plans when you have a fight coming up, we still wanted to ask you about a possibility of carrying out a unification fight with Valuev?
Truthfully, I would be glad to have such a fight. I’m pleased that Nikolay wants to fight me. However he also needs to carry out a mandatory WBA defense against Ruslan Chagaev. Besides negotiations with Sauerland and Don King would be complex. Therefore it all depends on what conditions they will put forward, and what I can accept.
Wladimir are you ready to give up part of your pay or accept any terms just to make this fight with Valuev a reality?
Any terms or agreements should be mutually advantageous for both my opponent and me. I’m not going to sacrifice anything and I’m not asking for sacrifices from my opponent.
Wladimir, any final words for the boxing fans…
I’m sure that my upcoming fight will be a step towards my dream – a unification fight. For now I started my training for the upcoming fight, with my full concentration devoted towards it. I assure you that you will see an intriguing and fascinating fight.
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