Boxing

National Conference Call Transcript: Vitali Klitschko

Photo: JORGE GARCIA

Question: How have you been able to adapt to the late change in opponents?

Klitschko: I came to Los Angeles two months ago. From the beginning, we discussed this fight against Lewis. He decided to fight (Kirk) Johnson, and then me in December. I like to stay in shape and take fights, so I made the decision to fight on the undercard of the Lewis fight. Two weeks before the fight, Johnson got injured, and I saw this possibility to fight Lewis. Two weeks preparation and promotion is not enough. I had to change all my work and sparring partners, just like Lewis did. That is why we will see who the real champion is on June 21.

Question: How do you think Lewis will approach you in this fight?

Klitschko: All of his (Lewis’) opponents have a different technique and way of fighting. I saw a lot of Lewis’ fights and I know what he wants to do against me. I do not want to talk about how I will fight against Lewis because it is much better if I show it in the ring.

Question: Would you say you are in your best condition ever for this fight?

Klitschko: I am in the best condition because I was already training for a fight, and I have been waiting for this fight for a long time. I have been waiting for this fight for almost three years. I am really prepared, and I really want this fight. I am very excited and I want to give me best.

Question: How did this fight get made so quickly?

Klitschko: We were talking about this fight for a year. People were always pushing it to other days and times. (Mike) Tyson was in the game and Lewis fought him. Now, Lewis has to fight because going one year without fighting is not good for him. I think we were talking about this fight a lot, so when Johnson got injured, we talked about fighting now. Wladimir (Klitschko) and Lewis already fought against each other in the movie “Ocean’s Eleven.” No one knows who won that fight. I have been waiting for this for a long time. I have this chance, and I want to take this chance right away. The negotiations with Lewis were already finished for us to fight in December, so we just had to change the date from December to June. My fight with him was already in the plans for the end of this year.

Question: What advantages do you have over Lewis?

Klitschko: I think Lewis is the best in the heavyweight division, and everyone knows it. Like he says, Lewis is the greatest. H comes from England. Over there, they say the king does not make himself king, the people around him do. This is a great opportunity to fight against Lewis. He is the best in the division, and he says I am not strong enough and not in a champions league. I heard about it a lot, but I do not worry about it. All my other opponents were saying the same thing, but where are they right now? Only one guy (Chris Byrd) beat me, and he was losing the fight when I got hurt. They are not in the same position as I am.

Question: Have you ever thought about what you will do if you lose?

Klitschko: I love this sport. The sport is risky. I do not worry about other things. I am only concentrating on winning the fight. All I want to do is win.

Question: How difficult has it been for Wladimir to get over his loss, and what has he done to help you prepare for this fight?

Klitschko: Wladimir helps with my preparation. He fought Lewis in the movies, and he gave me some tips. Even though it was a movie, they kept fighting each other over and over, and he learned some things. It was not so easy for him after his loss. I know he is looking forward to the future. I am sure my brother will give everything he can in boxing. His next fight will be in Germany. He is doing just fine. He is young and strong enough. We have a dream to be world champions at the same time. We want to do it. It is our goal. It will be very difficult to get it, and we are working hard to make our dream come true.

Question: Does taking this fight on such short notice favor you or Lewis?

Klitschko: Nobody knows right now if this will favor Lewis or myself. You can only imagine if it is good or bad. For Lewis and me, we have to change our preparation including sparring partners and tactics. It will show at the end of the match who is the best. It will show who can change and fight in such a short time. I do not worry about it. Lewis was in good shape and so was I. It is enough time to change some things.

Question: If you were both champions, would you ever fight your brother to unify the titles?

Klitschko: The Williams sisters do it in tennis, but boxing is not tennis. I do not want to break our mother’s heart. I only have one brother and he is the gift in my life. I cannot fight against my brother.

Question: How does fighting opponents like Larry Donald or Vaughn Bean get you ready for Lewis?

Klitschko: They (Donald and Bean) were very strong and they have strong chins. They were not very easy fights. I think they were class “A” fighters. I know people cannot see some of these fights because they were in Germany. It is much better if you see these fights in person.

Question: Considering his height, will sparring with Wladimir give you an advantage against Lewis?

Klitschko: Wladimir is the same size as Lewis, and I am just a little taller than Wladimir. We never spar against each other. He helped me with preparation, but not sparring.

Question: Do you think Lewis fears you at all?

Klitschko: I think he (Lewis) has to decide for himself on which fight he wants to concentrate on, my fight or Roy Jones Jr. It is Lewis’ decision.

Question: What are Lewis’ strengths and weaknesses?

Klitschko: Lewis is a smart fighter and has good technique. I do not want to talk about weaknesses because I want to use these weaknesses in the ring.

Question: Will you be fighting Lewis for Wladimir as well?

Klitschko: We (Wladimir and Vitali) lose together and win together. Wladimir’s loss to Corey Sanders was a good experience for him. I am sure he learned from that fight. I hope he will change his strategy for future fights. He will be in my corner. He is my brother and we are very close to each other. It is almost as if Lewis has to fight against two of us.

Question: Did you really learn anything from watching your brother fight against Lewis in “Ocean’s Eleven?”

Klitschko: Wladimir was working with Lewis on the scene several times. It was not a real fight, but all the movements were real and I was watching. Wladimir remembers how Lewis moved in those scenes.

Question: Did Wladimir get a sense of how strong Lewis is just from making that movie?

Klitschko: We can use that movie. Lewis is a really strong fighter with a lot of experience. We can use a little bit from everything we see. You cannot just use the movie, but we see a lot of tape from Lewis’ fights.

Question: Do you think Lewis’ experience is really an advantage in this fight?

Klitschko: I think like Muhammad Ali, he is a champion. A champion is someone who fights around the world. To fight in the United States is special, because the U.S. is a Mecca for boxing. Like Ali, Lewis has fought in different countries and different cities. However, the ring will still be the same. It may be an advantage for Lewis since he has fought a lot in the U.S. and has a lot of fans here. My brother has more experience fighting here than I do, but I am looking forward to being in the ring in Los Angeles. The fans may be different, but the ring is the same. I think it will be an interesting show.

Question: Do you view this fight as a chance to redeem yourself for the Byrd fight?

Klitschko: My brother and I are different, but also similar. For me, it is interesting and important to fight here in the U.S. I have not had the chance because my fights have been in Germany. No one in the U.S. saw my fights in Germany. I want to be in the ring in Los Angeles and represent myself the way I can, not just in a simple fight, but a fight against Lewis.

Question: Do you feel you did the right thing by not finishing the fight against Byrd?

Klitschko: After the fight, some journalists said I was not good enough. It was my own decision to stop fighting. I cannot say it was certainly right. If you are injured and cannot move your left hand, continue to fight and then lose the fight by KO, then it is too late to explain afterward that I was injured. Now everything is good with my shoulder and I want to show how good my shoulder is against Lewis.

Question: If you are in the same situation against Lewis, will you keep fighting?

Klitschko: This fight against Lewis is the most important of my career. I do not have another chance to sit on the stool. I will give all my best. It does not matter what is wrong in the ring, I will do everything to win the fight.

Question: What do you think about Lewis and Steward’s predictions that Lewis will knock you out early?

Klitschko: It has happened many times in my career. Every fighter I have faced said they would knock me out early. I hear this stuff a lot. I know the guys want to win, and it makes the fight more interesting, but I am not worried about it because I have heard it many times before. Do not forget, we are all human beings. Whether it is a title fight or a regular fight, the situation is always the same. Everyone has the ability to fight. We are not talking about Gods or miracles in boxing. Nobody is perfect. Everyone has weaknesses. I am going into this fight with confidence, and I am going to give everything I have.

Question: Have you met Max Schmeling, and is he an inspiration to you?

Klitschko: Yes, I have met Schmeling. He is an inspiration to me. He is 97 years old. He fought Joe Louis. He is an icon of mine, just like Ali. If you meet him (Schmeling), you can just feel the history. He has had a lot of experiences, not just in boxing. In our last conversation a year ago, everything he said is a true story because he has a lot of experience. He told me to be focused and concentrate, and I will get everything I want. He fought in the U.S. many times and told me I am in a good point in my life right now, and to enjoy it.

Question: What did you think of Tyson in his fight against Lewis?

Klitschko: He (Tyson) is not the same fighter as he was 10 years ago. It was a smart play for Lewis to fight him. He fought him very smartly. I know Tyson does not want to fight Lewis again.

Question: How low were you after the Byrd fight?

Klitschko: If you are not healthy, it is difficult to explain how you feel. If you are hungry, it is difficult to explain how you feel to someone who is full. Now, I am healthy and 100 percent ready to fight.

Question: Do you think Lewis and Steward are underestimating you?

Klitschko: That is their (Lewis and Steward’s) position. They can imagine whatever they want. I want to concentrate on the fight and do my best. I want to be my best in the ring and beat Lewis. It is his personal decision to think about Roy Jones, Jr.

National Conference Call Transcript: Lennox Lewis, Emanuel Steward


LENNOX LEWIS - TALE OF THE TAPE - VITALI KLITSCHKO

London, England HOMETOWN Hamburg, Germany

40-2-1, 31 KOs RECORD 32-1, 31 KOs

Emanuel Steward TRAINER Fritz Zdunek

Adrian Ogun MANAGER Klaus-Peter Kohl

Lion Promotions PROMOTER Klaus-Peter Kohl

37 AGE 31

* WEIGHT *

6' 5" HEIGHT 6' 7 ¼"

84" REACH 78"

44" CHEST NORMAL 46 1/2"

46" CHEST EXPANDED 48"

17" BICEPS 17 1/2"

15" FOREARMS 17"

34" WAIST 35 1/2"

26" THIGH 23 1/4"

18" CALF 17"

18 ½" NECK 18 ¼"

8" WRIST 7 1/2"

12" FIST 11"

* Weight To Be Determined At Weigh-In

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