22.10.03 – Hamburg/Kiel – For the first time in the almost 20-year history of Universum Box-Promotion Europe’s biggest boxing stable will stage an event in Northern Germany’s Kiel. Main attraction will be former WBO heavyweight champion Dr. Wladimir Klitschko and Felix Sturm, the reigning WBO middleweight champion.
„This is the first time I came to the city of Kiel“, Wladimir Klitschko said on today’s press conference at Kiel’s city hall. “I’m looking forward to fighting here on December 20. Every fight is important to me and like always I will do everything to win. Vitali and me still have the dream of being heavyweight world champions at the same time. There are many hurdles on that path. But we will get over them and we will finally reach our goal.”
Wladimir Klitschko wants to make ten schoolboys and girls a special Christmas gift. The ten best pupils of Kiel will be invited to Wladimir’s training and fight.
“But we will only invite the ten best schoolboys and girls from Kiel”, Wladimir admonished with a blink. “So there is still enough time to work hard at school. The reward is in store for them.”
First title defense for world champion Felix Sturm
Whereas Klitschko has to work his way back to another world championship, his stable mate Felix Sturm already reached this goal. On September 13 the 24-year-old German middleweight contender won the WBO title in Berlin. He jumped in on short notice for the injured Bert Schenk and beat defending champion Hector Velaczo from Columbia with a split decision over 12 rounds. Now Sturm has to make the first defense of his crown.
„I will totally focus on my preparation and I’m convinced that I will be victorious on December 20“, Sturm promised.
“Last time Felix was only prepared for an eight-round contest and jumped in on short notice”, coach Michael Timm explained who expects a convincing performance from his charge. “If you know your opponent for a longer time you have more chance to prepare your game plan.”
Attractive undercard with Schenk, Trabant, Dzinziruk and Dimitrenko
Showing up on the undercard for the first time since his injury is Bert Schenk who wants to go on from the impressive shape he had been in for his scheduled world title fight.
Also back in the ring is former European welterweight champion Michel Trabant. He wants to work his way back to his second world title chance after he failed to beat American Jose Antonio Rivera in September. Trabant dropped a unanimous decision for the vacant WBA title on the same event where Sturm won the WBO crown at middleweight.
In his eleventh fight heavyweight Alexander Dimitrenko wants to once again prove his immense talent. The 21-year-old 6-foot-7 Russian wants to follow in the footsteps of the Klitschko brothers.
„We are highly excited that Wladimir Klitschko is coming to Kiel“, Mayor Angelika Volquartz said. “In the 60’s and 70’s Kiel was a boxing stronghold in Germany. Now, 21 years and nine months later this tradition will continue. Klitschko is a pre Christmas gift for the capital of our state.“
“Kiel is a city of great tradition”, promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl said. “After a long period of boxing absence the attention will certainly be huge. We decided to have the event in December on short-term. We basically planed coming to Kiel in January. The main event and the undercard are promising top boxing. We want to win the sympathy of the spectators in Kiel and satisfy everybody.”
„It’s our aim for next year to make Vitali and Wladimir world champions”, Kohl continued.
However, whether Wladimir Klitschko will already fight for a world title on December 20 is uncertain so far.
„Corrie Sanders has vacated the WBO heavyweight title. Wladimir is ranked at #3. But at this moment we can’t promise whether Wladimir will fight for the world championship in Kiel. But in any case he will face a high calibre opponent.”
Wladimir Klitschko is facing turbulent training
During his preparation Wladimir Klitschko faces several trips and different locations. On Thursday he will leave together with his brother Vitali to Los Angels where both will start to train for their upcoming fights: Vitali for his appearance on December 6 at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Wladimir for his fight two weeks later at Kiel’s Ostseehalle. Later they both move to New York, then back to Germany.
„I’m looking forward to my preparation and to the fight“, Wladimir said. “I’m very happy that I have the chance to step back into the ring before the end of the year.”
The Ostseehalle in Kiel has a capacity of 10,500. Ticket prices range from EUR 25,50 to EUR 532,50.
Start Webcam Broadcast on December 20:
19:00 Deutschland, 1pm New York, 10am Los Angeles
www.boxing.de/live – Boxing.de