22.04.04 – Television funnyman and “Best Damn Sports Show Period” co-host, Tom Arnold, will preside over Thursday’s free public weigh-in featuring former world champions Vitali Klitschko and Corrie Sanders at 7th St. and Figueroa in Los Angeles. Klitschko and Sanders will square off Saturday night at STAPLES Center for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title.
Klitschko (33-2, 32 KOs), of Los Angeles, by way of Kiev, Ukraine, is coming off of a sensational second-round TKO over Kirk Johnson in a title elimination bout Dec 6, 2003, on HBO. The match was Klitschko’s first since losing the controversial TKO to Lewis when the thrilling fight he was leading on all the scorecards was stopped due to cuts following the sixth round. Nicknamed “Dr. Iron Fist,” the older brother of Wladimir became the first heavyweight champion with a Ph.D. when he won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) belt with a second-round knockout over Herbie Hide on June 27, 1999. On Nov. 11, 1999, the Guinness Book of World Records added Klitschko for becoming the fastest heavyweight to win 26 fights by KO in the least amount of rounds (60).
Sanders (39-2, 29 KOs), of Transvaal, South Africa, will attempt to become the first boxer to defeat both Klitschko brothers. In his most recent start, the hard-punching southpaw registered one of the biggest upsets of the year when he knocked out defending WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko in the second round on March 8, 2003, on HBO, from Hannover, Germany. Sanders, who decked Klitschko four times, has since relinquished the title. The victory was the third straight for Sanders and 16th out of his past 17 outings. Sanders suffered his last defeat on May 20, 2000, when he lost by seventh-round TKO to former world champion Hasim Rahman. A former South African and World Boxing Union (WBU) heavyweight champion, Sanders turned pro at age 23 on April 2, 1989. He won his initial 23 starts before suffering his initial setback.
Tickets, priced at $350, $250, $150, $100, $85 and $50, are available at TicketMaster’s Charge-By-Phone network (213) 480-3232, at TicketMaster retail ticket center locations, including Wherehouse Records, Robinson’s-May, Tower Records and Ritmo Latino locations and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets also are available at STAPLES Center’s box office, the box office at TEAM LA at Universal CityWalk and via K2 Promotions at 323-954-8055.