Knockout in Schalke: The Veltins-Arena in Schalke, homefield of German Bundesliga team Schalke 04, is the venue for the highly expected fight of Wladimir Klitschko against David Haye. The IBF, WBO and IBO Champion will defend his titles against the Briton on June 20. The arena capacity will be at least 60.000 spectators. “I always wanted to fight in a soccer stadium in front of such a big crowd. Now, this dream comes true. Once I attended a Schalke match myself and since then I have not forgotten these fantastic fans that supported their team constantly for 90 minutes. I am sure June 20 will be an unforgettable night for all of us”, says reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Bernd Bönte, Managing Director of Klitschko Management Group: „We are glad the fight takes place in Schalke. It is one of the greatest arenas in Europe. We had the choice between different offers, both Germany and Europe, and we chose Schalke because of the whole package. We will have a down-to-earth event with a reasonable pricing. With the arena management we have a very competent partner with whom we will work very professional and constructive during the next weeks.”
While the Schalke 04 soccer team is in the summer off-season, their homefield will be staging another highlight. “For the first time the arena will host a boxing event. The whole region is looking forward to June 20. When I think of the day I get a goose-skin”, says Rüdiger Mengede, General Manager of the Schalke 04 Betriebsgesellschaft.
Ticket sale for the fight Klitschko vs. Haye starts on April 17. Tickets are available for 24 Euro (standing room), 39 Euro (upper stands) as well as 49 Euro (lower stands). Book tickets online at www.eventim.de or www.ts-ticketshop.de. Order via phone under 0049-01805 – 12 13 14 or 0049-01805 – 15 08 10.
The fight will be broadcast worldwide. In Germany hosting channel will be RTL, HBO will show the fight in the US and Setanta covers in the UK.
Klitschko Honored by Former Boxing Boss
WBO/IBF/IBO Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko will join champions “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Mark Breland and Bobby Czyz on Tuesday April 7 at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, New Jersey to receive boxing awards.
Other assorted boxing celebrities and champions will also be on hand, including Emanuel Steward, Harold Lederman, Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks, Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins, Ivan “Mighty” Robinson, Al “Ice” Cole, and Tomasz Adamek to celebrate the Seventh Annual Awards Dinner and Celebrity Reception hosted by C.O.M.B.A.T.T., Inc. Former New Jersey Athletic Commissioner, Larry Hazzard is founder of the non-profit youth organization hosting the awards dinner and expressed his joy in honoring the champions and others on April 7. “Being a former school principal I have always emphasized to students that they can excel in the classroom while participating in sports,” Hazzard said. “Wladimir Klitschko will be receiving the Founder’s Award this year and he epitomizes not only the best of our sport but he’s also well-educated, possessing a PhD in Education. Klitschko is the best example of athletics and education being perfect together.”
C.O.M.B.A.T.T., is an acronym for Community Organization Making Better Alternatives Today for Tomorrow. The dinner is the organization’s major fund raising event to benefit young boxers in Newark, Irvington and Jersey City. “Our program is more than a boxing club. We guide our young people through their transitions into productive adults, who contribute positively to their own successes in life and their communities,” said Rhonda Utley-Herring, co-founder and CEO for the group. “It can be an overwhelming challenge for many professional boxers once they outlive their boxing skills. And, since the majority of our children will not exceed the amateur level of boxing competition, we go beyond your typical boxing club to offer young people the opportunity to explore healthy lifestyles, boxing and alternative career planning, life skills training and appropriate social behaviors.”
Hazzard stated that he is very happy to see another all-star cast of honorees. This year, others among the list of noteworthy honorees receiving awards include boxing promoter Kathy Duva, boxing trainer Nazzim Richardson, Jersey City Mayor Jeremiah Healy, Dr. Michael Sabia, Elnora Watson, Ras Baraka, Joe Macchi, Mikey Perez and Tabitha Younger. Hazzard says it’s very special to have among them, Kathy Duva, a woman who is carrying on the long tradition of boxing promotions in the Duva family. He believes boxing in NJ may have died years ago if it were not for the Duvas.
The celebrity reception starts at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:45 p.m. Ticket donations are $100 per person and may be purchased at the C.O.M.B.A.T.T. Clubhouse Gym, 205 Spruce St. in Newark (973-824-4900 or 973-297-1299) or at the IBF Office, 516 Main Street in East Orange (973) 414-0300.