Wladimir Klitschko (58-3, 49 KOs) and David Haye (25-1, 23 KOs) participated today in the fight week press conference in Hamburg (Germany) to speak about their title unification fight on July 2. International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Organization (WBO), IBO and “Ring Magazine” Champion Klitschko and World Boxing Organization (WBA) Heavyweight Champion Haye will face off next Saturday at Imtech ARENA Hamburg, Germany.
Wladimir Klitschko: “I’m happy that Haye will be in great shape because that means a real challenge for me and that’s what I want. I respect Haye as a fighter but definitely not as a person. I will knock him out back into reality. Haye will be my number #50 on my knock out list.”
David Haye: “I’m in tremendous shape. I’m healthy, have great punch power and speed. I have the perfect game plan to beat Wladimir Klitschko.”
The fight will be shown live on RTL in Germany (9.45 p.m. CET). Sky Sports will carry the fight live on pay per view in the UK (8 p.m. BST). HBO will show the fight in the US (5 p.m. EST, 2 p.m. PST).
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Remaining tickets via www.eventim.de, www.eventim.co.uk and the hotline +49- (0)1805-57 00 00. Prices start at 32 Euro.
Billy Joe Saunders vs. Gary Boulden on July 9th
Billy Joe Saunders has turned from boy to man in the last 12 months, according to his training team.
The precocious Hertford traveler went to the Olympics as an 18-year-old before turning pro with Frank Warren.
He’s won his first nine fights at a canter – but there is much more to come according to Jimmy and Mark Tibbs.
Saunders is in action again on July 9 at London’s ExCeL Arena.
There he challenges Gary Boulden for the Southern Arena middleweight title, his first championship fight as a professional.
And Mark Tibbs believes fans are in for a treat.
“When Billy Joe came to the gym when he first turned pro, you could see he had all the talent in the world,” he said.
“But young fighters take a bit of time to mature, and I think Billy Joe needed that couple of years to find his feet.
“He’s done exceptionally well so far, but in the last few months we’ve noticed a real improvement.
“He knows how to handle himself now, he’s learnt some little tricks that you will always need as a professional fighter.
“They’re not dirty tricks like elbows or headbutts, but he knows how to look after himself now.
“In sparring he’s handling light-heavyweights, cruiserweights, no problem, and I think he’s found out what he needs on the mental side of things as well.
“He knows what it takes in terms of dedication and commitment to make it to the top, and that knowledge is going to make him a very dangerous opponent in the next couple of years.
“I would have thought that this Southern Area title could be the first of many belts. I don’t want to put any pressure on Billy Joe, and we are taking this fight very seriously.
“But in the next 12 months or so I can see him going on to fight for some major belts.”
Gavin Rees vs. Derry Matthews on 7/23
Gavin Rees will defend his European Lightweight title against Liverpool’s Derry Mathews on July 23 at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.
Former World Boxing Association (WBA) World Champion Rees claimed the vacant strap in the same venue against Irishman Andy Murray on June 4 and springs into early action in his first defence against the English and IBO Lightweight title holder Mathews.
Prizefighter Light Welterweight Champion Rees is aiming to fight for World level honours once again and become a two-weight World supremo. Mathews, who was runner-up in Prizefighter Super Featherweights tournament in September, comes into the Rees clash on the back of two first-round stoppages against George Watson and Amir Unsworth – the latter for the English title – and his IBO title win on points in January against Scott Lawton.
The full card in Cardiff will be announced shortly and the bill replaces the Brentwood show that was to be headlined by Darren Barker’s first defence of his European Middleweight title.
“I don’t believe in the word ‘inactivity’ and at 31 and as a former champion of the World, Gavin is as ready as he will ever be to launch an attack on the lightweight division. The Derry Mathews fight sets up to be a classic. I know how much this shot means to Derry, he is a great guy and deserves it – he won’t leave anything in the ring on the 23rd.”
Barker will now concentrate his efforts in the gym as he prepares for a World title challenge to Sergio Martinez later this year.
“We sat down and looked at timings and whilst ideally I would like Darren to have one more fight before Martinez, we also know it’s the biggest fight and opportunity of his life so the camp has to be perfect,” said Hearn. “We also felt that an ‘easy’ warm up fight wouldn’t be giving value to the fans – but I know they will be following him in big numbers across the Atlantic in this blockbuster fight.
Tickets for the Gavin Rees v Derry Mathews European title clash and full undercard are now on sale priced £30 unreserved and £50 ringside from the Motorpoint Arena Box-Office on 02920 224488.