September 5, 2011 – Wroclaw, Poland – In the middle of the town square, in front of a packed house at City Hall in Wroclaw, Tomasz Adamek and Vitali Klitschko attended the final press conference held prior to their upcoming WBC Championship fight.
Michael Brill, General Manager Wroclaw Stadium: “Yesterday we had the first test event at Wroclaw Stadium. It’s a beautiful stadium, it’s gorgeous. There is no better place in the world I think to hold such an amazing fight. We will have everything fine-tuned for this Saturday. The fight has already sold more than 40,000 tickets; it will be broadcast in more than 120 countries with more than 500 million people watching it. It will change the history of big sporting events in Poland.”
Tom Loeffler, K2 Promotions: “Tomasz Adamek is so well known in Poland. He’s a warrior, he’s shown his heart and he is very successful in the heavyweight division. In the last promotion that we did, when Vladimir unified the title against David Haye, the whole time on the K2 and Klitschko side we knew in our hearts that Tomasz was really more of a warrior than Haye. So I think that you’ll see a great bout.”
“Vitali is the type of fighter who just dominates the fight. Not only does he win fights, he wins rounds. We’re really looking forward to this fight between these two great warriors for the WBC championship.”
Kathy Duva, Main Events: “It is really a thrill to be back here in Wroclaw. I watched online, actually every day, and saw the stadium come up from the ground. We went there yesterday and saw it for ourselves. I just cannot wait to see what that place is going to look like and sound like with 42,000 people in there, because it hurt my ears last night when there were 8,000 people there. It’s turned into a magnificent facility that people all over the world are going know about next week.”
“This is the first ever event to be shown on pay per view in Poland. If you have Canal+, Polsat, UPC, TOYA, INEA, or Vectra, you’ll be able to see Pay Per View. It’ll be 40 PLN, so everybody get together and have a party! It’s going to be an great event both in the arena and for everybody watching it on pay per view. Also it will also be shown in some movie theaters around Poland; the Multikino System will be showing it and the tickets are on sale now.”
Vitali Klitschko: “Wroclaw is a great city. When I flew in I saw a great stadium, all ready, I saw it from the sky and it will be fine. Many have been worried, ‘is the stadium going to be ready?’ Don’t worry, the main thing is the fighters and they are ready, the stadium is also. The preparation is done.”
“I know Tomasz Adamek is the most difficult fighter. He is very fast, very good condition. This fight will not be easy for me and this is why the preparation was special. Why special? Because I have a special opponent and I have special surprises. The surprises you can see in the ring.”
“I’m ready to fight Tomasz. Everybody watched the Vladimir – Haye fight. David Haye is the biggest talker; Tomasz Adamek is the strongest fighter. Behind my brother and me is Tomasz. Can Tomasz be #1 in the world? Let’s see. I kind of like you Tomasz, maybe after this fight we can be friends, but on Saturday there will be no friendship between us. I am very proud have this belt, which many years ago Muhammad Ali, Lenox Lewis and many, many big fighters had and I never ever give this title to someone just for free. Tomasz, good luck trying to take this title away, I am ready to show my skills. This title is my title.”
Tomasz Adamek: “I’m really glad to be in Wroclaw. I was ten and a half weeks in training. That was a time for preparation, now is a time for the fight. I’m in great shape after training with Roger (Bloodworth). I thank God for those weeks, it’s a long time and I was able to stay healthy.”
“I want to thank all my fans who purchased tickets & everyone that will purchase pay per view. We are showing not only Poland, but over 120 countries that this fight is a really big event.”
“I’m ready for a big war with Vitali. I’m really ready to win this belt. I know it’s not going to be easybecause it’s never easy in the ring, but my spirits are high and I’m ready for it. I will do everything to keep the WBC title in Poland.”
The WBC Heavyweight Championship battle featuring reigning WBC champion Vitali Klitschko, 42-2, 39 KO’s and Tomasz Adamek, 44-1, 28 KO’s, will be held Saturday, September 10th at the new Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw, Poland. Some exclusive VIP Tickets are still available at www.stadionwroclaw.pl
The fight will be shown live, Saturday, September 10, on HBO World Championship Boxing at 4:45pm ET, and will re-air on September 11, 12 and 13, check your local listings.
FEMALE BOXING CHAMPION SUSIE ‘Q’ RAMADAN LOSES HER WORLD TITLE
After her controversial split with the Brizzi Brothers earlier in the year, Susie ‘Q’ quickly found herself learning more than she bargained for about the shape of boxing in her home town of Melbourne.
While Susie and new trainer Robbie Peden tried to ensure the defence of her IBF Bantamweight title was held in Australia, they were shunned by Melbourne promoters who showed next to no support and refused to sign Susie to a show. With only weeks to go before Susie’s world title would become vacated, Boxa promotions agreed to put Susie on Anthony Mundine’s undercard. Soon after another delay was encountered with the scheduled opponent, which eventually resulted in Susie’s IBF Bantamweight world title becoming vacated.
Being a woman in this sport remains a challenge for Susie however being a true ambassador of the sport and a role model for many other female athletes she will remain focussed on getting her belt back.
SUSIE IS TAKING BACK WHAT IS HERS
Susie ‘Q’ Ramadan (21 fights/21 wins) takes on Yazmin Rivas from Mexico (29 fights/22 wins) for the female IBF Bantamweight world title.
The fight is set to take place on Saturday the 15th of October at 7pm in Cancun, Mexico. (Australian television rights are currently being negotiated)
Should Susie win this fight, she will continue to make history by being the first Australian female 2 x IBF World Champion.
Physically and mentally, Susie is in the best shape of her career and is determined to bring the IBF title back to Australia. In early October, Susie will travel with her team to Los Angeles to train and spar with some of the boxing greats. In the meantime, we would like to gather as much support and exposure as possible. This is Susie’s first overseas fight and if there’s ever been a time she’s needed to feel supported by the Australian public -it’s now.
Watch Susie prepare for her big fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNCr8kpGDLY
BUCKLAND VOWS TO DO SYKES DOUBLE
GARY BUCKLAND insists that he’ll prove his first round KO of Gary Sykes last year was no fluke.
Hatton Promotions super-featherweight star challenges for the Yorkshireman’s British crown at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge Arena on Saturday September 24.
Cardiff’s Buckland, 25, earned his chance by hammering Sykes in 45 seconds at a Prizefighter tournament last November when he landed the £32,000 winner’s cheque.
Despite that win, many are tipping Sykes to get revenge over the 12 round distance, but Buckland warned: “I am not going to let it slip. I am going out there to do a job.
“People say I caught him cold, but if I catch Sykes again the same thing will happen and he will be knocked out whatever round I land.
“Winning Prizefighter was a big achievement so the next step is to win a Lonsdale belt and Sykes is trying to stop me.”
Buckland has won 23 of his 25 fights. One of his defeats came when John Murray stopped him in the 11th round of a British and European lightweight title thriller in May 2010.
Buckland added: “It was a war against John Murray and he is a great champion. It was a great opportunity and I have learned from it.
“If I can go toe-to-toe with Murray I can do it with anybody.”
To watch this interview in full and see exclusive training footage of Buckland log onto http://www.hattonboxing.com/tv/news/gary-buckland-intends-to-repeat-his-win-over-sykes
Also on the Sheffield bill, former European super-bantamweight champion Rendall Munroe boxes a ten rounder against a selected opponent.
Unbeaten Sheffield boys Richard Towers and Adam Etches face Belarussian opponents. Heavyweight Towers is up against Yuri Bihoutseu while light-middleweight Etches boxes Yauheni Abdurazakau.
Deeside’s exciting light-middleweight Tom Doran boxes another steel city fighter Jezz Wilson over eight rounds.
And the South Yorkshire city’s former Commonwealth light-heavyweight challenger Billy Boyle faces Welsh banger Justyn Hugh.
Manchester’s former amateur star Tommy Stubbs makes his pro debut when he faces, tricky Kuwaiti Anwar Alfadi, who boxes out of Brendan Ingle’s stable.
Another local fighter Scott Jenkins who has sold 300 tickets bids for his second professional win against a selected opponent.
There are some tickets left priced £35, £55 and £75 VIP from 01925 755222. Be quick, this show WILL sell-out.