Arreola Training For Klitschko

This is some new video footage of the WBC #1 challenger Chris Arreola doing some pad work, training, and checking out some gloves as he prepares for the September 26th WBC heavyweight title bout against current champion Vitali Klitschko.

Tags: Training, Klitschko Opponent Videos, klitschko opponent training, Chris Arreola, Chris Arreola training, Chris Arreola training footage, Chris Arreola training video

Klitschko Radio Interview Transcript

This is the transcript of the radio interview I last posted of Wladimir Klitschko on Blog Talk Radio program "On the Ropes" that was aired on August 24th, 2009. Enjoy!

Jenna J: Alright! Wladimir Klitschko welcome to the On the Ropes radio show. I’m the host Jenna J with my co-host Rummy, how is it going today?

Wladimir Klitschko: Thank you. Everything is going very well. I can’t complain I just finished my golf game and I had a great, great, great golf day.

JJ: Well we’re very happy that you took time out to join us for this interview today. And first of all I would like to congratulate you for becoming the Ring Magazine Heavyweight Champion with your win over Ruslan Chagaev.

WK: Thank you very much. I was looking forward to get this belt and I believe that’s right round about three to four years I have been waiting to get this belt. And now fortunately I have got it. It was actually accidentally because I was supposed to fight David Haye and then two weeks before the fight my opponent was switched so I got the chance to fight #3 of Ring Magazine rating list so that’s why and that’s how I got the belt. Which makes me feel happy..

JJ: Great. Now you said that it took you know three to four years to get this recognition, how does it feel now that you’re recognized as the best heavyweight in the world?

WK: It feels awesome. (laughs) But I understand that that I have responsibilities to keep it as long as I’m active as an athlete and it’s certain pressure of course. I understand that lot of guys are looking up to fight with me and of course to win these fights with me. And it’s certain pressure and I just have to defend this title, which I’m going to do as long as I’m fighting and I really enjoy it. I think that with every heavyweight champion of the world you have abilities and chances to move a lot of things in this world and put attention to lot of problems in this world. I’m talking now about charity part and I think that’s important we did a lot and did move certain things in this area and many things are coming up.

JJ: Great, great. I’m going to go across to my co-host, Rummy.

Geoffrey Ciani (aka-Rummy): Hi Wladimir. Now I just wanted to ask you under the tutelage of Emmanuel Steward you have improved noticeably inside the ring, but in your first fight with him, you actually lost a fight against Lamon Brewster. What are some of the things that Emmanuel has been able to teach you since that point in time where it’s obvious, from a fan’s perspective, that you have become much better and more effective inside the ring.

WK: We were talking with Emmanuel about Brewster fight a lot and we have been watching this fight over, over, and over and everything that went down in this fight was perfect—believe it or not. The whole strategy and tactic came through and I did whatever I wanted to do with Brewster for five rounds—actually for first four rounds and then the rest is history. So I lost this fight. And I just wanted to tell that the fight was perfect. I did everything that I had to do. I didn’t get good result and that was really a bad beginning to work together with the Emmanuel Steward. I started to work with him and we lost the fight.

I would say “we” because not only just myself in the ring, but it is also teamwork and that’s why I say “we” lost it, but we took a lot of my own abilities and just try to use my natural abilities. It is also punching power, but it is also abilities to be able to move on my feet and the speed, which also I do have. As Emmanuel Stewart says, “speed kills”, and I truly believe it. In this sport if you’re fighting against the guy who is really slow that’s not good for the fighter because he will have no chance with the guy who is faster. And I think that the work, which we do with Emanuel Steward, is very creative work. We create things and we practice a lot of them during the preparation and then we’re accomplishing it in the ring, so we do actually in the ring everything what we were preparing before and it works amazingly good. It’s not like chaotic and like I’m going to the ring and I’m trying to win this fight—it’s not like that. The attitude is different. I’m going in the ring and know exactly what to do because we have been studying our opponent on video for many days while we are in training camp and it’s actually very easy to fight them. When you know what you have to do, it’s really, really easy.

JJ: Great. Wladimir, some people consider this era of heavyweight division to be a weaker one. Now what I want to ask you is who do you see in the heavyweight division that you think will give you your biggest challenge?

WK: I was in Montenegro and I met a fan—a Klitschko fan—and he said, “Yeah now in the heavyweight division we have recession, we have crisis. And the name of the crisis, guess what—Klitschko brothers”. I felt that was funny because you can see it as really crisis or you can see it you know that we’re really dominating the division and that’s actually the opinion in United States that heavyweight division is down and has difficulties and nobody is really excited about it. But in another part of the world, for example in Europe, we have lot of competition and we have the last two Klitschko fights we had 11.5 million viewers out of 85-86 million people who are living in Germany and that’s only Germany, actually. So the ratings are amazing. We filled out arenas, which were completely sold. We filled out the stadium, the last event was in the stadium with 61,000 people, and it wasn’t just guests and we didn’t you know give tickets so there was tickets which were bought by people going to fight. We actually don’t feel nothing about bad times in the heavyweight division here in Europe, but of course, I understand that in US we don’t have really American stars who perform well, who look good kind of just not said look good but exciting. I wish there is going to be lot of competition in the heavyweight division also with these American heavyweights fighters. To give an example, my brother Vitali is going to fight Los Angeles at the Staples Center with Chris Arreola who is American fighter undefeated. He won most of his fights by knockout and there is going to be heavyweight championship world for double WBC belt. So I think that this fight will create an excitement also in the heavyweight division in United States because not only is one of the Klitschko brothers going to fight, but also an undefeated heavyweight American fighter. I think that’s going to be very, very, very, great. I mean a great big fight for the sport and especially for the heavy division.

JJ: Now Wlad, to follow-up on that, there has been a lot talk about you possibly fighting American Eddie Chambers. Is that going to be your next fight or do you not quite know yet?

WK: It’s possibly going to be like that, that I’m going to fight against Chambers who is also a very experienced fighter and it is going to be for all the belts. So December, December this year the fight will happen. I don’t know exactly where it is going to be, but it is going to be a big fight, of course.

JJ: Great.

WK: I don’t know the site I don’t know the place where it is going to be not yet.

GC: Now Wladimir, your fight with Sam Peter in many ways was a crossroad fight for you in which you showed tremendous heart inside the ring rising three times from the canvas, and, except for those couple of knockdowns, you dominated the action. I had actually heard—I don’t know if it is true—that had you lost that fight you were considering retiring, but you obviously came out triumphant you have come out a much better and more confident fighter since then. Can you tell us a little bit about that fight and whether there was any truth to that at that time?

WK: After losing to Brewster and the split decision win with Williamson I needed to regroup and prove myself. So there was a rising star Samuel Peter. My sparring partner, who I fought against was Charles Shufford defending my WBO belt. So I had him as a sparring partner and I exactly remembered that he came to the gym and sparred so it wasn’t really difficult for me to spar with him. Anyway he was familiar to me and I was looking forward to it to get this fight, because that was for number one place in IBF and I guess that was the other version either WBA or WBC. So that was for number one contender and to become a number one contender in this version and I remember that especially in this fight, actually the attitude was wrong for my opponent and his crew. I mean his managers and friends because they were considering me as dead man walking, which was great for me because I knew that I can beat this guy. And in the fight directly I should tell that Samuel Peter was really giving everything. His motivation was unbelievable. He was pumped up with energy and self confidence because he hasn’t lost anything and he just thought that he is going to roll over younger brothers and I believe that this attitude actually made him lose this fight. And I should tell as many punches as he got and didn’t get down also in the 12th round when I hit him with left hook and shook him, I felt I broke my hand so hard it was, and I just saw him that he was just about to go down, but he was wobbling, but he kept standing and you know, he didn’t go down—I was really surprised. Anyway, he took a lot of punishments and he also caught me a couple of times. The fight was leaded to me, but my confidence was way, way too much for Samuel Peter who was probably underestimating me. That’s the mistake which lot of fighters do actually underestimate and then they unfortunately are going to lose this fight, when they underestimate me.

JJ: Great. Wladimir, briefly you mentioned your brother and the question that I have for you is you said in the past that you sparred your own brother, and seeing as everyone is always ask what would happen if you two would were to meet in the ring, could you tell us what those sparring sessions were like?

WK: We have been together for the last thirty three years and we’re supportive all the time for each other and with each other. And because we’re supportive—you didn’t ask this question, but (laughs)—we will never fight each other because doesn’t make any sense. Vitali always showed me certain things because he was more experienced and he was the older brother. He is 5 years older than I which helped me, but later on with the more experience I was gaining I was also trying to help my brother. And we did spar before, but with age we’re getting so competitive that our sparring sessions were going to, going to be very emotional and all the time one of us—mostly me (laughs)—was getting hurt. So after I break my leg could you imagine how crazy the sparring was that I had to break my leg. We just decided we will never spar with each other because we’re just too competitive and too emotional and we’re getting heavier, stronger, so why we should eliminate each other? That’s why we stopped to spar with each other.

GC: Now Wladimir, in a lot of ways you were considered a unique combination of a European standup fighter who also has a bit of an American flare to his style. Can you tell us a little bit about your amateur background in boxing and explain maybe some of the differences that you have seen between the European style and the American style that you seem to have blended so well?

WK: I consider it as a compliment what you said, thank you. There is certain space to and certain stuff to be improved in my abilities and that’s what I’m working on. I got really a lot to work with special trainers such as Tommy Brooks, Freddie Roach, Don Turner, and Emmanuel Stewart and a lot of other trainers from the eastern part of the world and I took from all of them the best which I can take because old trainers they have their strong sides, and finally I found Emmanuel Stewart who is a genius in the ring. I’m not afraid to say it he is definitely a genius and I would love to say it for myself because I had collected this experience from all different coaches from different countries and this man is definitely not trying to change me not trying to change me at all. He actually aiding stuff and we discuss a lot. We, as I said before, create the work and it’s art work, which we do in the ring and the preparation, actually. It’s great ability to be able to get Soviet Boxing School because I went to the Sports School in Soviet Union in that time and the Soviet School was really, really good, the Amateur School was really, really good and strong. And I believe that specially in United States the problem, which we have, we have no amateur background. How can we have professional fighters with good abilities and they don’t have amateur background it’s, it’s of course going to go down the hill not top of the hill.

And I believe that such tournaments and Golden Gloves class and that American amateur team going to travel a lot and to compete a lot and especially with ummm, were going to have in this area young strong fighters it is going to affect their professional sports as well. There is no doubt with that. They got to be able as myself sometimes maybe trying in different countries, different coaches, and different styles. There is no advantage between American style or the European style. The only thing is which is important in boxing is the result no matter how you fight it’s the result very important. And I believe that, that maybe difference between European and American style is that the American style is very open and actually their full attention is more to land a punch and maybe, secondly important, not get punched, or actually maybe in the third place not get punched. So it is a lot of action and, I would maybe say, is in a certain way like a cowboy style, you know, very aggressive. Just get in there and get it all!

GC & JJ: (laughs)

WK: And sometimes even without strategy, maybe European styles are more, they look kind of more defensive, but I have been taught first of all not getting punches so I was working on defense. My opponents, I mean not my opponents, my sparring partners were getting into the ring and they have to attack me and I have to, staying on one leg and moving with my body, not get hit, and then I have to change the leg so on the other leg move one leg jumping in the ring and trying to get not hit. Then stay on two legs and you try to defend yourself is much easier, you move much better, but the first thing which I was taught is not getting punched. Then the second one, you look for opportunities to land a punch that’s probably the difference between American style and the European styles.

JJ: Great.

WK: Was it clear?

JJ: Yeah. We have just a few more questions for you before we let you go, and one of them is that you briefly mentioned your June 20th fight with Chagaev. Now originally you were set to face David Haye on that day and he pulled out due to an injury. And after that he was actually scheduled to face your brother and he pulled out of that fight for a fight for a fight with Nicolai Valuev. Could you post what your opinions are of David David Haye both in and outside of the ring?

WK: I don’t like to talk about somebody who is not really present in the conversation and he can’t answer any questions and so and so, but I will give you just my comment on it that if somebody like David Haye calls you out during the year—he calls you out, he calls you out, he calls you out—he talks a lot of not truthful and not really good things about you as the person, and also, he is representing himself with the decapitated bodies of your family members, which is completely over the edge. In this world there are lot of sports and rules in the sports and there is certain behavior in the sports, but that was definitely out of regular behavior and out of any understanding and over the edge and below the belt-line the way how he promoted himself.

Then he was getting to the fight first of all he is promising things, which he cannot with his manager Adam Booth which he cannot deliver as Chelsea stadium in London. And I have to wait for him for half a year because of Chelsea stadium on June 20th—that was the previous fight scheduled for and otherwise we’re going to fight in March—so he could not deliver it and I was waiting for June. I said, “Alright, so I’m going to fight you”, because not only me want to see this fight, but also the fans the boxing fans were so excited he promoted himself so well that they want to see David Haye going down in the Klitschko fight. So I said, “Okay David, we’re going to fight.”, and he asked me if the fight was going to be on June 20th. It did not happen in London. I had to find another stadium in Germany, which we did with K2 and two weeks before he bailed out. I don’t blame him you know injury in sports are so close and athletes always getting injuries, and so it happens, but then later on for him ask me to postpone it for a week, then for two weeks, then for four weeks, then for seven weeks, I mean I couldn’t really decide can I take this man serious or not. So I decided no matter what I’m going to fight on June 20th,because I lost my time already with him, I was getting really rusted because I wasn’t fighting in March or April as usually. And then the Vitali fight with him was in line. We were negotiating and then suddenly, the man disappeared the day before the contract had to be signed. The man disappeared and his manager didn’t even pickup the phone to tell us that the fight is off because we have signed with Valuev.

And then his comments at the end that “Valuev is much more easier to fight for me”, David said. “To me Valuev is an easier fight than a Klitschko”. There is no logic, but I mean the logic is just simple and ridiculous. I don’t know, there should be certain pride. If you say something, if you want to have fight and you call somebody to this fight and you actually signed the same contract before which he was supposed to fight and signing contract with my brother Vitali so inside of the contract did not change finding excuses you know the contract was bad whatever was bad it’s totally ridiculous. I don’t see this man. This man is immature as a person and he is immature as a fighter that’s my opinion and that’s it.

GC: Now Wlad, I have a question for you, and I actually had the opportunity to speak Emmanuel Stewart about this, where they are saying some people claim it is a weak heavy weight division right now, but other great champions from the past like Larry Holmes and Joe Lewis have been able to establish themselves by dominating in the sport over a long period of time which seems to be what you are on your way doing. My question for you is what would you like to accomplish in your career before all is said and done and how would you like to be remembered by the fans?

WK: To be honest with you, I don’t really care or think about legacy and how I’m going to be remembered. I just enjoy what I’m doing and I really enjoy to fight. I don’t like to watch the fights, I’m not really going to the fight nights to see somebody. I definitely don’t like it, but I love when I’m in the ring and when I am preparing to defend, and I love to have a challenge, and I love what I do. Otherwise I will not be for several weeks in the camp and be on schedule because it is also pretty difficult. As a young man, to put yourself in the certain surrounding where you have nothing, but boxing is pretty difficult. Could you imagine at my age and, but anyway I do it I do it with understanding why I’m doing it for what I’m doing it because I love it. Without love I probably will stop to do it. I love to perform I love to be surrounded with people, I love people, I love it when especially not man giving me compliments what a good fighter I am but from the females when I am getting it, it’s much better

So and it’s just an enjoyable time to be at the top of the performance and sport because I had many years of the sport behind me. I just really, really enjoy it and especially because I understand it’s not forever. The actual life of sport is very short and I just enjoy it and I’m not 23 I’m 33. I am at my best time anything I can wish in the sport, but I also understand that I don’t have so much time left so I really enjoy every second being involved in the sport.

JJ: Great, great Wladimir, we don’t want to keep you too long today, so I have one final question for you and that is, is there anything you want to go say to all of your fans that you have out there?

WK: I am so appreciated first of all to you my fans—our fans—that’s actually wrong, it’s not my fans it’s our fans of the sport of boxing. I’m talking right now from all the champions of this sport, if I may, and everyone who involved as a fighter in this sport. Without you we will not compete, we will not show our best performances, we will not do what we do actually. Thanks a lot, I want to say thank you to all of you that you have time and passion to look at different weight classes and stay with us through the years because I do know lot of fans who through the years are fans actually for ever in the life of this sport because this sport is amazing. The history of this sport is very long and it’s a classic sport.

By the way, boxing starts when two gentlemen want to get heart of a woman and she was watching how two gentlemen you know talk to each other with the fists and one guy who won, he will get the heart of the woman. So that was what the fight was. That’s why I am talking also about female fans. We have not only guys who are watching but also female fans and I just want to say thank you for it. Stick with us, and stick with the Klitschko brothers and thanks for your attention. I wish all of you stay in good health and just have fun in the sport, which you’re following.

JJ: Great. Well thank you very much Wladimir for giving us this time in this interview and we wish you the best with your future fight.

WK: Thank you for having me and it was really a pleasure to talk to my fans through you guys.

GC: Thank you Wladimir.

Source

If you want to listen to the interview you can go here.

Tags: interviews, Wladimir Klitschko Interview, Wladimir Klitschko, Klitschko Blog, klitschkoblog.com

Wladimir Klitschko Radio Interview

This is a new recent radio interview from Blog Talk Radio with the current WBO/IBF/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko where he talks about his career, how he would like to be remembered, his opinion on David Haye inside and outside the ring, his past fights, overcoming adversity, and much more!

At the 75 minute and 30 second mark of the video is where Wladimir's interview is....

Tags: interviews, Klitschko Interviews, Wladimir Klitschko Interview, Radio Interview, Klitschko Radio Interview, Wladimir Klitshcko Radio Interview, Klitschko Blog, klitschkoblog.com

Vitali Klitschko vs Ricardo Kennedy

This video showcases Vitali "Dr. Ironfist" Klitschko American debut when he fought journeyman Ricardo "Explosive" Kennedy on US soil. Klitschko was (20-0, 20KO's) while Kennedy was (14-6, 14KO's). So, both had heavy hands winning all their fights by knockout.

The fight happened on August 8th, 1998 at the Miccosukee Indian Gaming Center in Miami, FL, and was broadcast on the USA network.

Klitschko vs Kennedy Video

Tags: Fight Videos, Full Fight Videos, Klitschko Opponent Videos, Videos, Vitali Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko Opponents, Vitali Klitschko Videos, Klitschko Blog, klitschkoblog.com

An Evening With Mike Tyson Tickets

On Wednesday November 4th, 2009 at 7pm former all time great heavyweight champion "Iron" Mike Tyson will present "An Evening With Mike Tyson" at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.

Mike will provide the special guests in attendance with first-hand insight into the fascinating world of 'Iron Mike' Tyson, including stories from his life and career. This is a must see event if you are a fan of Tyson.

Tickets are now on sale from the reputable World Ticket Shop and on their English site their ticket pricing shows the following:

An Evening with Mike Tyson 04-11-2009 Seated Tickets
Start: 19.00 Price € 125,00 (£ 106,25) Venue: Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

An Evening with Mike Tyson 04-11-2009 Upper Level
Start: 19.00 Price € 125,00 (£ 106,25) Venue: Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

To get your An Evening With Mike Tyson Tickets Go Here.

P.S--- FYI---tickets moving fast..

Tags: Tickets, Other Event Tickets, Other Heavyweight Boxing News, Other Boxing News, klitschkoblog.com, Klitschko Blog, An Evening with Mike Tyson, Mike Tyson, Tyson

Wladimir Klitschko Recovering From Shoulder Surgery

According to BILD, the current IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion is recovering from minor shoulder surgery from a tendon rupture on his left shoulder he acquired when fighting last June against Ruslan Chagaev. Rehabilitation is reportedly going well.

Also, this is not the reason the December date that was being discussed to fight Eddie Chambers has been delayed. It is being delayed because there are no longer any choice December dates available for U.S. TV. This is why Wladimir will return next year.

Bernd Boente Quotes

*Klitschko's manager

"His rehab is going well, making good progress."

In regards to waiting till next year for a fight with Chambers...

"We want U.S TV to be on board."

Source 1

Source 2

Tags: Injury, Klitschko Manager Quotes, Quotes, Wladimir Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko Injury, Klitschko Blog, klitschkoblog.com

Larry Merchant On Klitschko vs Arreola

This is new video footage where Larry Merchant was recently interviewed and gave his opinion about the upcoming WBC heavyweight championship fight this September 26th between current champ Vitali Klitschko and Chris Arreola.

In the video he gives alot of credit to the Klitschko and even goes as far as saying that they would be more than competitive in any era of heavyweight boxing! Check out the video for more.

Tags: interviews, Vitali Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko Opponents, Videos, Larry Merchant, Larry Merchant On Klitschko vs Arreola

Klitschko Opens Intel Extreme Masters

This is new video footage of the current IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko opening up the Intel Extreme Master 4 at gamescom in Cologne. Subtitles are on the video in English translation.

Tags: Wladimir Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko guest appearances, Wladimir Klitschko Videos, klitschko blog, klitschkoblog.com

Arreola Interview Ahead Of Klitschko Fight

Chris Arreola was recently interviewed by James Slater ahead of his WBC heavyweight title shot with current WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitsckho on September 26th. This is what Chris had to say.

James Slater: It's a pleasure to speak with you, sir, as always. Just to start off, how has training been going so far? I know you've only been in camp for a week or so.

Chris Arreola: My pleasure. It's been going good, man. Darryl, my conditioning coach, has been putting me through it and my trainer, Henry, has also been kicking my butt in the gym, so it's all coming together.

J.S: Have you started sparring yet?

C.A: Oh, sure. I'm in my second week of sparring already.

J.S: And who have you been working with?

C.A: At the moment it's Cisse Salif, and we're going to get Lance Whitaker and then either Tye Fields or Michael Grant.

J.S: Obviously big guys with height then, to emulate Vitali?

C.A: Of course, yeah.

J.S: And you're out at San Fernando Valley now, right?

C.A: Yeah, I'm out in San Fernando and I love it here. It's really nice here - so much better than Big Bear. I hate Big Bear!

J.S: We all saw the press conference last week, when you and Viltali came face-to-face. Was that the first time you'd met him up close?

C.A: No. I met him when I'd had about three or four fights. I doubt he even remembers it, but it was back in LA when I was sparring with his brother.

J.S: When you sized him up last week, so to speak, did you have any initial thoughts, like he's taller or shorter than you thought he'd be?

C.A: He was actually a little smaller than I thought. You build up this image of him in your head, of him being like out of Rocky, you know, Ivan Drago. But he's not that big really. But regardless of that, I've still got to chop him down to my size in the ring.

J.S: A lot of fans liked how you and Vitali were both gentlemen at the press conference - you both showed each other a lot of respect. There's never any trash talk from you, is there?

C.A: Boxing is a gentleman's sport. Some people need to talk trash to get themselves mentally up for the fight. I don't need to do that. I knew Vitali would be a gentleman also. We talk business in the ring, that's all.

J.S: The fans are really buzzing about this fight, and are happy that the heavyweight division has a great fight to look forward to at last. Are you feeling any different in yourself? I mean, I know you're massively motivated, but do you feel anything else differently? Are there even any nerves?

C.A: No. I have no nerves at all. I am hugely motivated for the fight, but I'm not scared, I'm not intimidated. I'm happy about this fight. I'm looking forward to taking the bull by the horns. I won't pay any attention, really, when I enter the ring and all the lights and the cameras are on me. I'm happy to be getting the opportunity to put heavyweight boxing back on the map.

J.S: Ring magazine are excited about this fight. They said that Chris Arreola may not win, but he will give it everything he has trying. I know you don't want to hear about people saying you'll lose, but even Ring are pumped about this fight, does that make you feel good?

C.A: I think it's good that this fight has given people something to talk about. But, you know, I'm coming to win. I will win.

J.S: It's great that the fight got made, and seemingly so easily. We know what happened over here in the UK with David Haye Vs. Klitschko becoming a farce. Fans are glad that this fight is actually happening!

C.A: I'm here to fight. That's what it's all about and what we're [boxers] here for. People pay to see us fight, they pay to see action. They sit down with their popcorn or whatever and they want to be entertained. So I always want to fight, whoever it's against. I just fight, man.

J.S: Everyone talks about Vitali's long reach and his good left jab. Is that your main concern, his jab?

C.A: Yes, of course his jab is a concern, but his right hand in my main concern - the way he drops that hammer down. The jab sets up his right. So, of course, we have to take his left jab away from him, and that will leave him with nothing. I have to get inside.

J.S: As good as he is, Vitali is 38 and he has to go some time. Do you think it will be against you?

C.A: Well, nowadays, 38 is nothing really. Age doesn't really come into it today, look at Bernard Hopkins. So age is not a factor. He's [Vitali] still a warrior and I have to fight him like he's a young man.

J.S: Have you got your tactics firmly in your head? Do you have a mental picture of how you see yourself fighting against Vitali?

C.A: Yeah, I know I have to get inside. That's most important. And I've got to apply pressure, constant pressure. I have to hit his arms, his chest, his head, his belly - I have to just make sure I hit him everywhere I can. I have to make it my fight. And of course, I have to try some new things, like head movement, side steps and angles.

J.S: Most people are expecting a great action fight. Do you expect a really brutal fight? A war?

C.A: I'm hoping it will be. I really am. I want an all out war. I hope this fight is a classic, plain and simple.

J.S: Well, it's been great speaking with you once again, Chris. I really wish you all the best for September, and hopefully the next time I speak with you you will be the heavyweight champion of the world!

C.A: Thank you. I'm always happy to do interviews.

Source

Tags: Klitschko Opponent Interviews, Vitali Klitschko, Chris Arreola, Chris Arreola interview, Arreola, Arreola interview, Klitschko Blog

Klitschko Arreola Officials

The officials have been named for the WBC heavyweight championship fight on September 26th between current champ Vitali Klitschko and the WBC # 1 Chris Arreola. The officials have been selected and approved by the Officials Committee of the California State Athletic Commission.

The referee will be Jon Schorle (from California). The Judges are Ken Morita (Japan), Guido Cavalieri (Italy) and Anek Hongtongkam (Thailand).

Tags: Officials, Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko Opponents, Other Boxing News, Other Heavyweight Boxing News, Klitschko blog, klitschkoblog.com, klitschko arreola officials

Shannon Briggs On Blog Talk Radio

Former heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs was recently on blog talk radio and had a few words about his future in the division.

He plans on fighting once a month starting next month to get back into title contention. He also believes the landscape right now in boxing is good, and there are some really good boxers out there right now just not being showcased. He says he is down to about 260 and plans on losing more weight. He also surprisingly complimented the Klitschko's and was really impressed with Vitali Klitschko's win over Sam Peter.

You can listen to what he had to say below. He comes on the show at the 22 minute mark.

Tags: interviews, Other Boxing News, Other Heavyweight Boxing News

Klitschko Arreola Teaser Video

This is a new teaser video for the upcoming WBC heavyweight championship bout between current WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko and the WBC #1 contender Chris Arreola.

Tags: Videos, Teaser Videos, Vitali Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko Opponents, Vitali Klitschko Videos, Klitschko Opponent Videos, klitschko blog

Klitschko Interview After Press Conference

In this new video, Vitali Klitschko was interviewed about 40 minutes after his 1st press conference with Chris Arreola for his championship fight this September 26th at the Staples Center in LA, CA.

Vitali talks about Chris' shape and how skills are more important coming into this fight. He was also asked if he Arreola was the size and height he expected and Vitali said yes, and talked about how he has been in large venues whereas Arreola has not.

Vitali Klitschko Interview

Tags: Vitali Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko Videos, Vitali Klitschko Interview, Videos, klitschko blog

Arreola Interview After Press Conference

This is a new video which took place about 40 minutes after the 1st press conference for the September 26th heavyweight fight between Vitali Klitschko and Chris Arreola, where Arreola was interviewed in both English and Spanish.

The Spanish parts talked about Wladimir Klitschko and how every one should see that fight at staples. He also said he is inspired by Julio Cesar Chavez because of his nobility.

The English part discussed how he does not feel pressure about this big event and is not going to be a "deer in the headlights". He also said he expected Vitali to be alot taller but says Vitali is taller than McCline(the last guy he fought).

Arreola Interview Video

Tags: Videos, interviews, Klitschko Opponent Interviews, Klitschko Opponent Videos, klitschko blog

Klitschko Arreola Press Conference Video

This is the video for today's press conference at the Staples center in Las Angeles, CA for the upcoming fight this September 26th between the current WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko and the WBC #1 challenger Chris Arreola.

Version 1 from Ring Magazine..



Video Version 2



Video Version 3 with manager's

Tags: Videos, Vitali Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko Opponents, Vitali Klitschko Videos, Press Conference, Klitschko Opponent Videos, Klitschko Blog

Klitschko Arreola Press Conference

Klitschko vs Arreola is on! Today was the 1st press conference between the current WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (37-2, 36 knockouts) and the WBC #1 challenger Chris "The Nightmare" Arreola (27-0, 24 KOs) for their fight this September 26th, 2009 which will be held at the Staples Center in Las Angeles, CA, and will be televised by HBO.

Arreola predicted a win but respected his opponent, while Vitali said it will be a tough fight and even he is not sure of the outcome although he believes he has prepared well for the fight! Both fighters agree the fight will not last 12 rounds. Both fighters also agreed with their dislike of David Haye. Arreola bluntly referred to Haye as a female part of the anatomy that begins with the letter “V.“

VITALI KLITSCHKO Quotes

*current WBC heavyweight champion

“I’m very happy to be here fighting in Los Angeles. I want to thank everyone for making this fight come true.

“I’ve fought here two times and I won both times. I was ahead on the scorecards when the doctor stopped the fight (against Lennox Lewis). I am so happy to be back in L.A., back in the Staples Center and back fighting in the U.S.

“Everyone is interested in this fight. Everyone has a prediction. Both fighters have a great KO ratio."

“If you ask me who will be the winner of the fight … I don’t know. I trust myself. I give my best to be the winner but I don’t know. … He’s Mexican, the first time I fight a Mexican. I know every Mexican boxer have big heart. Chris Arreola have not just big heart but a big, big punch. Great knockout record.

“… I’m more than sure it will be a real battle.”

“I know I studied him very well. I know he is a good fighter. He’s Mexican, so you know he has heart. He’s the first Mexican I’ve fought. This will be a very interesting fight for not just the fans, but for me.

“Everyday I think about how I am going to fight him. I’m ready for this fight and I know this will be a real battle. Everyone says that this fight will not go the distance. I don’t think it will either.

“No one can give a prediction. We know he is a very good fighter with a great KO percentage.

“I show my skills in the ring. Who will be the winner? The one with more skills. I have my skills, Cris has his. Who will be the winner? You will see on Sept. 26.

“I can’t explain my strategy. I want to present my style in the ring.

“This is heavyweight boxing. It’s two punchers. No one knows what will happen, that’s why I prepare to finish the fight inside 12 rounds. But, I am ready to fight all 12 rounds. I am ready for anything that can happen.

“I’m an old man. I have pain. But, don’t worry. I’m feeling much better. I had a good performance against (Samuel) Peter. I stopped (Juan Carlos) Gomez. I will do the same against Arreola.

“I know Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal) is a big boxing fan. If Shaq wants, I will be happy to be his teacher on his reality show.

“Cris’ knockout ratio is much higher than David Haye. He’s undefeated. He’s fought his whole career at heavyweight. David just made his first step. It’s too big of a difference (between cruiserweight and heavyweight). In my opinion, Cris is a much stronger and a much better opponent.

“Cris isn’t much of a trash talker. He doesn’t make as much noise (as Haye).

”My goal is to take the last world title for the Klitschko family and control the heavyweight division. To have all the titles, that’s our goal. Right now, I feel like I have more experience than I did before (prior to his brief retirement due to injuries).

“I know so many Mexican fans who support me in all my fights. And right now they’re calling me to tell me, ‘My friend, we are so sorry. We like you so much but this is Chris Arreola.’ I said, ‘I know. This is sport. I understand that.’”

Joking to Arreola--> “I see you have respect for older people. Please, don’t hit me too hard. I am 10 years older than you. I have better skills than Cris and I want to show that on Sept. 26.”

CRISTOBAL ARREOLA Quotes

*WBC #1 challenger

“I didn’t think the fight was going to happen. … Once I heard I was fighting Vitali, I’m more than happy. This is what I worked my whole career for. I fought for 600 bucks in my first fight with 200 people in the stands. I grind, man. I worked hard for this. It’s an honor. I’m happy.”

“There isn’t going to be a lot of trash talking. I’m here to fight. I’m here to make history.

“I’m here to make history."

“I’m going to make him a pop culture question: ‘Who did Cris Arreola beat to become the first Mexican-American heavyweight in the world?’ I’m honored by this and it’s not just the opportunity. It’s history. It’s hard for me to even describe.

“I’ve never been into trash-talking. I respect the man and so we’ll save all our trash-talking for the ring.

“Any man’s beatable. It doesn’t matter who it is. If you’re fighting somebody, it doesn’t matter who it is. If you have two hands, you can beat him. Fear no man. Who cares? Yeah, he’s big. I respect him. Yeah, he’s a boxer, of course, he’s a great fighter. But he has two hands, I have two hands. He has a chin, so do I. All it takes is one punch. That’s all it is. We’re in the heavyweight division. Like I said before, we’re in the hurt game."

“One of us is going to get hurt; hopefully it’s not me.”

Arreola was asked how he ended up 6-4....

“Oh man, ask my mom. My mom is 5-5 and so is my dad. Go figure.” “We had a tall mailman."

TOM LOEFFLER Quotes

* Managing Director, K2 Promotions

“We’re really excited to bring this to Los Angeles. It’s a natural here. Vitali has a place here, his children were born here. He really considers this (Staples Center) his home arena in the U.S.

“This fight is a natural in L.A. Vitali has a great KO ratio, but we know that Cris is not going to run. For the fans, this is going to be a great fight.

“We priced this event correctly. For a fight like this, you would expect higher prices. But we wanted it to be very affordable, especially in this economy, and we expect a sold out house on Sept. 26

BERND BOENTE Quotes

*Managing Director, Klitschko Management Group

“We’re very happy to be here at the Staples Center again. This is fun fight for the fans.

“We did this in a very short time period. Our cruiserweight champ (David Haye, who was scheduled to fight Vitali but withdrew) got cold feet and needed a tune-up. This is definitely a better fight for the fans.

“It’s a great heavyweight fight for fans here in the U.S. and worldwide. I think we’ll have more than 100 countries covering this fight.

“Vitali will show a great performance and defend his title.

“The heavyweight division is the best division in boxing. If this is a great fight for the fans, then we’re all winners.”

HENRY RAMIREZ Quotes

*Arreola’s Trainer

“A lot of people say we’re cashing Cris out meaning we’re going for the money by fighting Klitschko. I can tell you we’re not cashing out, we’re going to break the bank and win. Come Sept. 26, Cris is going to rise to the occasion and bring home the world title to the U.S.”

DAN GOOSSEN Quotes

*Arreola’s Promoter

“Right now, Cristobal is a monster. He wants to rip your head off. Cristobal’s been asking for this fight for a long time. He could have fought Wladimir, which everyone says would have been an easier fight. This is a chance to put boxing back on the covers of magazines and on the front pages of newspapers. But, it’s got to be a good fight and that’s what this is.

“One of the problems Vitali has had when he comes over to fight in America is the way he fights. The fans here don’t want to see jabs. They don’t want to see hugging or grabbing. They want to see a fight. Unfortunately, today’s fans expect a lot more. I believe that this is going to be one of the greatest nights of heavyweight fighting since the days of Mike Tyson. This will get people excited about the heavyweight division again.

“One of the things that our sport has really lacked in is making the biggest and best fights that the public want to see and, quite frankly, what the fighters want to take part in. That’s what we have on Sept. 26. It’s truly a fight that fans can get excited about.

“We want to see that statue of Arreola in front of Staples Center soon.”

LEE ZEIDMAN Quotes

*Senior Vice President & General Manager, STAPLES Center

“We are very proud to be involved in this historic fight. Vitali has fought multiple times at events owned by AEG, including twice at Staples Center. This will be the third main event he has fought at Staples, the most of any fighter. He has also fought at the O2 World in Berlin, Germany. On Sept. 26, these two men are going to battle it out for the heavyweight title and we’re happy to be hosting this great event.”

DAN BECKERMAN Quotes

*Chief Operation and Financial Officer at AEG

“We’re really excited about this fight and that the two sides have come together to make it happen. Cristobal Arreola has fought at AEG venues in the past including Home Depot Center in Carson and Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario. We feel the tickets are priced well for the fans for a fight of this magnitude.”




Source 1

Source 2

Tags: upcoming fights, Vitali Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko Opponents, Vitali Klitschko Quotes, Klitschko Opponent Quotes, Quotes, Press Conference, Klitschko Blog

Klitschko vs Chambers In December?

Looks like the current WBO/IBF/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko could be fighting the current WBO #1 mandatory challenger "Fast" Eddie Chambers on December 12th, 2009. The original WBO mandatory challenger was Alexander Dimitrenko, but Chambers recently fought Dimitrenko in what Alexander thought would be just another good opponent on his resume and Chambers ended up winning the fight. The fight will most likely be in Germany and will be broadcast on HBO.

Many thought that Wladimir would face the IBF mandatory Alexander Povetkin, but it is said that Povetkin is listening to his new trainer Teddy Atlas and will plan on fighting one more time before stepping in the ring with Wladimir Klitshcko. So most likely it appears that Wladimir Klitschko and Chambers will fight on December 12th.

---

Chambers Quotes

"I've been thinking about this happening for - you don't want to know how long. I've worked really hard to get here. Now all I need to do is cash in."

Chambers' Trainer and Manager Quotes

"Eddie has no fear of fighting big guys. In a way Dimitrenko was the perfect guy to fight before we fight Klitschko. He [Dimitrenko] may even be more athletic than Klitschko."

---

Should be a great fight, but no way is Dimitrenko more athletic than Wladimir. That is a joke I hope even from Chambers' trainer and manager!

Source

Tags: Potential Fights, Wladimir Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko Opponents, Other Boxing News, Other Heavyweight Boxing News, Quotes, Klitschko Opponent Quotes, Klitschko Opponents Trainer Quotes

Klitschkoblog.blogspot.com To KlitschkoBlog.com

It's been a year and a half since this blog has started as a blogspot address. Klitschkoblog.blogspot.com can be accessed for now on after this post at KlitschkoBlog.com .

I have decided to do this because it will give fans of this site access without typing in as much into their browser, so I actually can actually migrate these pages not blogspot, and so potential fans in the future can find my site easier through word of mouth or through easier search engine rankings due to a higher page rank with a .com address. According to google, the .com address should be working in at most 3 days.

So, thanks for all the fans of this site and the Klitschko brothers, and expect more great Klitschko news in the years to come!

Tags: Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko

Brewster To Fight Oloukun

Former WBO heavyweight champion "Relentless" Lamon Brewster (35-4, 30 KO´s) will take on Gbenga Oloukun (16-1, 10 KOs) on August 29th, 2009 on the undercard of the WBO Cruiserweight Title Fight between Victor Emilio Ramirez and Marco “Captain” Huck.

This will be the 2nd fight with team Sauerland since defeating Michael Sprott this last March by a easy points victory. It should also be noted that Brewster is one of the few people to have ever defeated Wladimir Klitschko, although Wladimir did defeat him last year in a easy TKO victory via a rematch.

Brewster Quotes

“I expect to put on a great performance and show how good I really am. I believe I am about two fights away from the world title. Training is going really well. I look forward to coming back to Germany.”


If you are looking for tickets for this fight, you can get tickets for Brewster vs Oloukun here.

Tags: Other Boxing News, Other Heavyweight Boxing News, upcoming fights, Boxing Tickets, Heavyweight Boxing Tickets, Klitschko Blog

Chris Arreola Interview

This is a new video interview with top American heavyweight contender Chris "The Nightmare" Arreola where he talks about his upcoming fight with current WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko on September 26th, 2009.

Arreola Quote

"I got my shot. I believe it's my time and I deserve this time...it don't matter if it's Vitali, Wladimir or even with Travis Walker, it's kill or be killed, you know? When I went down, I didn't like it so I had to get back up and whoop some ass."

Arreola Interview

Tags: interviews, Videos, Quotes, Other Boxing News, Other Heavyweight Boxing News, Klitschko Blog

Henry Ramirez Interview

This is a new video interview showing Chris Arreola's trainer Henry Ramirez as he talks about how Arreola will put up a great fight against Vitali Klitschko on September 26th.

Ramirez Quote

"I can guarantee you this, Chris Arreola is going to stand by what he says. He's not going to come out there and get jabbed to death. Chris is going to come out guns blazing. We're going to take the fight to Klitschko and like you said, win, lose or draw, Chris is going to put on an exciting performance."

Ramirez Video Interview

Tags: interviews, Videos, Other Boxing News, Other Heavyweight Boxing News, Klitschko Blog

Cotto Pacquiao Tickets

By special request I was asked to put ticket information up for the upcoming fight between Miguel Cotto won 34 (KO 27) + lost 1 (KO 1) + drawn 0 = 35 and Manny Pacquiao won 49 (KO 37) + lost 3 (KO 2) + drawn 2 = 54 scheduled for November 14th, 2009 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada. This is the cheapest ticket prices that I've found so far:

Current Cotto vs Pacquiao Tickets Available

• Upper U 219 R Up to 4 $471.00 each
  
• Upper U 222 Q Up to 4 $501.00 each
  
• Upper U 203 R Up to 4 $530.00 each
  
• Upper U 216 P Up to 4 $736.00 each
  
• Upper 117 HH Up to 4 $942.00 each

Click On the link below or the map to purchase tickets for this fight:


Miguel Cotto vs Manny Pacquiao Boxing Tickets November 14 2009

Tags: Boxing Tickets, Klitschko Blog

Steward Interview

This is a new interview from the hall-of-fame trainer Manny Steward who talks about his training regimen with current IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, his favorite boxing moments, and event hints at who he think would have won between Wladimir Klitschko and Lennox Lewis(whom he trained as well).


Q: Under your tutelage, Wladimir Klitschko has made noticeable improvements inside the ring. However, in your first outing working together he lost to Lamon Brewster. What are some of the most important things you have been able to teach Wlad since that time?

Well, he lost that night, but physically he wasn’t right. At the end of the first round, he couldn’t even focus, so I will leave it at that. And that is why I have never doubted him from that loss. I did not take that loss seriously.

But basically, what I did with Wladimir was teach him basics, which is what I did with Lennox (Lewis) and most of my fighters.. As a matter of fact, what was so strange is after we had been training for about a week, he was laughing one day, and I said, “Why are you laughing?” He said, “You know what you’re teaching me? When I started boxing when I was fourteen—you’re having me do exactly what I did then. With my feet spread apart at a certain distance and moving back and forth and making sure I maintained the same distance between my feet. That’s what we had to do in the program that I was in. You’re teaching me basic stuff.” We laughed, and I said “Well, that’s what I teach—basics, which is the most important thing starting with balance.” We spent a lot of time just moving back and forth, back and forth, and improved his balance in a certain way, because that’s really the foundation of everything.

The next thing was just to work on executing his punches with the shortest distance and the least amount of movement. Then a third thing we started doing, which he didn’t do so much in the beginning, was to spar a lot. Basically, with his program, they did not do a lot of boxing. They did a lot of exercises, like gymnastics stuff and everything—and that’s what they (the Klitschkos) said their program largely consisted of. So I said, “I believe you need to spar a lot.”, because before that, the exercise routine they had involved a lot of running, they would throw a ball up against the wall the turn around, catch it, and throw it again—it was a lot of conditioning things, and not so much sparring. I said, “I want you to spar more and more and more, and you will feel more comfortable after spending more time in the ring because this is your work shop.” You almost develop a certain sense of when your back will touch the ropes, and that’s why you never saw him with his back on the ropes, if you notice, in all of his fights. Even though he’s a power guy and most power men have to go back to the ropes in order to force opponents back in or in order to set them up to the body or something—you never, never see him (or Lennox or my fighters) with their backs to the ropes.

I also showed him to clinch guys properly, how to tie them up, and how to always break from clinches with the other guy’s back to the ropes/your back to the center of the ring, those types of things. So he began to spar a lot, and he is so comfortable now. So even in the morning, instead of running, we’re going to happily spend maybe about 45 minutes of him moving and dancing and things to improve his balance and his ring conditioning where he can feel things. As we say, when you spar enough and you box enough, you develop a sixth sense or a feeling where you know what’s about to happen. You have an instinct where you sense a certain punch coming and you can move out of the way almost automatically. That’s why I made him spar a lot. The more you spar, the more relaxed you become, and the more you can see or feel what is about to happen.

But the foundation of everything—everything—with any fighter I teach, is a good solid left jab. If the jab is working good, sooner or later, it opens up holes for the other punches, because the jab starts hitting the guy and he starts blocking and trying to focus on the jab, and that’s when the right hand comes the opponent isn’t even aware of it.

Q: Klitschko has been a very dominant champion under your guidance. He does not lose too many rounds these days and many of his detractors have criticized his level of opposition. However, in the past there have been other great heavyweights who have emerged in so-called “weak divisions” who have been able to prove their greatness by remaining dominant over a long period of time. In your opinion, what must Wladimir Klitschko accomplish in order to become a genuine part of the discussion pertaining to the being amongst the best heavyweights of all time?

I think you just hit on a summary of everything there in your long, complicated question. In history it shows. With Joe Louis, it was actually the same way with the “bum of the month club” as they say, and Larry Holmes also had to deal with the same kind of thing. Most heavyweights have a situation where some super fight arises. Lennox (Lewis) was having the same problem. Riddick Bowe refused to fight him, and all of a sudden, he was able to land a fight with (Evander) Holyfield and the fight with Mike Tyson, which has been his signature fight so to say.

But as long as you can keep winning and dominating, something is going to happen somewhere through some series of strange events. That’s what he is going through right now, and I told him, this is something that many champions have gone through. Even Mike (Tyson), when Mike was in his prime, he was just knocking out so many people, and then all of a sudden you get knocked out by one of those guys where it was just supposed to be another typical fight when he lost to Buster (Douglas). But it happens all the time in boxing. I told him, all you can do is keep dominating everyone, and it’s a little frustrating sometimes in his case with me because Wladimir has become such terrific boxer.

We spend as much time talking about stuff as we actually do training. A big part of training him is conversation. After we’re done with his training, he and I will hang around and talk for another 45 minutes to an hour just discussing everything we went over in minute detail. We’ll go over things like specific angles on the jab where he could do a little better to knock his opponent off-balance. I have never had someone so detailed. I think I am very detailed, and that’s one of things everyone who trains with me says. I’m even specific about things like the length of the socks come up the legs, the way the hands are wrapped, the waist, and the gloves, and everything. I am very detailed. Lennox Lewis was the only other boxer I knew who was pretty much the same way. A major part of training Wladimir as well as training Lennox was being available to talk, because there is so much to discuss.

I told him (Wladimir) you’re going through a frustrating period in boxing, and the fact that you’re dominating and winning rounds so much that what’s going to happen in the next few months or in the next year, if he continues doing this, is he will land a super fight of some type. Maybe like if David Haye may end up knocking out (Nikolai) Valuev and then he can eventually fight him, or even if Valuev wins, then that becomes a big fight. Or it could happen from some other kind of weird situation, but that opportunity will come if you keep winning and winning. I told him, “Right now, what people are going to start doing if you keep dominating is comparing you, not to fighters of this era, but they are going to start comparing you to other champions. That’s what you’re going to find yourself fighting against.” These hypothetical situations will arise where people are saying he’s so dominant that there’s nobody around to fight him, so the next question will be, what will he have done against Lennox Lewis? What will he have done against a Joe Louis or with a Muhammad Ali? That’s going to be his next opponent, he’s going be fighting fighters from the past in imaginary situations, because of his dominance—until something comes up big.

It’s a really awkward situation because Wladimir is such an intelligent fighter that he doesn’t look that good oftentimes when he fights guys who are defensive-minded. He fights best when guys attack him. When guys just sit back and wait and wait and wait, he’s so perfect that he sometimes does not like to overextend and throw punches that will leave him out of position. He fights so technical that sometimes, like in his fight with (Sultan) Ibragimov, it can be very difficult. He received a lot of bad publicity from his bout with Ibragimov but a lot of that was because of Sultan himself. After about four rounds, Ibragimov realized that Wladimir was really fast. After the fight he said he was very surprised that Wladimir was so fast and that he could not get away from his jab. Every time he tried to go forward, Wladimir would always have made a little move before he got started which had him off balance, and then Wladimir would hit him back with a jab, so he couldn’t get any rhythm. Around the fifth or sixth round, I looked at his face, and he really gave up—he couldn’t deal with Wladimir’s jab, he couldn’t get inside, and every time Wladimir stepped towards him, he would start bending back, and even though he was about six feet, he was making his body about five foot seven. Wladimir knew that if he threw long punches he would be out of position, so he didn’t commit too much. It was just a case of the nature of the fight, because Ibragimov had decided not to fight anymore. It was unfortunate.

But when he fought a guy such as Chris Byrd, that was a different fight. Chris, unlike the first fight, had been totally convinced that by just being aggressive and applying pressure that he could wear out Wladimir, because he and Lamon Brewster are cousins and Brewster told him that. Chirs was totally convinced he can win on pressure and that’s what made Wladimir look so great in that fight. In about the third or fourth round, Wladimir got mad because even though Chris is such a good guy, he could hear guys from his camp saying, “Just keep pressuring him Chris, keep pressuring him and he’ll fall apart.” That’s what made Wladimir very upset, he was very mad because of the lack of respect, but the fact that Chris was coming in and being aggressive made it a lot easier. He fights very well when guys are applying a lot of pressure on him.

Q: You’ve trained a lot of great fighters over the years. What was your proudest moment as a trainer throughout your long and illustrious career?

One of them was Holyfield beating Riddick Bowe. I worked with him only in that one fight. Oliver McCall knocking out Lennox Lewis was another. And Hilmer Kenty was my first world champion, which was a very big surprise. And as far as the Thomas Hearns victories, there were many.

The reason I said when we beat Riddick Bowe, is because when I trained him (Holyfield) for the fight, I told him, “This is going to be tough on you as a fighter. Bowe is bigger than you, younger than you, he has a beautiful left jab on the outside—you got to box him.” And even though Bowe was a big guy, he was a vicious fighter on the inside. He knew how to throw beautiful uppercuts, and he was also more active. In every area he (Bowe) was superior. Evander, when he was not in training, he was only about 204 pounds. In fact, he and I wore the same size pants, I was a 34 inch waist and he was a 34. But Evander convinced me to do this, and I thought this would be one of my roughest fights ever, because Evander was inferior in every way. So I trained him for a style of beating Bowe with speed and rhythm, punching and moving, in and out, in and out, to neutralize all of his (Bowe’s) other advantages and never staying in too long. The fact that Holyfield didn’t like to spar, contrary to what people think (he sparred a total of 36 rounds), meant I had to work on the pads with him and try to simulate Bowe for a lot of rounds each day. I was totally worn down, as I was training a lot myself, but we trained for victory and got it.

Then naturally, training Oliver McCall (against Lennox) when Don King sent him to me, and no one figured he could win. At the time, the knock on Lennox Lewis was he was all about the right hand and we could take advantage of that. So I practiced with him over and over and over again on beating Lennox to the punch and keeping him from throwing his right hand. It worked perfect.

Another one was the second fight with Alexis Arguello and Arron Pryor, when Pryor asked me to train him. He was afraid going into the rematch with Arguello because Panama Lewis had been arrested and put in jail at the time, and he was the guy who trained him for the first fight, and even though he never admitted it in so many words, he told me that they were basically getting by with some kind of things that were not legal. So I said, “Well, I will show you how to beat Alexis, but we will beat him by using technique and then you won’t be hit by all those big punches. You know, you’re not going to come to me at the end of the round and where I’ll have something to give you in the drink. We’re going beat him by using different types of techniques.” In two and a half weeks of training, I was able to get him to the fight where it didn’t get that much notice, but he came in totally different with a haircut and a nice white outfit instead of that regular stuff. So I spent a lot of time with him, not just training, but also mentally and psychologically because I knew him well from the amateurs. I was right here in Michigan, so I used to catch him around a lot. So he knew that I knew his style, and he could box pretty good even though he was only five foot six. That was one of proudest moments I had, too, and I thought he fought a great fight without having to resort to any other things just by using his technique and boxing skills.

But those are some of my proudest moments that I have had. It’s usually about winning fights when you are not expected to win, especially. I have been very fortunate to be training on the top level since 1980, and it’s almost 2010 now, which means almost 30 years of being on the top level in big fights. I’m still with the heavyweight champion of the world, but I’ve been very, very blessed, though.

Q: It’s interesting you mention it, because I just recently saw that Pryor-Arguello rematch on ESPN Classic.

Very smart fight. You know, the first fight was a vicious fight with him going head-to-head, flying back and running to get that bottle and all of that. The rematch, he was totally dressed differently—but nobody noticed a lot of these different things, though. If you noticed, he was slipping, picking punches, and he knocked Arguello down in the first round, and that’s when Arguello said he knew he couldn’t beat him, because he was a different fighter in this fight. Very smart fight, and that was something where no one expected him to fight that type of a fight. He was used to just throwing a lot of punches and wearing someone out, and I told him, “We’re not going to do that this time.”

You know, the one thing I’ve learned in training with any fighter I worked with is that you don’t try to make drastic changes with him—you can’t do that. I will try to work with him in his own style and make slight adjustments, because something had to be working to get him to where he was already if he was a top fighter. If a guy’s coming in and trying to change these fighters completely, it’s a big mistake. If you have a fighter who’s been successful, you don’t try to come in and change everything about him. I see a lot of guys doing that, but if a guy has a certain style, it may not be the way that I would train my fighters, but his style is his style, and Hearns is a good example.

I still had him being a busy fighter, but just a little bit more defensive and a little bit more slipping and moving, and a little more upper body movement. When a guy comes in and tries to make drastic changes I think is stupid. Wladimir is still a lot like he was, I just refined him, and with Lennox Lewis the same thing. I even trained Alexis Arguello for a couple of fights, and Alexis was a phenomenal puncher with tremendous follow-through. He wasn’t that good on his feet making pivots or whatever, but he was one of the most patient fighters with very good defense and tremendous follow-through power. You cannot take in a fighter and completely change him. Holyfield was the same way when I had him, he still put those beautiful combinations together but I just had him pick up a little more in-and-out movement, and that’s enough. Chavez, when I trained him, I never tried anything drastic. I had him box a little bit more and I was very amazed by his boxing ability. So I asked him one day, “How come you never box like this when you fight?” He did it with a couple of guys, but he said, “Look at who I’m fighting. Camacho and Medric Taylor—these guys are so fast that I have to be aggressive, but I can box when I have to.” And in training him, I was able to pick up a lot of good training techniques from him.

I learn from the fighters, too. Whenever I work with any fighter I’ll have my suggestion, and we’ll sit down and discuss it. I will discuss it and with a lot of these guys, they have been successful before. Like with Chavez, he never really had a real trainer, and I was amazed by this. He was basically a self-trained fighter. So when training him, I helped him become a little more accurate with his punches and improved the balance a little bit where his weight wasn’t so much forward all the time. Other than that, I didn’t want to make any drastic changes because he had already had over 90 something fights, he was a great fighter, and he had only lost that one fight. So whatever I did, I trained him within that same style, and that’s been one of things that’s helped me in so many different situations.

Q: Changing things up a bit Manny, I’m curious, what is your opinion on the upcoming mega bout between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto?

On the fight between Miguel Cotto and Pacquiao, I still think that Cotto is physically a very strong fighter, but I think he should not fight with his defense being the way it has been before. A lot of people are maybe underestimating the physical size of Cotto. What’s been so amazing about Pacquiao that I love so much from the first time I saw him about five years ago, he’s been fighting top notch everything. He’s never dodged anyone and he is what we call a “true pure born fighter”. He has the instincts of a fighter, the balance, the timing, the stamina—everything—and it’s just natural. He’s a fighter! If anyone was ever born to be a fighter, it would be a guy like him or (Roberto) Duran, but he’s better because he has great rhythm, and his defense and timing are a lot better than people think. When you really watch him, he’s got good in-and-out motion where you really can’t time him, but he’s been in there against a lot of good fighters: Morales, Barrera, we can go on and on and on. He’s never dodged anyone.

I think he is still a natural 130-135 pound fighter. That’s his real true weight. The fights are being made now because a lot of the marquee fighters that are attractive—dream fights—are what he wants to make. But he is still a junior lightweight to lightweight fighting guys who are, in this case with Miguel, a true welterweight. So the real natural weight and strength, regardless of what they weigh on those scales, is still a ten to twelve pound difference. That will be negated, though, if Miguel does not fight the right fight because a good big man always beats a good little man, and I believe that, but if the big guy gets hit a lot and doesn’t take advantage of being able to block punches and to move the little guy into a position where you can hurt him, he will have problems.

So right now, I would say everyone is so intrigued over Pacquiao, and thinks that he wins big, but I just don’t see it that way. I think that Miguel is going to have to improve his defense, in particular. His defense right up the middle—he has absolutely no defense for that, because his gloves are so wide, and fighters can punch right between his gloves. If he improves that and boxes, because he has really good boxing ability and a lot of people don’t realize that—as an amateur, and even in certain fights when he’s had to as a professional, he can box. So if he boxes and keeps his defense a little bit tighter, and if he starts banging those hard left hooks to the body on the smaller guy, this fight could be a very, very interesting fight.

It could be a tough fight for Manny, because Manny is not really a welterweight. This is why Freddie Roach, his trainer, has been very concerned. Even though he beat an Oscar, who physically wasn’t where he should have been that night—but still, that’s not Pacquiao’s fault. Manny was trained to be prepared and whatever the opponent’s shortcomings were, that’s on the opponents, not him. But Freddie knows that Manny is really not a true welterweight, and that’s why he’s trying to at least get some kind of equilibrium in those fights by making the opponents come down in weight as close to Manny as they can for balance. I think that Manny is unbelievably solid and consistent with his performances, and he has been consistent for five years and they were all in top notch fights.

Miguel has been a little inconsistent and has been in some rough fights. In the last fight with (Joshua) Clottey, I don’t criticize him the way some of the other people did because Clottey is a fighter I would not want any fighter to fight. He would have been a rough fight for Sugar Ray Leonard, for Tommy Hearns, and for any other welterweights in history. He’s that type of a guy with very tight defense, very strong, very good stamina, and the biggest advantage that you have when you fight him is that the last two rounds, oftentimes, he doesn’t punch. He’s relaxed, and when he does punch, he’s effective. For myself, I think I slightly may have had him (Clottey) ahead on rounds, but if I was a judge, I probably would have been more inclined to give it to Cotto because he won the last two rounds of the fight. I think that corner of Clottey didn’t tell him that he lost the first round. They won the first round, but regardless, because of the knock down it was a two point difference. The inexperience of them not telling him that and his tendency to just cover up caused him to lose. The point is, I respect anyone who fights Clottey. Clottey is a tough, tough guy.

Based on Miguel having such a tough fight there and Manny looking like a million dollars knocking out Ricky Hatton and Oscar, that’s why the odds are totally going out of proportion and I don’t think that’s a fair assessment. I see it as almost a toss-up fight, myself.

Q: Manny, I just have two more quick questions for you. First question, and you touched on this a bit earlier, what do you think of David Haye as a heavyweight and do you think he is going to beat Nikolai Valuev?

David Haye is not a true heavyweight, but based on what we said earlier, the heavyweight division is not loaded with super talent right now. The fact that one of your top guys, Chambers, who may be fighting Wladimir, is only about 210 pounds, and then you look at David, who’s normally around 215-220. I think he has a good chance in the heavyweight division because of his speed and explosiveness. Heavyweights are not that fast and coordinated for the most part. I think Wladimir is probably the most coordinated guy to be both big and coordinated, which is unusual.

This is why I give him a very good chance at beating Valuev. Last fight I saw with Valuev, I thought he lost to Evander. He showed that he could not handle speed or movement. For whatever reason, and I can’t put my hands on it, he is a very big oversized guy who seemingly, to me, has aged about another five years in the last year. I don’t understand it, but for whatever reason I now see a total lack of ability to move and do things, and I think David Haye’s handlers saw that. David has good speed as well as power, so if Evander can give him a hard time, moving and boxing at his age, I think David Haye has a very good chance to win the WBA heavyweight championship of the world. I would actually, in my eyes, even favor him.

Q: Now Manny, I don’t mean to put you on the spot with this last question, but I have to ask: Prime for prime, how do you think a match-up between Wladimir Klitschko and Lennox Lewis would have gone down?

(laughs)To me, that’s the most talked about match out there. That, and a match between Wladimir Klitschko and Vitali Klitschko, are the most talked about. A lot of people don’t want to say it, but those are the two biggest questions in heavyweight boxing for probably the last ten years. It’s true, and I will give you the honest truth.

To me, having been involved throughout my career with three signature fighters—which I’m very fortunate, because not too many people have that—and those were Tommy Hearns, and Lennox and Wladimir. And I would say, knowing both of those guys, I could tell you the strong points of each and you’ll have to decide who will win, because I really don’t know.

Lennox was the type of a guy that, he was considerably a much stronger man then people realized. I did have the privilege of training guys who had fought him. I trained Shannon Briggs, and the first thing he told me was, “I was just amazed at how physically strong Lennox was. I mean, when you punch him he blocks punches like he’s a big tree trunk.” He’s physically strong, and people don’t realize that. I also trained Henry Akinwande, and he told me the same thing. He said, “Lennox’s strength is what you don’t see or realize until you’re in the ring with him and he’s an extremely strong man.” Lennox, I thought, had a pretty good jab and a right hand, but his biggest advantage was that Lennox was a very physical guy, and when he had to, he could resort to being extremely physical and do what he had to do win. If he had to, he would rough you up.

I remember in the fight with Riddick Bowe in the Olympics. He realized that he had lost in the 1984 Olympics and he waited four years, and he was losing again. He actually lost the first round, and he just came storming out in that second round and just crushed Bowe. He just overpowered him. That’s one of the things about Lennox is that he could find a way to win when he had to. Then he also had the fight with Vitali. After he came back after the third or fourth round, I said, “We’re losing the fight. You’re used to being the tall guy, backing up and being out of range, but this guy is so awkward he’s hitting you with punches that you don’t see coming.” I said, “We got to go to the streets. When you jab, don’t just snap the jab—push all the way through so you can push him off balance. Throw the left hook, and if you miss with the hook, bang him to the shoulders. Just start doggin’ him now.” And Lennox was the type of guy who would look at you and say, “Okay.” We also had to do that in the (Ray) Mercer fight. Going into the last two rounds, I said the same type of thing, and Lennox was able to do a variety of things. He could become very physical when he had to and he had a variety of punches, too. He developed a good uppercut, which we used a lot, especially with guys like Vitali and Michael Grant.

Wladimir didn’t possess all those things. Some guys, they just have one or two things that they can do so well. Like Ali, for example, would just basically move and throw a one-two. He didn’t throw punches to the body, and he didn’t throw the left hook to the body, but he did things so well that just those one or two things could offset everything else. Wladimir has balance that is unlike anybody I have ever seen. His balance and positioning is great. The man is six foot six, but he has the ability to move in-and-out, in-and-out, keep his balance, and he throws straight simple punches very effectively.

Even guys who have fought him, like Chris Byrd. He said, “After the first time I lost to Wladimir I thought it was because he was bigger than me. He was bigger physically and just threw me around. After the second time we fought, I think he could have weighed 210 pounds and he would have beaten me because I could not see his punches, particularly his right hand.” He said, “He was hitting me with the jab, and his jab was so accurate that every time I tried to get set, he moved back and broke my rhythm and even though I was watching his right hand, ya know, when I got knocked down the first time, I asked my dad what he hit me with and he said ‘the right hand’. And I said but I was watching the right hand, and he never threw it.” That’s how accurate he is with his punches. Byrd couldn’t see the punches. Even though he was watching, he still never saw them when they came.

Just based on his physical size, he’s about 240 pounds, six foot six and the ability to move in and out, punch accurately, and develop good stamina and the ability to think—against Lennox? Honestly, myself, I don’t know. I really don’t know. That’s a fight that as a fan, I would have loved to have seen. It would have been a very interesting fight.

Q: Thank you, Manny. Now do you have anything else you would like to say to all of your fans out at East Side Boxing?

Well first off, I think that’s an unbelievable website and I have it programmed in everything.

But I would like to say this: A lot of people are saying that this boxing thing is dead and that it’s not the same, and that’s not true. It’s not the same, but it’s changing. It’s like so many things, like the evolution of music and everything else. I think boxing is healthy, but different. We have to realize it’s a new generation with different styles and different everything. I think the reason boxing is healthy is because we’re making so many dream matches. We don’t have any one superstar fighter who is so dominant, and the reason for that, is because the fighters are stepping up and fighting tough quality fights against each other and that didn’t used to happen.

A dominant guy like Mike Tyson was with guys who pretty much had control of all the same promotions. Now, we have all these dream fights where the networks have gotten together and promoters have put their differences aside and they’re working on sharing their profits, or whatever, and not worried about their main meal ticket. We have so many good competitive fights. Not that we have that one big super fight, but you have much more competitive fights. With guys fighting much more competitive fights, the more competitive fights you make, the chances of you having some losses on your record increases, and that’s what’s happening now. That’s what made Oscar such a big star. Oscar fought lot of the big name fights, and even though he may have lost most of them, he still fought the big fights. The Trinidad fight, the Ike Quartey fight, the Bernard Hopkins, and that’s what made him such a popular guy who reached super-stardom, because he always fought the big fights. He did make a lot of money, but he was still willing to take those risks.

The general public is now more aware of the names of everyday fighters. You mention Pacquiao, you mention Barrera, you mention Shane Mosley, and all of these fighters, Bernard Hopkins, people know these names. It’s not that it’s one or two stars like it used to be with guys like Hagler and Hearns, but the public knows so many of the fighters now. And the fights are, say what they want, unbelievable sellouts. Boxing has become so popular now that as soon as a fight is announced, tickets almost sell out right away. There were plane loads of people coming in when I went to do the Ricky Hatton and Pacquiao fight where people were coming from all over for this big event. Sometimes I’ve had some fights out there in Vegas and LA where there was not even a European fighter and planes were jam-packed with British people. We have gotten so used to going to the big fights and the big events for all of us, that we save our money, we book these tours, and we got our favorite restaurants, and boxing all these crowds are selling out or breaking all kinds of records.

We have to look at that and say, maybe there’s a big disparity between the top level and the bottom level, but the top level is where these dream fights are being made like Pacquiao and Mayweather. I mean that event, if it happens, is going to break all the records. The fact that champions are so international now is another thing. The fact that we (Americans) used to dominate everything, especially in the heavyweight division, and now you look at some of the champions you got out there and you have Nikolai Valuev, and the Klitschkos, and the Ibragimovs, and the Chagaevs….

It’s changing, and a lot of us don’t accept that, but the world is becoming more international. At one time, not having an American heavyweight champion was unheard of, but it’s happening, and maybe we don’t have the champion s that we want here—like when Joe Calzaghe came over here and beat Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones and guys like Ricky Hatton coming over here and dominating. That’s part of the change that’s coming. People are flocking from all over the world to see boxing and they’re breaking records. When Klitschko fought over in Germany, even when they changed the opponent from David Haye, a lot of British people wanted to see David but they still wanted to see a good fight. They still had about 61,000 people there.

Another thing coming up is the super middleweight tournament, and I’m so damn excited about it that if I’m not working some days, I may even fly in to go see the fights. It’s different now, but it’s a world energy that’s getting involved. If enough dream fights keep getting made, even like the Mayweather-Marquez fight is starting to pick up a little bit of buzz now, and like I said, Cotto and Pacquiao, too. These are fights that if you see these fighters fight, win or lose, they are exciting fights. These are dream fights that the public wants, and you get sellout crowds all over. So we’re going into a different era, and nobody is going to be undefeated or invincible because they are making better fights. I think boxing is healthy and is just making a big transition right now.


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