LONDON (March 27) – BoxNation are delighted to announce they will be screening undisputed heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko’s April 25th fight with leading contender Bryant Jennings live and exclusive.

The Ukrainian superstar has enjoyed a 10-year title reign at the top of boxing’s glamour division but will now put his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts on the line against the undefeated Jennings at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York.

Klitschko will return to fight on US soil for the first time since February 2008, with the bout set to have high British interest with Manchester heavyweight Tyson Fury mandated to fight the winner later this year.

Overcoming Jennings will be no easy task for 39-year-old Klitschko, with the Philadelphian, who has a three-inch reach advantage, hoping to become the first unified American heavyweight champion in more than 13 years.

After building up an unbeaten record of 19 straight wins, 10 coming by way of knockout, Jennings is confident that he can finally become the man to dethrone Klitschko, who has won 63 fights, 53 by knockout, with only 3 losses – the last coming over a decade ago.

“I do have great respect for Bryant Jennings and his achievements. He has good movement in the ring and good technique. I know this will be a tough challenge,” said Klitschko.

“I am extremely happy to fight in New York City again. I had my first unification fight there and a lot of great heavyweight matches have taken place at Madison Square Garden. It will definitely be a great fight night and I will do everything for it from my side,” he added.

Jennings has been in equally buoyant mood ahead of the fight and said: “On April 25th history will definitely be made and it will be made by me. One of us has to lose and it isn’t going to be me. Enough of the talking, I’m ready to fight.”

Jim McMunn, Managing Director of BoxNation, stated: “We are extremely pleased to be able to bring BoxNation subscribers this enthralling fight. There is always something special about the heavyweights and given the British interest in this fight, with Tyson Fury up next for the winner, it will be a very intriguing and exciting match-up. Wladimir Klitschko has been pound-for-pound one of the very best for so long but in Bryant Jennings he faces an undefeated and highly-skilled contender that is coming to win.”

‘The Champion Returns’ bill will also see one of boxing’s emerging stars in the unbeaten Sadam Ali take on the quick handed Francisco Santana as the co-feature in a 10-round welterweight clash.

BoxNation offers real value-for-money for fight fans, at just £12 a month, with a number of high-profile bouts coming up live and exclusive on the channel with light-welterweight kingpins Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson facing-off plus Andy Lee vs Peter Quillin on April 11th, followed by a night to remember on April 18th with three back-to-back live fights.

Those include Liverpool lightweight Derry Matthews challenging Richard Abril for the WBA world title, with rising star Terence Crawford looking to become a two-weight champion against Thomas Dulorme, before hard-hitters Lucas Matthysse and Ruslan Provodnikov exchange blows.

That night is followed by Klitschko vs Jennings on April 25th, before a huge battle in front of 40,000 fans at the iconic Minute Maid Park baseball ground takes place between Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez and formidable puncher James Kirkland on May 9th.

To subscribe to BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546 and TalkTalk 525) for only £12 a month visit boxnation.com.

-Ends-
About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.525), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android. BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

Laurel, MD (March 25, 2015) – Heavyweight hopeful Dwayne “Big Ticket” McRae will have the opportunity to move up the rankings when he battles unbeaten and highly touted NABO champion Charles Martin in a ten round championship match Saturday, April 25 at Madison Square Garden.

The bout takes place prior to the highly anticipated world heavyweight title fight between unified champion Wladimir Klitshcko and undefeated contender Bryant Jennings. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.com or by calling 866-858-0008.

Hailing from Laurel, MD, McRae has a solid 15-3 professional ledger with 8 wins by knockout. Fighting under the Mastermind Boxing banner, McRae is unbeaten in his last six and has lost just once in the last five years. Although most of his fights have taken place in Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia, the 34-year-old had been lobbying for a bout against a top notch foe.

Regarded as one of America’s brightest and fastest rising heavyweights, Martin is an outstanding 20-0-1 with 18 knockouts. Born in St. Louis, MO and based out of Los Angeles, CA, Martin’s derailed three previously unbeaten foes in Vincent Thompson (13-0), Glendy Hernandez (10-0) and Alexander Flores (14-0), stopping the later to become NABO champion. He also owns a second round knockout over former world amateur champion Joey Dawejko, who has since scored six straight victories.

“This is a great opportunity for my career,” said McRae. “In my eyes, I’m also undefeated since both of my decision losses were controversial and the other fight was stopped unjustly, so my position really should be similar to his.”

McRae is also confident that this fight is going to bring him to the next level based on what he’s seen of Martin, the WBO’s #4 and IBF’s #6 ranked contender.

“He’s a decent fighter but I didn’t see anything spectacular. I know what I can do in there and that’s far more important than officially having a 0 at the end of my record. When two fighters get in the ring regardless of who is supposed to be the next great fighter or not, anything can happen and this is my time to show everybody what I’m truly made of!”

The McRae-Martin bout may appear as part of the international telecast. More information will follow.

Fans can interact with Dwayne by going to Facebook.com/big.ticketmcrae.

NEW YORK CITY (March 25, 2015) – The undefeated Sadam “World Kid” Ali and fast -punching Francisco “Chia” Santana will face off at “The World’s Most Famous Arena”, Madison Square Garden on Sat. April 25 as the co-feature to “The Champion Returns”, the World Heavyweight Championship between undisputed heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and top-rated challenger Bryant Jennings. The doubleheader will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions, the 10-round welterweight showdown between two of the sport’s rising stars will give fans an exciting night of boxing as they open up the telecast before the highly anticipated heavyweight main event.

Advance tickets to “The Champion Returns” may be purchased through the Madison Square Garden Box Office at www.TheGarden.com and through Ticketmaster, (www.Ticketmaster.com, phone 1-800-435-5000.)

“I’m excited to fight in my home state of New York and at Madison Square Garden,” said Brooklyn, New York’s Sadam Ali. “Some of the greatest fighters in the sport have made their mark at this venue; Muhummad Ali, Joe Lewis, Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins and I’m ready to be part of that history. Francisco is a tough fighter and I’m ready to take him on and with the help of my promoter Golden Boy Promotions move forward to becoming a world champion.”

“I’ve earned my way to the position I’m in because I’ve fought and beat fighters who were undefeated,” said Francisco Santana of Santa Barbara, California. “Nothing has come easy to me on the way up. Fighting stiff opposition is what prepares a fighter for the next level and I’ll be ready for anything Sadam Ali brings. My promoter Gary Shaw told me if I kept winning he would get me a big fight, and here we are getting ready to fight one of the best young contenders in the world. A win against Ali will sky rocket my career and that’s exactly what I plan to do.”

“Coming off of an exciting match that saw him knockout a previously undefeated fighter, Sadam is now looking to take a next, crucial step up the welterweight ladder,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions. “With lightning-quick hands, true knockout power and a hunger to be the best in the division, the ‘World Kid’ is a must-see for all fans.”

“Francisco Santana is a warrior who grinded his way up the rankings and earned this fight against Ali on HBO,” stated Gary Shaw. “This is a feel good story about a kid who fought his way to the big stage and bright lights of Broadway. Those bright lights are now shining on his career. I’ve always said, a fighter who is hungry is very dangerous, and Santana is famished. He wants to win this fight and show the world he’s worthy of a world title shot. I believe Santana is the underdog in the public’s eye, but he will once again fool the public with a great win on April 25.”

“We’re happy to add this exciting co-feature to this extraordinary event headlined by the World Heavyweight Championship between Wladimir Klitschko and Bryant Jennings,” said Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions. “The matchup of these two rising stars should provide for a very strong opening fight to the HBO telecast.”

Former 2008 U.S. Olympian, Sadam “World Kid” Ali (21-0, 13 KOs) has been on the fast track to success in boxing since his professional debut in 2009. The undefeated fighter impressed critics and fans early on, dominating all his opponents, including Michael Clark whom he beat via knockout in the first round on April 2014 to gain the WBO NABO Welterweight Title. In August of the same year, Ali defeated Jeremy Bryan via split decision to gain the WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight Title. In his most recent bout and the most notable to date of Ali’s career, he faced Juan Carlos Abregu knocking him down in the sixth and ninth round winning by technical knockout in the ninth round to give Abregu his second career loss.

Undefeated since 2012, Francisco “Chia” Santana (22-3-1, 1 KO) has solidified himself as one of the brightest and most dangerous stars in the welterweight division. His victories against former undefeated prospect Eddie Gomez and veteran Joachim Alcine, have propelled him to the top of the weight class. Santana’s most recent wins came by way of knockout. In August of 2014, Francisco stopped Luis Alfredo Lugo in the fifth round, followed by a spectacular first round knockout of another undefeated prospect in Kendal Mena, a bout that took place in January of 2015. Santana is ready to add another win to his record when he faces Sadam Ali on April 25.

Sadam Ali vs. Francisco Santana is a 10-round welterweight bout presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw. The HBO World Championship Boxing telecast begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Bryant Jennings is presented by K2 Promotions and Gary Shaw Promotions in association with Madison Square Garden.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.garyshawproductions.com, and www.hbo.com/boxing, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @GaryShawBoxing and @HBOBoxing, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, Gray Shaw Productions Facebook Page, or www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing and @HBOboxing.

LONDON (26 Feb) – Heavyweight division world champion Wladimir Klitschko would be an “easy fight” according to brash-talking Tyson Fury.

The Manchester heavyweight takes on the tough Christian Hammer this weekend at the O2 Arena in London, live and exclusive on BoxNation, and has claimed that a matchup with Klitschko would be a straightforward affair.

26-year-old Fury is the mandatory challenger for Klitschko’s WBO belt, and is expected to face the Ukrainian legend in his next bout, should he prevail this Saturday night.

The heavyweight division has seen a resurgence of late following the crowning of a new champion in WBC titleholder Deontay Wilder, with the charismatic American keen to share the ring with Fury, who has his own thoughts on how he wants the coming year to turn out.

“To be honest I’m the man in the division to beat. Everyone wants to fight me because they know I generate interest. People are interested in me probably for the wrong reasons, or the right reasons, but they’re still interested – that’s why people want to fight,” said Fury.

“They want to come to the UK to fight me. [Deontay Wilder’s] the world champion but he’s the guy who first said he wants to fight Tyson Fury after winning the title. So I must be doing something right, I must be on the right track.

“I would like to fight Wladimir [Klitschko] first because number one he’s my mandatory, number two he’s the best in the division and number three because he is an easy fight. Then I’ll fight Wilder. I won’t be taking any interim fights I’ll unify straight away,” Fury said.

The Fury camp has been a joyful one of late following the recent release from prison of Tyson’s dad John Fury after five-years away.

The imposing heavyweight believes that the return of his father will be a major plus for him going forward.

“It’s definitely [a boost] to have my dad back, he’s been away for a long time, so having him back in the gym and seeing his face every day is very good – it’s happy days at Team Fury,” he said.

“He gets to the gym at 7 in the morning and doesn’t leave till 10 at night; he’s definitely putting his misspent time back into practice in the gym. It is nice having him around and seeing his face back in the gym and the smile on it when you’re doing good things in boxing.

“Anybody would be proud of what their sons achievements are – whatever they do. You don’t have to be so successful but as long as you’ve got somebody who tries their best in something that they’re doing then I think that any father should be proud of their son.

“You don’t have to be a world champion, you don’t have to be a millionaire but I believe every father should be proud of his own son,” Fury said.

Despite talk of a world title fight in the summer, former British and Commonwealth champion Fury is well aware that he cannot overlook 27-year-old Hammer, who has 17 wins from his 20 fights.

“At this level in boxing you’re fighting top five opponents and in Hammer the number three ranked WBO heavyweight in the world so nobody is going to be easy, they’re all hard fights,” said Fury.

“You can say I’m in touching distance of a world title but in hindsight I may as well be 5 million miles away because I’m not fighting Klitschko, I’m not in the ring with him and that fight’s not happening in my mind.

“Until I’m in the ring in the opposite corner it’s not on so it’s just another fight for me, another day in the office. I’m going to go in there and box, move around and win and get out of there,” he said.

Fury v Hammer is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546 and TalkTalk 525) this Saturday at 7pm. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-

About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.525), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android. BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

LONDON (24 Feb) – Tyson Fury’s chances of facing Wladimir Klitschko in the UK this summer have been handed a major boost with HBO Sports president Ken Hershman set to be in attendance for his fight this Saturday night.

Fury, mandatory challenger for Klitschko’s WBO title, takes on the sturdy Christian Hammer this weekend at the O2 Arena, with news that boxing bigwig Hershman will be ringside to assess the possibility of a UK megafight with the Ukrainian great acting as a huge incentive.

26-year-old Fury has taken the heavyweight division by storm and recently pushed himself into the number one position to face the formidable Klitschko with a commanding 10th round win over brave Londoner Dereck Chisora last November.

Hershman was one of the key figures in getting boxing’s most sought after fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao confirmed, when HBO and Showtime agreed to a unique pay-per-view collaboration for the highly-anticipated May 2nd showdown.

Now, the HBO Sports boss will be looking to pave the way for the first heavyweight world title fight on British soil in nearly 5 years, following David Haye’s defence of his WBA crown against the much maligned Audley Harrison.

Klitschko, however, is regarded as one of the best heavyweights of all time and the chance to see him fight in the flesh against the talented and colourful Fury will have British fight fans licking their lips.

Hershman will hold discussions whilst in London with leading promoter Frank Warren with the hopes of ironing out a summer blockbuster that will certainly give Fury the best possible advantage against WBA, WBO and IBF kingpin Klitschko.

Fury though must come through his fight this Saturday night, live and exclusive on BoxNation, unscathed against Hammer who will have ambitions of his own as he looks to tear up the Manchester heavyweight’s world title script.

The exciting starlet Chris Eubank Jr is also set to feature on the card when he’s back in action against Dmitry Chudinov for the interim WBA world middleweight title.

Fury v Hammer is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546 and TalkTalk 525) this Saturday at 7pm. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.

Ends-
About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.525), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android. BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

By Norm Frauenheim –

Wladimir Klitschko’s return to America coincides with talks that are holding a sport hostage all over again. The heavyweight’s April 25 bout with Bryant Jennings at New York’s Madison Square Garden arrives in time to take attention off the paralysis-by-analysis of you-know-what.

It’s impossible to know what’s happening, or who’s to blame, or if the reported talks are fact, fantasy or futility.

It’s also hard to know whether frustration will lead to further erosion in the pay-per-view numbers if Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. does not happen. Renewed speculation and anticipation are symptoms. But of what? An imminent backlash? The cancer is back? Or resiliency in a sport that outlives its obituaries?

There’s no safe answer here, but Klitschko’s appearance Wednesday at a news conference in New York offered hope and certainty to what has otherwise been an exercise in exasperation. The Pacquaio-Mayweather tease could continue for another three weeks and that’s if we’re lucky. The first Mayweather-Marcos Maidana fight last May wasn’t announced until Feb. 24.

The only thing anybody knows for sure at this point is that Mayweather-Pacquiao won’t happen in Australia, which denied Mayweather a visa on Wednesday.

In Klitschko, however, there’s reliability in an intriguing pursuit of what has become today’s most over-used word: Legacy. Mayweather advertises it with TBE, The Best Ever, on shorts and caps. If he never fights Pacquiao, will an asterisk be attached to the acronym?

Meanwhile, Klitschko is fighting for his place in history with a steady, patient career. Too patient, too steady for some. Nevertheless, he is closing in on Joe Louis’ reign of eleven successive years as the heavyweight champ. It’s a record that would allow him to be mentioned alongside others in the TBE debate. There’s more than one and there always will be.

Klitschko knows that his longevity and record (63-3, 53 KOs) are generating comparisons to Louis, Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes.

“I hear this once in awhile,’’ he said. “…I don’t want to put myself in line with those legends. I respect and love them. I cannot put myself with others. You can do it, but it’s not my job.”

It’s an ambitious job, part political and unmistakably dangerous for a fighter who will be 39 years old on March 25. It’s no coincidence, perhaps, that he’s back in the U.S. for his first fight in seven years. He’s in the country and city that has produced so many of the best moments in the heavyweight division’s fabled history.

“It’s kind of incredible to me to think that I’m coming back now as the champion and still doing this,” he said. “Fortunately, knock on wood, I don’t feel my age. I’ll be 39 by the time we fight but I don’t feel that way. I feel good and I want to show the people here in the U.S. how far I’ve come since I was last here.”

Klitschko’s return to the U.S. market makes business sense, too. There are signs that of renewed interest in American-born heavyweights. The television audience for Alabama-born Deontay Wilder’s one-sided decision over Bermane Stiverne for the WBC’s slice of the title was a hit.

The Showtime-telecast of the bout drew an average audience of 1.24 million, fourth highest in the network’s history of non-PPV bouts. It was a surprise, because half of a crowd announce at about 8,400 at Las Vegas MGM Grand had freebies. But the Nielsen numbers said fans are curious about the outspoken, entertaining Wilder, the last American to win an Olympic medal – bronze in 2008.

It’s a number that says they’ll be back, maybe in larger numbers, for a PPV showdown with Klitschko, who has employed Wilder as a sparring partner.

“We need to do it and we have to do it,” Klitschko said of the Wilder possibility. “There is certainly a reason why I’m back here and why I’m fighting on U.S. television live on U.S. soil. (Wilder) is the most valuable opponent for me to fight and the price is the title that he has.

“The demand is here.”

Klitschko, at least, is taking a real step toward fulfilling it.

NEW YORK (Feb. 5, 2015) — This coming Monday night (Feb. 9) at 11:30 p.m. ET, Fight Network USA will air the great Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer”Klitschko’s first world heavyweight title defense, from 2001 against challenger Derrick “D-Train” Jefferson, as part of its InterBox Classics series. Klitschko vs. Jefferson will be replayed Tuesday, Feb. 10 (9 a.m. ET) on Fight Network.

Fight Network is the world’s premier combat sports network dedicated to 24/7 coverage, including fights, fighters, fight news and fight lifestyle. The channel is available in the U.S. on Cablevision in parts of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, Texas-based Grande Communications, Armstrong Cable in Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, as well as on Shentel Cable in Virginia, West Virginia and portions of western Maryland. Fight Network is also on Roku set top boxes throughout America and streaming live on website KlowdTV.com.

Klitschko captured his first world title by defeating World Boxing Organization (WBO) defending champion Chris Byrd, by way of a one-sided 12-round decision, five months prior to Klitschko’s aforementioned March 24, 2011 title defense in Munich, Germany against Jefferson.

On the eve of his 25th birthday, the 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning Klitschko (35-1) destroyed Jefferson (23-2-1), who was dropped three times for a technical knockout in the second round.

Klitschko (63-3, 53 KOs) will defend his WBA Super, WBO, IBF and IBO world titles April 25 against undefeated Bryant Jennings (19-0, 10 KOs) at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Demand Fight Network if your cable or satellite provider doesn’t offer it!

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New York City (February 4, 2015) – IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO and “The Ring Magazine” World Heavyweight Champion WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO and top rated challenger BRYANT JENNINGS along with their respective teams held the Kick-Off Press conference for their highly anticipated battle set for Saturday, April 25 at Madison Square Garden, “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”

“THE CHAMPION RETURNS” will be televised Live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT in the United States and RTL in Germany among the more than 150 countries which will telecast the event.

Presented by K2 Promotions and Klitschko Management Group in association with Gary Shaw Productions, tickets priced at $1000, $600, $300, $200 and $100 can be purchased through the Madison Square Garden Box Office, www.TheGarden.com and www.Ticketmaster.com.

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO
“Let us, Bryant and me, entertain you on April 25th here in New York at Madison Square Garden. I see how Bryant Jennings acts. I see how he walks, I see how he shakes hands, I see how he speaks, and he has the qualities of Rocky Balboa from Philadelphia.”

“Thank you to HBO. Eventually you believed in me. I’m back on your network and I’m happy about it. Like Sinatra said, ‘If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. Right event, right venue and right city. I fought here for the first time 15 years ago and I’m so happy to come back here and fight.”

BRYANT JENNINGS:
“This is it. I like to thank everyone involved with this promotion and my city of Philadelphia. It took a long time to make this fight happen and through it all I stayed calm. I commend my team for allowing me to be the athlete that I am while these negotiations were going on. On April 25th history will definitely be made and it will be made by me. One of us has to lose and it isn’t going to be me. Enough of the talking, I’m ready to fight.”

BERND BOENT/CEO, KMG Management:
“This is Wladimir’s 27th world title fight, it was 15 years ago when he first fought here. I’d like to thank Joel Fisher and his terrific team here at Madison Square Garden, this venue truly is the home of heavyweight champions and we are very excited to have this event here. I’d also like to thank our broadcast partners HBO and RTL without whom events like this would be possible.

TOM LOEFFLER/K2 Promotions:
“This is K2 Promotions’ eighth event at Madison Square Garden and we’re honored to work with the outstanding team here. We’ve already sold over 5,000 tickets which is just an incredible response to announcing this event.”

GARY SHAW/Gary Shaw Productions:
“Madison Square Garden is the mecca of boxing, the ring is in the Hall of Fame, this is what heavyweight boxing is all about. 25 years ago on February 11, 1990, Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson. I believe on April 25th history will once again be made for an American heavyweight to do something spectacular, but this time instead of being overseas, it will be here in the United States at the Madison Square Garden. I believe Bryant Jennings will become the unified heavyweight champion of the world on April 25th.”

JAMES PRINCE, Manager of Jennings:
“This is a dream come true for us and we can’t wait. There are a lot of doubters out there right now and they believe there is no way Bryant Jennings is going to be able to deliver a victory on April 25th. I would like for you all to show up because Bryant Jennings is going to show out, and we shall be champion.”

FRED JENKINS, Trainer of Jennings:
“I do know the pedigree of where Bryant Jennings comes from, he’s going to give it all he’s got. This is a one sided fight and I believe its going to be all Bryant “By-By” Jennings.”

New York City (February 4, 2015) Undisputed Heavyweight World Champion WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO will defend his 10-year title reign against top rated challenger BRYANT JENNINGS on Sat., April 25 emanating from the “The World’s Most Famous Arena”, Madison Square Garden and televised Live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Said Klitschko about the highly anticipated battle, “I do have great respect for Bryant Jennings and his achievements. He has good movement in the ring and good technique. I know this will be a tough challenge.”

“I am extremely happy to fight in New York City again. I had my first unification fight there and a lot of great heavyweight matches have taken place at Madison Square Garden. It will definitely be a great fight night and I will do everything for it from my side.”

Stated undefeated contender Jennings, “This is the moment I have been waiting for,” now it’s time to bring the belts home.”

“For the fourth time Wladimir will be boxing in the world’s most famous arena.” said BERND BOENTE, CEO of the Klitschko Management Group. “It’s always something special to promote at Madison Square Garden, where legends such as Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield stood inside the ring. We are looking forward to another exciting fight and a great event.”

Continued TOM LOEFFLER, Managing Director of K2 Promotions: “Wladimir has proven to be the most dominant heavyweight champion in recent history and we are looking forward to another great performance on April 25.”

“We’re proud to present Jennings with the opportunity to win the Unified Heavyweight Title of the World,” said GARY SHAW, head of Gary Shaw Productions

“On April 25th at Madison Square Garden, Wladimir Klitschko defends his heavyweight championship for the first time in the United States since 2008,” said Peter Nelson, vice president, programming, HBO Sports. “Heavyweight is boxing’s supreme glamour division, and its champion could not be a better ambassador to the sport in a career heading toward historic landmark achievements. Bryant Jennings has an opportunity to halt those ambitions and become America’s first unified heavyweight champion in more than 13 years, challenging for the crown in the media capital of the world. HBO is thrilled to present the event live on our flagship World Championship Boxing series.”

“It is an honor to host the World Heavyweight Championship at Madison Square Garden and welcome back Wladimir Klitschko, who last fought at The Garden in 2008,” said Joel Fisher, executive vice president, MSG Sports. “Throughout our 135 year existence, The Garden has hosted the very best in sports and entertainment, and to bring the World Heavyweight Championship back so our passionate boxing fans can see Bryant Jennings challenge for the heavyweight title is a moment not to be missed.”

Holder of the IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO and “The Ring Magazine” world titles and undefeated over the last ten years, Klitschko returns to Madison Square Garden for the fourth time sporting a record of 63-3-0 (54KO’s).

On November 15, Klitschko scored a fifth round knockout over #1 ranked contender Kubrat Pulev in Hamburg, Germany. Looking as dominant as ever during his illustrious career, Klitschko dropped the heavy handed Bulgarian four times in front of a sold out crowd at the 02 World Arena.

Returning to HBO® for his third straight fight, Philadelphia native Jennings has compiled a record of 19-0-0 (10KO’s) over his five-year professional career.

Making his HBO and Madison Square Garden debut on January 25, 2014, the 30-year-old Jennings devastatingly stopped undefeated Polish contender Artur Szpilka in the tenth and final round.

Following up on his knockout victory over Szpilka, Jennings won a 12-round unanimous decision over top contender Mike Perez on July 26, 2014 setting up the showdown with Klitschko.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, unified Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko will defend his belts against undefeated oPhiladelphian Bryant Jennings on April 25 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

“I have all of the attributes naturally to be a champion that you can’t teach — heart and will,” Jennings told ESPN.com. “I’m psyched up. This is the level where I’m at. This is exactly what I planned to do. Whatever competition you are in, your goal should be to reach the top. This is the top, but now it’s about taking it to higher heights and winning.

“Yes, we are back at the Garden on April 25,” said Klitschko manager Bernd Boente said. “The fifth Klitschko fight there, fourth of Wladimir, and Wladimir is happy about it.”

“I do have great respect for Bryant Jennings and his achievements,” Klitschko said. “He has good movement in the ring and good technique. I know this will be a tough challenge. I am extremely happy to fight in New York again. I had my first unification fight here and a lot of great heavyweight matches have taken place at Madison Square Garden. It will definitely be a great fight night and I will do everything for it from my side.”

“Everybody has some weaknesses, and there is a blueprint to beat everybody,” Jennings said. “I will have to be at my best. This is heavyweight boxing, where it only takes one punch. Matching me up with Wladimir, there is an age difference. I’m a lot younger than he is. And while I may be shorter [6-foot-3 to 6-6], my arms are long and I am very athletic. But the most important thing is that I come to fight and I know how to win.

“They can say whatever they want about inexperience but I know how to win and in a lot of different ways. And I always have the ambition to find a way to win. I’m not a quitter. I have the heart and will to be a champion. I understand Klitschko is a beast in himself, but I know for sure I will be ready. This is what I fight for. We are not planning on losing. We are talking about bringing that belt home. Nothing against Deontay, but I figure a heavyweight champion from Philly is bigger than a heavyweight champion from Alabama.”

“The negotiations with Roc Nation were exhausting and unnecessary but now all is set,” Boente said.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, world Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko will defend his titles on April 25 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

“The fight will be at the Barclays Center and we are very, very pleased,” Bernd Boente, Klitschko’s manager, told ESPN.com on Wednesday night. “The contract is not signed yet but we have a handshake deal and we are getting everything finalized. It’s a really good deal for both sides. We are all looking forward to a big event.”

“The Barclays offer was better (than Madison Square Garden’s),” Boente said. “We really like the people at the Garden. I really like Joel Fisher (executive vice president of MSG Sports). We had fights with Wladimir and (older brother) Vitali there, but the overall cooperation is better with Barclays. They are putting huge marketing money into this and that is important.”

Boente and Brett Yormark, the Barclays Center CEO, held talks about the arena hosting a Klitschko defense as the arena’s first boxing event in 2012, but it fell through because, at the time, the arena had an exclusive deal with Golden Boy Promotions to put on boxing events and Klitschko was not interested in cutting it in when it had nothing to do with his career. Now that Golden Boy is no longer exclusive, Boente said he and Yormark made a deal.

“They really want to have this event. I had meetings with the Garden and Barclays and Brett really wanted a Klitschko fight,” Boente said. “Remember, they wanted to open the arena with one of Wladimir’s fights. We are really excited to go there. I’ve been through the whole arena. It’s fantastic, a great arena. It’s one the best arenas I’ve seen.”

Klitschko typically trains in the Austrian mountains for his fights but Boente said that Klitschko, who resides in Hollywood, Florida, will train there, which will keep him closer to his fiancé, actress Hayden Panettiere, who gave birth to their first child, a girl named Kaya, on Dec. 9.

“A review on the year: The birth of my daughter, two successful championship defenses and many other achievements on the way,” Klitschko wrote on his Instagram account on Monday. “It was a great year and I’m looking forward to 2015. I’m ready to take on new challenges!”

LONDON (27 Nov) – Charismatic heavyweight Tyson Fury has claimed that Wladimir Klitschko will avoid fighting him should he overcome Dereck Chisora in their world title eliminator this weekend.

The Manchester banger steps into the ring with Chisora this Saturday night at a sold out ExCel London and has claimed that heavyweight kingpin Klitschko will refuse to take him on next year.

Fury, and the 30-year-old Chisora, have the chance of forcing themselves into a mandatory position to challenge for the Ukrainian star’s WBO world title should either prevail in their impending contest, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

”By beating Dereck I will ensure I’m mandatory for a world title shot next year,” said Fury. “I have been saying for a long time now that I don’t think Wladimir Klitschko will fight me – I think he will avoid me – but you never can tell what’s going through people’s minds.

“I hope to God that he does take the challenge and that I become the new heavyweight champion of the world,” he said.

The former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion believes the people around Klitschko are cautious of putting their prized asset in with him.

“I don’t usually think it’s the fighter it’s the people who are around him and handling his business side of things [that don’t want the fight],” Fury said.

“He’s the goose that lays the golden egg and they wouldn’t want to kill the goose that lays that golden egg. So if they want to kill it, put it in the ring with me, otherwise keep on fighting mediocre fighters because there is nothing mediocre about me,” he said.

The 26-year-old Fury has endured a terrible 18 months which has seen him suffer inside and outside the ring.

Now, though, he takes on Chisora for the second time after having beat him in 2011, but believes that the Londoner will prove a tougher test this time around.

“Dereck deserves respect for getting in the ring. He’s had a lot of professional fights, with a lot of world class fighters, so it’s going to be a tough night. He’s been very active, he’s fit and he’ll be ready because it’s all on the line,” said Fury.

“It’s a final eliminator for a mandatory shot at the world title – it’s not just a mandatory shot on the line but a lot of money. The winner excels onto big fights in the future and the loser has to regroup and go from there.

“I’m anticipating a fit, motivated Dereck Chisora, who is in great shape and willing to fight – it should be a good war. Hopefully I’ll do the double over Dereck Chisora but nothing is certain in boxing that’s why everyone loves the heavyweights.”

‘Del Boy’, as Chisora is known, is ready for the task at hand and says he is a much more mature and fitter fighter than in the past.

“I’m in really great shape for this fight and ready to go on Saturday night,” said Chisora.

“The talking is all done and now it is about stepping in there and taking care of business. I’m hungry for another shot at the world title and I’m not going to let anyone stand in my way.

“I know what Tyson brings to the ring. I’ve learned from our last fight and I’m ready for him. This is going to be my easiest fight because I know how he boxes and I’m going to beat him at everything he does. He doesn’t know what he’s in for,” said a confident Chisora.

Also featuring on the bill is a mouth-watering chief support between Billy Joe Saunders and Chris Eubank Jr which sees the British, Commonwealth and European belts up for grabs in a potential thriller.

Frankie Gavin takes on Bradley Skeete, with Liam Walsh facing Gary Sykes on a stacked card from top to bottom.

Tyson Fury vs. Dereck Chisora is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546 & TalkTalk 525) this Saturday night. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-

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Wladimir Klitschko made his 17th consecutive title defense of the world Heavyweight title as he dropped mandatory contender Kubrat Pulev four-times en route to a fifth round stoppage at the O2 Arena in Hamburg, Germany.

Klitschko scored 2 knockdowns in round one, both from booming left hooks. He continued to land power shots and in round three, he landed yet another left hook that sent Pulev to the canvas. Pulev tried and landed several hard right hands for which Klitschko’s always shaky chin withstood. Ironically it was after Pulev’s best right hand that Klitschko fired back with another devastating left hook that sent Pulev down to the canvas for a fourth and final time as referee Tony Weeks waved off the bout at 2:11 of round five.

Klitschko, 245 3/4 lbs of Germany is now 63-3 with 53 knockouts. Pulev, 246 3/4 lbs of Bulgaria is now 20-1.

Follow all the action live from Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko defends his titles against undefeated Kubrat Pulev. The action begins at 4:45 ET / 1:45 PT

12 ROUNDS–WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP–WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO (62-3, 52 KOS’S) VS KUBRAT PULEV (20-0, 11 KO’S)

Round 1 HUGE LEFT AND DOWN GOES PULEV…ANOTHER HUGE EFT AND DOWN GOES PULEV..Klitschko lands a right…10-7 Klitschko

Round 2 Pulev lands a jab…right lands for Klitschko..hard left hook..20-16 Klitschko

Round 3 Pulev lands a body shot..Hard right wobbles Pulev..LEFT HOOK AND DOWN GOES PULEV..30-24 Klitschko

Round 4 Pulev lands a left and right…left hook from Klitschko…Left hook40-34 Klitschko

Round 5 Hard right from Klitschko..Hard rght from Kulev..HUGE LEFT FROM KLITSCHKO AND DOWN GOES PULEV AND THE FIGHT IS OVER

Round 5

Regular WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev has started training camp for the first defense of his second title reign which is supposed to take place in early 2015 in Hamburg. After his mandatory challenger Luis Ortiz disqualified himself with a positive doping test team Chagaev is currently looking for an opponent. “Ruslan is ready to go but now that Ortiz is out we will have to see who is available”, says promoter Timur Dugazaev. “And of course, we need to coordinate the exact date and challenger with the WBA. We will announce the fight once the contracts are signed.”

This week Chagaev and his team will take a close look at the action that will take place in their adapted home town Hamburg. The regular WBA champion will be ringside when “Super Champion” Wladimir Klitschko defends his titles against Kubrat Pulev. “I still want my rematch with Wladimir and I know that I will get it”, says Chagaev. “I didn’t have any time to prepare for our first fight in summer 2009 because they brought me in as last minute replacement. I didn’t want to pass on the chance but I am not happy with the circumstances. I know that it will be a different fight when I have the chance to get ready. To take on Wladimir I have to be in the best possible physical shape and I also need the right mindset.”

After winning the WBA championship for the second time the 36-year-old Uzbek started training with champion coach Fritz Sdunek. They have known each other for a long time as they were both signed to promotional powerhouse Universum Box-Promotion but they never really worked with each other until Chagaev beat Fres Oquendo this summer in Grozny. Sdunek was at the show as head coach of former world champion Juan Carlos Gomez and helped his former assistant Artur Grigorian as cutman in Chagaev’s corner. When Chagaev suffered a cut early in the fight Sdunek took charge and led him to the victory and to regaining “his” world title.

After that Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrow who had helped putting the fight against Oquendo together in Grozny as Chagaev’s friend and supporter urged promoter Timur Dugazaev to sign Sdunek as new head coach. “Fritz is definitely the best trainer in Germany”, states Dugazaev. “He is doing a tremendous job with Ruslan.”

Says Chagaev, “I think with Fritz Sdunek as head coach, Artur Grigorian as his assistant, Timur Dugazaev as promoter and, of course, Ramzan Kadyrow as supporter in my corner I cannot go wrong and I am ready to take on every possible challenge.” Asked about his relationship with the Chechen President, the WBA champion adds: “He is like a brother to me and I have the utmost respect for his gigantic work ethic and discipline. He is working really hard for his people and I am very grateful for all his help. He is surely a great man.”

HBO BOXING AFTER DARK begins early with a special presentation of a heavyweight title showdown when WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO VS. KUBRAT PULEV is seen SATURDAY, NOV. 15 at 4:45 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT), exclusively on HBO, with an encore presentation later that day at midnight (ET/PT). The HBO Sports team will capture all the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 16 (9:00 a.m.) and 17 (12:30 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Nov. 16 (4:45 p.m.) and 18 (11:00 p.m.)

Reigning world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (62-3, 53 KOs), originally from Ukraine and now fighting primarily in Germany, puts his championship belts on the line against Kubrat Pulev (20-0, 11 KOs), from Sofia, Bulgaria, in a scheduled 12-round title bout from the O2 World Arena in Hamburg, Germany. In his 19th appearance on HBO, the 38-year-old Klitschko will be seeking his 17th consecutive successful heavyweight title defense, which would rank as the third-most behind legendary heavyweight champs Joe Louis, who had 25, and Larry Holmes, with 20.

Pulev, 33, is undefeated as a pro following an amateur career in which he won several European tournaments and gold medals. In Aug. 2013, he defeated American Tony Thompson in a title elimination contest, paving the way to this showdown.

“Fight fans recognize the history, mystique and legacy of the heavyweight championship, and we are delighted to present the world’s premier heavyweight, Wladimir Klitsckho, live on HBO,” says Peter Nelson, vice president, HBO Sports Programming. “Wladimir represents all the great qualities that one embraces in sport. We are looking forward to televising his 17th world title defense live.”

Also that day, HBO Latino presents an exclusive doubleheader from San Antonio at 9:45 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT), when Gilberto Ramirez (29-0, 23 KOs) takes on Fulgencio Zuniga (27-9-1, 24 KOs) in a super middleweight bout and Oscar Valdez (13-0, 11 KOs) goes up against Alberto Garza (26-8-1, 21 KOs) in a middleweight contest.

Follow HBO Boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.

All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

® HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

Wladimir Klitscko’s title defense against Kubrat Pulev has been rescheduled for November 15 at the O2 Arena in Hamburg, Germany according t0 Dan Rafael of espn.com.

The fight had to be rescheduled after Klitschko hurt his right bicep earlier in the week.

“I am delighted that the title defense can still take place in Hamburg. The atmosphere here is always gigantic,” Klitschko said in a statement. “Due to the injury, I am taking a break from training now and will then start again with the preparation for the fight against Kubrat Pulev.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the September 6 world Heavyweight title bout between champion Klitschko and Kubrat Pulev is postponed due to Klitschko suffering a bicep tear.

“He had problems on Friday, and he first thought it’s a minor thing, but he went to the hospital near the camp [in Austria], and there they detected this torn muscle,” Bernd Boente, Klitschko’s manager, told ESPN.com. “He was in top shape and he had perfect sparring partners. He did a long preparation and is sorry to have to postpone the fight.”

Said Klitschko in a statement: “I am very disappointed that the fight cannot take place as planned. I am in absolute top form and had a great training camp. Of course, I’m sorry for the fans, but also for my opponent Kubrat Pulev, who was certainly training as intensely as I do.”

Boente said the fight will be rescheduled for November and likely still take place at the O2 World, which was already sold out — around 15,000 tickets — for the Sept. 6 fight.

“We hope to reschedule the bout in the same arena in mid-November, probably Nov. 15,” Boente said. “But that is something we have to discuss with the arena and RTL [the German television network that has a contract to carry Klitschko’s fights]. We also have to talk to the IBF because this fight is a mandatory.

“Of course, we are all disappointed, but these things can happen during the preparation.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, WBA/WBO/IBF Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko will defend his title against IBF number-one contender Kubret Oulev on September 6th in Hamburg, Germany.

“Kubrat Pulev has an impressive record as an amateur and as well as professional. He has very good skills and I will definitely not underestimate him,” Klitschko said. “I am looking forward to boxing in Hamburg. Everybody knows I have a special relationship to this city and the atmosphere in the O2 World has always been unbelievable.”

“I will get the titles. I am ready to replace Wladimir Klitschko as the world champion,” Pulev said. “This fight is the highlight of my career. I will show the fans worldwide that Klitschko is no invincible machine and fulfill my dream. I have worked hard for this chance.”

K2 Promotions on Tuesday won the purse bid to gain promotional control of the fight, offering $7,250,131 to easily top the only other, which was $5,290,144 by Sauerland Event, Pulev’s promoter. As champion, Klitschko is entitled at 80 percent of the winning bid ($5,800,105) and Pulev is entitled to the remaining 20 percent (a career-high $1,450,026).

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, K2 Promotions won the purse bid to stage the WBA/WBO/IBF Heavyweight championship bout between Wladimir Klitschko and IBF number-one contender Kubret Pulev.

K2 bid $7,250,131 to easily top the only other offer, which was for $5,290,144 by Pulev promoter Sauerland Event. The proceedings took place at IBF headquarters in Springfield, New Jersey.

According to the IBF, K2 Promotions has 90 days to put on the fight, although it is likely to take place on Sept. 6 in Hamburg, Germany, according to K2 Promotions.

The purse bid took place because K2 and Sauerland were unable to make a deal. Klitschko is entitled at 80 percent of the winning bid ($5,800,105), and Pulev is entitled to the remaining 20 percent (a career-high $1,450,026).

“I think it’s a very good fight. You have an undefeated guy who earned the right to fight Wladimir by winning his eliminator,” said Tom Loeffler, the managing director of K2 Promotions, who represented it at the purse bid. “Pulev is considered one of the best guys in the division, so it’ll be a test for Wladimir, but we think Wladimir is at a different level than anyone else in the heavyweight division.”

“I was ringside when Wladimir defended his belts a few weeks ago. It was a walk in the park for him against Leapai,” Pulev said recently. “When Klitschko meets me inside the ring, I will cause him real problems, to say the least. I will show the fans worldwide that Klitschko is no invincible machine and fulfill my dream.”

Tommy Brooks knows a thing or two about heavyweights. The legendary American coach has trained a who’s who of heavyweight greats including Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and the Klitschko brothers.

Brooks’ latest charge is British heavyweight star David Price (17-2, 15 KOs). Brooks has been overseeing the rebuilding process for the Olympic Bronze medalist, following back-to-back defeats to Tony Thompson.

The rebuilding process continues for Price when he takes on the hard-hitting Yaroslav Zavorotnyi (16-6, 14 KOs) at the Sport and Congress Center in Schwerin, Germany on Saturday, June 7th.

Ahead of Saturday night’s action Brooks offers his perspective on Price’s development.

‘’He is coming on like gangbusters, baby!’’ said Brooks. ‘’He has a real bright future ahead of him. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think he could make it all the way to the top.

‘’His losses to Thompson came because of inexperience. He didn’t know what to do. When he got dropped he jumped straight up. When he had Thompson hurt he ran right at him, you’ve got to set it up.

‘’But experience doesn’t fall out of the sky. He needs to be shown. That’s why I am here, to teach him, so that if he is in that situation again he knows what he has to do.

‘’You can tell he is really starting to understand what I am showing him. If he keeps listening to what I am saying, this time next year he will be ready for Vladimir (Klitschko).‘

This Friday (May 30th) former WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin takes on former world title contender Manuel Charr for the vacant WBC international heavyweight championship at Luzhniki-Arena in Moscow. It will be Povetkin’s first fight since his sole career loss to supreme unified titlist Wladimir Klitschko last October. Both men know each other very well from their time as training partners when they were both under contract with German promoter powerhouse Sauerland Event.

When they met for the first time in years at the official press conference in Moscow, both Charr and Povetkin showed great respect for their opponent. At the same time both men are very confident that they will win the heavyweight clash on Friday night. “Alexander Povetkin will not stop me on my way to become heavyweight champion of the world”, said “Diamond Boy” Manuel Charr. “I want to thank him, his team and especially promoter Andrey Rabinsky for making this special fight possible. Not many guys have the guts to fight me. Povetkin doesn’t look scared right now – but he will regret inviting me to Moscow. I will beat him and continue my way to the top of the division.”

Answered Povetkin, “You have to respect Manuel Charr for accepting the challenge and coming to Moscow. He is a good fighter and shows great heart in returning to the place where he lost to Vitali Klitschko. But he will have no chance because of the simple fact that I am better than him. This is a big fight but it will only be a stepping stone for me to get to even bigger bouts. I want to become world champion again.”

The winner of the bout will line up along with a lot of great names who want to get their hands on newly crowned WBC champion Bermane Stiverne such as mandatory challenger Deontay Wilder, Bryant Jennings, Mike Perez, Tony Thompson, Carlos Takam and – last but surely not least – Wladimir Klitschko who just recently said that he would prefer a unification bout against Stiverne instead of doing his next mandatory against Kubrat Pulev.

A great former champion in attendance in Moscow and at the press conference is Evander Holyfield who will watch the fight ringside. “I am sure that this will be a great fight”, said the “Real Deal”. “It is my impression that the heavyweight division is getting better and more interesting again with fresh blood and young guys accepting big fights. Stiverne vs. Arreola was a good start. I believe Charr vs. Povetkin may even be a better fight. It’s good to see guys stepping up for the challenge.”

The wait is over: Finally, Kubrat Pulev (20-0, 11 KOs) will get his chance to fight for the Heavyweight Championship of the World! The IBF has stated that Wladimir Klitschko (62-3, 52 KOs) must defend his titles against his Berlin-based mandatory from Bulgaria in his very next bout.

“That’s what I call a late birthday gift,” says Pulev, who celebrated his 33rd birthday last Sunday. “I was ringside when Wladimir defended his belts a few weeks ago. It was a walk in the park for him against Leapai. When Klitschko meets me inside the ring, I will cause him real problems to say the least. I will show the fans worldwide that Klitschko is no invincible machine and fulfil my dream.”

Pulev, who is nicknamed the “Cobra” due to his fighting style, secured the IBF mandatory spot in August 2013 with a win over Tony Thompson. After Klitschko, the WBO/WBA Super Champion and IBF World Champion, successfully completed his WBO mandatory against Alex Leapai on April 26, Pulev, the IBF’s mandatory challenger, is next in line.

Kalle Sauerland: ‘’The negotiations with Team Klitschko have already begun. We are excited to present a heavyweight bout in cooperation with K2, which is deserving of its ‘Heavyweight World Championship’ status.’’

Wladimir Klitschko made his 16th straight title defense by administering a 5 round bludgeoning of over matched contender Alex Leapai in Oberhausen, Germany.

Klitschko retained his IBF/WBA/WBO titles.

Klitschko dropped Leapai from series of jabs in the 1st round. After that Leapai became a human punching bag as he stood in fron of Klitschko eating thudding jabs and hard right hands. Leapai was hurt in the 4th round and in round five he was dropped from a hard 1-2 combination. Leapai did well to get to his feet butt then ate a tremendous right hand that sent him to the canvas for a 3rd time and the fight was stopped at 2:05.

Comoubox numbers favored Klitschko in the punches landed department to the tune of 147-10.

Klitschko of Kiev, Ukraine is now 62-3 with 52 knockouts. Leapai of Australia via Samoa is now 30-5-3.

Follow the action round by round as Wladimir Klitschko defends the IBF/WBA/WBO Heavyweight titles against Alex Leapai from Oberhausen, Germany live at 5 PM ET / 2 PM PT

12 ROUNDS-IBF/WBA/WBO HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE–WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO (61-3, 51 KO’S) VS ALEX LEAPAI (30-4-3, 24 KO’S)

Round 1 RIGHT TO TOP OF HEAD AND DOWN GOES LEAPAI…Klitschko lands a right..10-8 Klitschko

Round 2 Klitschko landing some hard rights..20-17 Klitschko

Round 3 Klitschko lands a right to the head..3 punch combination..big right..30-26 Klitschko

Round 4 Good right from Klitschko..Huge right..40-35 Klitschko

Round 5 Big right hurts Leapai…HUGE 1-2 AND DOWN GOES LEAPAI..BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GOES LEAPAI AND THE FIGHT IS OVER

ESPN and ESPN Deportes will televise two World Heavyweight Championship fights within two weeks, Wladimir Klitschko (61-3, 52 KOs) vs. Alex Leapai (30-4-3, 24 KOs) on Saturday, April 26 from the König-Pilsener-Arena in Oberhausen, Germany, and, as previously announced, Bermane Stiverne (23-1-1, 20 KOs) vs. Chris Arreola (36-3, 31 KOs) on Saturday, May 10 from the USC Galen Center in Los Angeles, both live and exclusive in the U.S.

The 12-round fight between WBA, IBF, and WBO World Heavyweight Champion Klitschko and challenger Leapai will air at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates (Fight Night). Two weeks later, the WBC World Heavyweight Championship fight for the vacant title and rematch between top-rated Stiverne and Arreola will air at 8 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates. That fight will be presented by Corona Extra. Both fights will also be available on computers, smartphones, tablets, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Xbox and Roku via WatchESPN.

“We are thrilled to have ESPN televise this great one-two combination of World Heavyweight title fights,” ESPN senior director of programming & acquisitions Brian Kweder said. “The winners of these two fights will be on a collision course for the potential unification of the Heavyweight title. With fighters like Deontay Wilder, Mike Pérez, Bryant Jennings and Tyson Fury all waiting in the wings, the Heavyweight division is poised for a major comeback.”

Commentators:
Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas will call Klitschko vs. Leapai for ESPN, while Delvin Rodríguez and Pablo Viruega will call the action for ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates. Two weeks later, Tessitore and Atlas will call the Stiverne vs. Arreola bout, while studio host Todd Grisham (@GrishamESPN) will present boxing news and highlights on site. Viruega and David Faitelson will call Stiverne vs. Arreola for Noche de Combates, while Leopoldo González and Claudia Trejos will anchor the on-site studio. Bilingual reporter Bernardo Osuna (@osunaespn) will present live interviews and reports for both networks.

About the Fights:
Klitschko, of the Ukraine, who will be making his 16th title defense and fighting in his 25th World Heavyweight Championship bout, scored a unanimous decision over Alexander Povetkin in his last fight. Klitschko has held a Heavyweight title longer than anyone in boxing history (IBF, 2006-present) other than Joe Louis (nearly 12 years). He has made the third-most title defenses in Heavyweight history, trailing only Louis (25) and Larry Holmes (20). His challenger, Leapai, a native of Samoa living in Australia, is coming off a November unanimous decision upset win over Denis Boytsov.

Stiverne and Arreola were chosen to fill the vacant WBC title after Wladimir Klitschko’s older brother Vitali vacated the title to pursue his political career in the Ukraine. Stiverne and Arreola will not only battle for the vacant WBC World Heavyweight title, but also to become the first boxers of Haitian or Mexican descent to hold a Heavyweight title. Read more on Stiverne vs. Arreola.

About ESPN Boxing:
ESPN is home to ESPN Friday Night Fights and ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates (Spanish version), a weekly boxing series which runs between January and August and showcases some of the best bouts in the boxing industry. Friday Night Fights began on October 2, 1998, and Noche de Combates (formerly Viernes de Combates) began on January 10, 2004. ESPN began televising boxing on April 10, 1980, when weekly boxing returned to television for the first time since 1964, with the debut of Top Rank Boxing on ESPN.

KEY WEST, Fla. (March 26, 2014) – Battle-tested Bahamian heavyweight Sherman “Tank” Williams (36-13-2, 19 KOs) is returning to Germany to spar three weeks with world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (61-3, 51 KOs) and then fight highly-touted New Zealand prospect “Explosive” Joseph Parker (7-0, 6 KOs) on April 26 in Oberhauser, Germany.

Williams vs. Parker will be on undercard of a K2 Promotions-presented event, headlined by Klitschko’s IBF, WBO, WBA Super and IBO title defense against WBO No. 1 ranked mandatory challenger Alex “The Lionheart” Leapai (30-4-3, 24 KOs).

The 5′ 11, 245-pound Williams serves as a perfect sparring partner for Klitschko, whose Apr. 26 opponent stands 6′ 0″ and weighs 245-pounds. Williams, who has fought twice before in Germany, losing decisions to Manuel Charr and former world champion Ruslan Chagaev, has sparred twice with Wladimir and six other times with Klitschko’s brother, recently retired world champion Vitali.

“Based on their (Klitschko brothers) sizes, around 6′ 6″,” Williams explained, “I give them a contrast in style when they’re fighting much shorter guys. I’m aggressive and stay low, so they work on angles to throws shots. I try to slip and jab to get inside against taller opponents. Wladimir is a decent, intelligent, laidback type guy. Outside of the ring he’s reserved. As a fighter, he’s a good technician and hard worker in the gym.

“Germany has been very good to me. In most of my European exploits, I’ve been embraced because they love my Bahamian flavor. They hear me start talking and I bring them happy feelings. I put a beating on Chageav over there, from pillar to post, and the fans ended-up behind me. I have built a solid, steady fan-base in Germany and I’ve been well received since my first trip there. I’m no stranger in Germany and those people know and like ‘Tank’ Williams very well.”

The 22-year-old Parker is 20 years Williams’ junior. He is a 6′ 4″, 230-pound Samoan who has fought only one opponent of note, an aging Frans Botha, who Parker stopped in the second round of their 2013 fight in New Zealand.

“He seems talented from the little I know,” Williams admitted. “I had never heard of him before I was offered this fight. He’s been pushed in New Zealand and Australia, on the fast track but he has never fought anybody like me. There’s nothing he can do that I haven’t seen before and I’m used to being the shorter guy. A lot of guys can talk the talk but we’ll find out if he can walk the walk. I’m bringing my ‘Conch’ punch (overhand right) and Parker is going to know he’s been in a fight.”

In addition to Charr and Chagaev, Williams has fought some of the best heavyweights in the world during the course of his 16 ½-year professional career, such as Evander Holyfield (NC3), Robert Helenius (LDEC10), Chauncy Welliver (WDEC12), Tye Fields (LDEC12), Taurus Sykes (LDEC10), Al Cole (WDEC10), Obed Sullivan (LDEC12), Jameel McCline (D10) and Robert Davis (LTKO5).

“This is a very exciting fight for Sherman,” Williams’ manager Si Stern added. “His experience will enable him to do very well against Parker. A victory can bring ‘Tank’ some excellent opportunities for some major fights around the world.”

In 292 rounds fought, Williams has been knockout only one time, by Davis. His relatively short stature in height, especially for a heavyweight, has been detrimental over the years in terms of him landing high profile fights “I’ve been in the gym since October but it isn’t easy for me to get fights,” Williams noted. “I had fights lined up with David Price and Tyson Fury; they wouldn’t fight me, saying I was too short. I guess they wouldn’t have fought Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson or David Tua.

“The opportunity to fight this kid (Parker) came up. Hey, I’d fight anybody if the right opportunity comes up. This could spring me into something else. I always come to fight.”

Heavyweight contender Odlanier Solis arrived in Istanbul (Turkey). The 2004 Olympic gold medalist will face US veteran Tony “Tiger” Thompson on March 22nd in Tekirdag. It is the clash of two former Klitschko foes: In March 2011 Solis lost to then WBC champion Vitali Klitschko in Cologne (Germany) due to a knee injury; Thompson had already two shots at Vitali’s younger brother Wladimir in 2008 and 2012 but lost both fights.

“The winner of this bout will get another shot at the world title”, says promoter Ahmet Oner. “With Vitali in retirement and Wladimir facing stiffs like Alex Leapai it’s about time to bring back some action to the heavyweight scene. Both guys have a lot to win but even more to lose. So I am sure that it will be a hell of a fight.”

Solis hit Istanbul yesterday with Miami based physician Osvaldo Nordelo to wrap up his training camp in Turkey. Tomorrow the team expects head coach Manny Masson who will be in Solis’ corner for the Thompson fight. “Solis and Masson have been a very good team before. Manny was one of Solis’ first coaches when he came to Germany in 2007. They have a good chemistry and I am sure that they will have the right game plan to beat Thompson”, states Oner. “Solis loves Turkey. He loves the people and the hospitality. He is in great shape already and we gave him the best possible conditions over here to finalize his training camp. He will do one more week of sparring and then just focus on the fight.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF/WBA/WBO Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko will fight Alex Leapai on April 26th in in Oberhausen, Germany.

“It impressed me how Alex Leapai dominated Boytsov,” Klitschko said in announcing the fight. “He has shown strong punching power and a lot of heart. But, moreover, that he can take a punch and feels confident in the role of the underdog. I will be very focused and prepare myself 100 percent as always and will look forward to this next challenge.”

“People talk about how great Wladimir is and the 61 victories he has had in his career. I, on the other hand, think of the fact that he has been comprehensively KO’d three times by people who cannot punch nearly as hard as me,” Leapai said. “I will break Wladimir and it will not be my hardest fight.”

“Wladimir has proven to be the most dominant heavyweight champion in recent memory and we are looking forward to another great performance and victory on April 26,” K2 Promotions managing director Tom Loeffler said.