Klitschko.com - English

13
Aug
2009
Klitschko-Arreola ticket alert

Tickets will go on sale Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. PT for the September 26 WBC heavyweight _title_ fight between world champion Vitali Klitschko and WBC #1 ranked Cristobal Arreola at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. Tickets are priced at $500, $300, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25, available at all TicketMaster outlets or by phone at 800-745-3000 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. STAPLES Center Box Office will start selling tickets on Monday, August 17 at 10 a.m.

Klitschko-Arreola

LOS ANGELES (Aug. 13, 2009) –- Vitali “Dr. Ironfist” Klitschko will return to the famous site of two of his most memorable fights – STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California – when he defends his World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight _title_ against unbeaten, WBC No. 1-ranked Cristobal “The Nightmare’’ Arreola on Saturday, September 26. The exciting Klitschko, of Los Angeles and Hamburg, Germany, will bring a record of 37-2 with 36 knockouts into what will be an exciting, hotly contested 12-round showdown. The dangerous-punching Arreola, of Riverside, California, via East Los Angeles, is 27-0 with 24 KOs..

Tickets will go on sale Saturday, Aug. 15 beginning at 10 a.m. PT at all TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 800-745-3000 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets will be available at the STAPLES Center Box Office Monday, August 17 at 10 a.m. Tickets are priced at $500, $300, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25.

The world _title_ fight, which will be promoted by K2 Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions, will air Live on HBO at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. My goal has

On September 26, the popular Klitschko will make history by becoming the first fighter to headline three times at STAPLES Center. If triumphant, Arreola will make history by becoming the first boxer of Mexican descent to capture a world heavyweight championship.

“I am really looking forward to fighting again and defending my _title_ at STAPLES Center in front of so many of my fans and friends,’’ Klitschko said. “Los Angeles is my home. It is where I live with my wife and children. This is going to be a good fight. Arreola is undefeated. He will have lots of his fans there, too. So it will be a great night. But I am confident I will win.’’

Klitschko has been involved in the only two heavyweight world _title_ fights to emanate from the internationally-known home of the NBA Champion Lakers, STAPLES Center. He is 1-1, but both matches were unforgettable. The first – against then- champion Lennox Lewis on June 21, 2003 – was a bloody, exhilarating slugfest that resulted in a hotly disputed victory for Lewis.

The first world _title_ fight in Los Angeles since 1958 featured numerous changes in momentum. It went into the books as a sixth-round TKO for Lewis, but Klitschko won over the fans and the media by displaying more courageousness than anyone could expect and to this day feels he could have won it.

“I will never feel like I was the loser against Lennox Lewis because I did not lose the fight,” said Klitschko, who was ahead 58-56 on the three judges’ scorecards when the ringside physician controversially stopped a remarkable fight after the sixth round because of bad cuts around the challenger’s left eye.

“I could have kept fighting. I could have beaten him. I did my best, but the doctor’s decision about the cuts stopped me. But that’s in the past. My focus now is totally on defeating Arreola and remaining the WBC champion.’’

The six-foot-seven, 38-year-old Klitschko, whose younger brother Wladimir is the International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Organization (WBO) and International Boxing Organization (IBO) belt-holder (the Klitschkos are the only siblings in boxing history to simultaneously own world heavyweight _title_s) as well as Ring Magazine Champion, will be making his second defense in his second stint as WBC champion.

Klitschko captured the then-vacant WBC belt the first time at STAPLES Center on April 24, 2004, when he demolished Corrie Sanders en route to an eighth-round TKO. Shortly thereafter, Vitali was honored by then-L.A. Mayor James K. Hahn, who proclaimed that April 24 would always be "Vitali Klitschko Day" in Los Angeles.

After he was sidelined by injuries for nearly four years, Klitschko regained the WBC strap with an impressive eighth-round TKO over Samuel Peter on Oct. 11, 2008. In his last start, Klitschko retained the _title_ with a one-sided ninth-round TKO over Juan Carlos Gomez on March 21, 2009.

The 6-foot-4, 28-year-old Arreola is coming off a fourth-round knockout over longtime _title_ contender Jameel McCline on April 11, 2009. The determined, hungry, hard-hitting Arreola’s last 15 fights have ended inside the distance – 14 by KO or TKO and one by disqualification.

Arreola, who’s called out Klitschko on many occasions, hasn’t gone the distance since September, 2005.

“I feel honored to have the opportunity to make history in my backyard in my hometown,’’ Arreola said. “It’s not just about fighting here in my hometown, it’s about hearing the cheers and getting all the congratulations and accolades after winning the _title_.

“Los Angeles is my hometown. I was born and raised here. Just because Klitschko has fought at STAPLES Center doesn’t mean a thing. He may live here, but he wasn’t born here. When Klitschko steps into the ring on Sept. 26, he’ll know whose hometown it is.

“I have waited a lifetime for this opportunity. My dream is about to come true. I can’t wait.’’

Arreola finally hits road to prep for Klitschko

By GREG BEACHAM,

LOS ANGELES (AP)—If anybody still doubts Chris Arreola’s determination to become the first boxer of Mexican heritage to win a world heavyweight _title_, he wants it known that he has taken an unprecedented step in his unbeaten career.

Arreola has actually started jogging.

In preparation for his Sept. 26 meeting with Vitali Klitschko in Los Angeles, Arreola is three weeks into a conditioning program that includes a daily morning run. That’s second nature to most boxers, but it’s a revolutionary step for the hulking, 6-foot-4 fighter from Riverside, Calif., who essentially muscled and mauled his way to this pinnacle of his career.
WBC number one ranked heavyweight contender, Cristobal Arreola, of the United States, takes questions on WBC Heavyweight champion, Vitali Klitschko, not seen, during a news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009. Their WBC Heavyweight Championship boxing bout will take place on Sept. 26th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.


“I’ve always won or lost in the boxing gym, but now I’m learning that there’s more than just being in the boxing gym,” Arreola said Thursday while appearing at Staples Center with Klitschko. “I hate running, but you’ve got to do it. My main thing now is conditioning. My morning workouts, my eating, the way I conduct myself, that’s all part of it.”

Arreola (27-0, 24 KOs) is an early underdog to take the WBC heavyweight _title_ from Klitschko (37-2, 36 KOs), who traded declarations of respect with his 10-years-younger opponent in a civilized news conference. With a frequently flabby ring physique and his general easygoing nature, Arreola sometimes has been thought to be lacking the dedication to become a champion.

His trainer, Henry Ramirez, has seen a change in Arreola since the fight was signed last month when David Haye backed out of a plan to fight Klitschko. Ramirez had suggested doing road work, or hiring a strength and conditioning coach, for several previous fights, but Arreola finally agreed to it this time.

He has been diligent about his morning runs, though his displeasure is obvious.

“It’s been kind of funny,” Ramirez said with a grin. “He’s also doing core drills that will keep him strong in a long fight. We’ve put it out there for fights in the past, but Chris always said no. Klitschko is the first opponent where he really felt he had to stretch himself and give everything he had to it.”

While Klitschko looked the part of a cultured, well-schooled 38-year-old European businessman who lives part of the year in Los Angeles, Arreola looked like a fighter, with his suit jacket draping a T-shirt reading: “I am the Mexican American Dream.”

Arreola said the prospect of making Mexican boxing history hadn’t impressed him nearly as much as Klitschko’s skills on film.

“I watched his Lennox Lewis fight (at Staples Center in 2003), and I was like, ‘I’ve got to fight him?”’ he said with a laugh.

Yet Klitschko, who hasn’t lost in five fights since then, has thought about the historic aspects of his third main-event fight at Staples Center—more than any boxer, including Los Angeles-area natives Oscar De La Hoya, whose statue sits in the pavilion out front, and Sugar Shane Mosley.

“It’s my first fight with a Mexican, and I know every Mexican boxer has a big heart,” Klitschko said. “Not just a big heart, but a big knockout punch. Every morning, I go to the gym and think about Chris Arreola. I think about how I can beat him. It’s interesting for me.”

While Arreola was born in East Los Angeles, Klitschko adopted Los Angeles as one of his three homes in 2000, said Tom Loeffler, the managing director of the Klitschko brothers’ K-2 Promotions. Klitschko also lives in Hamburg, Germany, and his native Ukraine, but was eager to fight again where his children were born.

“We have a tough time bringing a Klitschko fight to the U.S. because they’re so popular in Europe,” Loeffler said. “Bernd (Boente, the brothers’ business manager in Germany) has done such a good job marketing them. But (Vitali) has a lot of friends in L.A., and he’s always liked the atmosphere. Against Chris, this is the natural place for this fight.”

Vitali Klitschko To Defend WBC Heavyweight _title_ Against Unbeaten Cristobal Arreola

Published by Staff on August 13th, 2009
from boxinginsider.com


LOS ANGELES (Aug. 13, 2009) –- Vitali “Dr. Ironfist” Klitschko will return to the famous site of two of his most memorable fights – STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California – when he defends his World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight _title_ against unbeaten, WBC No. 1-ranked Cristobal “The Nightmare’’ Arreola on Saturday, September 26.

The exciting Klitschko, of Los Angeles and Hamburg, Germany, will bring a record of 37-2 with 36 knockouts into what will be an exciting, hotly contested 12-round showdown. The dangerous-punching Arreola, of Riverside, California, via East Los Angeles, is 27-0 with 24 KOs.

Tickets will go on sale Saturday, Aug. 15 beginning at 10 a.m. PT at all TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 800-745-3000 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets will be available at the STAPLES Center Box Office Monday, August 17 at 10 a.m. Tickets are priced at $500, $300, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25.

The world _title_ fight, which will be promoted by K2 Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions, will air Live on HBO at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. My goal has

On September 26, the popular Klitschko will make history by becoming the first fighter to headline three times at STAPLES Center. If triumphant, Arreola will make history by becoming the first boxer of Mexican descent to capture a world heavyweight championship.

“I am really looking forward to fighting again and defending my _title_ at STAPLES Center in front of so many of my fans and friends,’’ Klitschko said. “Los Angeles is my home. It is where I live with my wife and children. This is going to be a good fight. Arreola is undefeated. He will have lots of his fans there, too. So it will be a great night. But I am confident I will win.’’

Klitschko has been involved in the only two heavyweight world _title_ fights to emanate from the internationally-known home of the NBA Champion Lakers, STAPLES Center. He is 1-1, but both matches were unforgettable. The first – against then- champion Lennox Lewis on June 21, 2003 – was a bloody, exhilarating slugfest that resulted in a hotly disputed victory for Lewis.

The first world _title_ fight in Los Angeles since 1958 featured numerous changes in momentum. It went into the books as a sixth-round TKO for Lewis, but Klitschko won over the fans and the media by displaying more courageousness than anyone could expect and to this day feels he could have won it.

“I will never feel like I was the loser against Lennox Lewis because I did not lose the fight,” said Klitschko, who was ahead 58-56 on the three judges’ scorecards when the ringside physician controversially stopped a remarkable fight after the sixth round because of bad cuts around the challenger’s left eye.

“I could have kept fighting. I could have beaten him. I did my best, but the doctor’s decision about the cuts stopped me. But that’s in the past. My focus now is totally on defeating Arreola and remaining the WBC champion.’’

The six-foot-seven, 38-year-old Klitschko, whose younger brother Wladimir is the International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Organization (WBO) and International Boxing Organization (IBO) belt-holder (the Klitschkos are the only siblings in boxing history to simultaneously own world heavyweight _title_s) as well as Ring Magazine Champion, will be making his second defense in his second stint as WBC champion.

Klitschko captured the then-vacant WBC belt the first time at STAPLES Center on April 24, 2004, when he demolished Corrie Sanders en route to an eighth-round TKO. Shortly thereafter, Vitali was honored by then-L.A. Mayor James K. Hahn, who proclaimed that April 24 would always be “Vitali Klitschko Day” in Los Angeles.

After he was sidelined by injuries for nearly four years, Klitschko regained the WBC strap with an impressive eighth-round TKO over Samuel Peter on Oct. 11, 2008. In his last start, Klitschko retained the _title_ with a one-sided ninth-round TKO over Juan Carlos Gomez on March 21, 2009.

The 6-foot-4, 28-year-old Arreola is coming off a fourth-round knockout over longtime _title_ contender Jameel McCline on April 11, 2009. The determined, hungry, hard-hitting Arreola’s last 15 fights have ended inside the distance – 14 by KO or TKO and one by disqualification.

Arreola, who’s called out Klitschko on many occasions, hasn’t gone the distance since September, 2005.

“I feel honored to have the opportunity to make history in my backyard in my hometown,’’ Arreola said. “It’s not just about fighting here in my hometown, it’s about hearing the cheers and getting all the congratulations and accolades after winning the _title_.

“Los Angeles is my hometown. I was born and raised here. Just because Klitschko has fought at STAPLES Center doesn’t mean a thing. He may live here, but he wasn’t born here. When Klitschko steps into the ring on Sept. 26, he’ll know whose hometown it is.

“I have waited a lifetime for this opportunity. My dream is about to come true. I can’t wait.’’

Klitschko/Arreola Video and Quotes

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=20824&more=1 ( the _link_ to the video)

–- World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion Vitali “Dr. Ironfist” Klitschko and No. 1-ranked Cristobal “The Nightmare’’ Arreola met the media and faced-off on Thursday for the first time at a packed Staples Center press conference to promote their Saturday, Sept. 26, showdown. There wasn’t much trash-talking as both fighters paid their respect to one another. Arreola was asked by one reporter about his chances. “Any man is beatable,” he said. “If you’ve got two hands you can beat any man. He has a chin and I have a chin. It only takes one punch. I’ve said it before: We’re in the hurt game and one of us is going to get hurt. I just hope it’s not me.”

Klitschko, of Los Angeles and Hamburg, Germany, brings a record of 37-2 with 36 knockouts into what will be an exciting, hotly contested 12-round showdown. The dangerous-punching Arreola, of Riverside, California, via East Los Angeles, is 27-0 with 24 KOs. Tickets will go on sale Saturday, Aug. 15 beginning at 10 a.m. PT at all TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 800-745-3000 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets will be available at the STAPLES Center Box Office Monday, August 17 at 10 a.m. Tickets are priced at $500, $300, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $25..

The world _title_ fight, which will be promoted by K2 Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions, will air Live on HBO at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. My goal has

Here’s what both fighters and the principals had to say on Thursday.


VITALI KLITSCHKO

“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 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 _title_s, 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).

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

“There isn’t going to be a lot of trash talking. I’m here to fight. 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 is beatable. If you’ve got two hands you can beat any man. He has a chin and I have a chin. It only takes one punch. I’ve said it before: We’re in the hurt game and one of us is going to get hurt. I just hope it’s not me.”


TOM LOEFFLER, 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, 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, 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, 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.”


DAN BECKERMAN, 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.”


LEE ZEIDMAN, 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.”