Klitschko.com - English

here are the best quality videos of there press confrence I could find. I think the Vitali one is cut short though.

Klitschko / Johnson Fight - Press Conference (Johnson)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnkChTaL1yE

And the Vitali short one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8wqSAxLCr4&feature=related

28
Oct
2009
Vitali Klitschko Update!

By Alexey Potapov
Photo: Team Klitschko

WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 37 KOs) recently visited a hockey match and flew a helicopter while in Switzerland. After that, Vitali and challenger Kevin Johnson (22-0-1, 9 KOs) went for a photo shoot in a boxing ring erected high in the Swiss Alps. Before departure back to Kiev, Klitschko met with the mayor of Bern, Alexander Chapet, who accompanied the champion on an excursion through the city. Klitschko and Johnson have both given interviews to Fightnews.com, which will be soon published.

Here's the _link_ to the photos: http://www.fightnews.com/?p=27939

Vitali Klitschko, Kevin Johnson Predict Big Wins at Presser

When Star Boxing's undefeated heavyweight Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson (22-0-1, 9KO) faces off against Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 37KO) for Vitali's WBC Heavyweight Championship belt on December 12th at the PostFinance Arena in Bern, Switzerland, there won't be an empty seat left in the house. The arena which holds 17,000 people has already completely sold out all of its pre-sale tickets. And while many of those 17,000 people will consist of Klitschko's adoring European fans, after Johnson's recent appearance in Switzerland to officially announce the upcoming bout, there just might be more than a few fans cheering for the American Johnson..

"Everyone fell in love with Kevin in Switzerland. The press, the fans, and even Vitali was impressed with Kevin," stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO and founder of Star Boxing, who accompanied Johnson on the trip.
The official press conference to announce the fight was held Friday at Switzerland's famous Jungfraujoch (elevation, 11,333 feet; 3,454 meters), the highest train station in all of Europe.

Johnson was the first of the fighter's to address the audience, thanking everyone for coming, and inviting him to their beautiful country and to Vitali for accepting the challenge.

"Vitali is a great champion, but I am not leaving this country on December 12th without that belt," stated Johnson. "I made a promise to my daughter at home that I will be coming back the WBC Heavyweight Champion of the World, and I have no intentions of breaking that promise."

"I know Kevin is a very dangerous and skilled opponent, much more than my last opponent Chris Arreola, and I am taking this fight very seriously," stated the champion Klitschko. "Looking at Kevin today I can see in his eyes that he truly believes he is coming here to win my _title_, he has no fear of me. Kevin is going to be a champion one day, just not on December 12th."

Following the press conference Johnson spoke with reporters and signed countless autographs for those in attendance.
On Saturday both Johnson and Klitschko were the guests of honors at the PostFinance Arena ice hockey game. The two took photos, met with more fans, and participated in the ceremonial dropping of the puck to start the game.

Following the game Johnson and Klitschko attended the post event cocktail party. At the party was where the 6'3" 240lb. intimidating looking Johnson, who originally hails from the rough streets of New Jersey, showed a much softer side.

"Without saying anything, Kevin walks up to the pianist in the middle of the room, asks him if he can sit down and with no hesitation starts playing," said DeGuardia. "Everyone was completely blown away. After playing for a few minutes and not missing one key or note, Kevin rose from the piano to a standing ovation."

"It's one of the many skills I have, just not a lot of people known about that one," says Johnson with a laugh.

On December 12th Johnson will look to use his better known boxing skills to dethrone Klitschko, finally bringing a heavyweight championship back to the U.S.

"To all my fans out there, stay tuned because Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome is about to shock the world again. To all my haters, keep it up, I enjoy the motivation. On December 12th I am bringing the championship back to America were it rightfully belongs."

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=23124

Vitali Klitschko - Will Anyone Else Take Him The Distance, Much Less Defeat Him?

by James Slater -
It could be argued that Vitali Klitschko, the 38-year-old WBC heavyweight king, is one of the strongest, or perhaps THE physically strongest, heavyweight champions in the history of the sport. Not only is the rock solid 6'7.5," approx 250-pound big man a fighter who has immense physical strength, "Dr Iron Fist" also possesses unshakable mental strength. Add to this his amazing KO percentage (all but one of his wins coming inside the limit) and it's easy to see why there aren't that many fans giving any fighter much of a chance against him..

Next up for the 38-2(37) giant is unbeaten Kevin Johnson of Atlanta. Few give the man known as "KingPin" much of a chance in the December 12th fight that will take place in Switzerland, and we know why. Going by the dominance he has shown since returning to the ring and to the throne in October of last year, after a layoff of almost four years, Vitali appears pretty much invincible.

Barely losing a round in his three comeback fights - against good fighters, Sam Peter Juan Carlos Gomez and Chris Arreola - Klitschko's dominance begs the question: will any fighter ever take him the distance again, much less defeat him? It's good for the division when there is an all-conquering man holding the _title_ (even though younger brother Wladimir is seen as the best heavyweight by some people), and it gives all the top contenders a clear target and focus to have - namely one of upsetting the odds by beating a fighters who is seen as indestructible.

It's got to the stage now, where if a fighter were to manage to topple Vitali, a genuine upset will have been seen; one that would bring many headlines and much praise and notoriety for the fighter who somehow managed it. Is it going too far to suggest that a challenger would get much praise if he were even able to last all 12-rounds with the Ukrainian?

As in the original Rocky movie, where Balboa wants to make a name for himself by becoming the first man to take Apollo Creed the distance (he knows in his heart he cannot beat him), a real life fighter of today would possibly be en_title_d to take great pride should he find himself seeing the final bell against Vitali (does anyone really believe they can beat him?). The distinction of being the first man to take Klitschko the 12-round distance belongs to the huge Timo Hoffman, who went 12 with Vitali back in 2000, but no fighter has yet taken the WBC champion the distance in a world _title_ fight.

As talented as he is, this is perhaps the only realistic target for 30-year-old Johnson to aim for. Arreola almost made it all 12 back in September, but he took a ton of punishment in the fight, before being retired by his corner at the end of the 10th. But because of the way he made Klitschko work, Arreola was given much praise. Imagine, then, how many plaudits a fighter would be given if he actually managed to beat Vitali!

This man will not be Kevin Johnson, and I don't think "KingPin" will see the final bell either. The WBC crown is in safe hands right now, as appears to be the distinction only one fighter in the world holds. That Timo Hoffman, he must be some tough dude!

Kevin Johnson: ""If Klitschko wants to fight, I'll go toe-to-toe with him and use my speed to knock him out."

When Star Boxing's top rated undefeated heavyweight Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson (22-0-1, 9KO) (WBC #6, WBA #6, WBO #8, IBF #12) steps into the ring on December 12th to challenge Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 37KO) for Klitschko's coveted WBC Heavyweight Championship, he will not only be fighting for himself, but fighting for our entire country.

"Bringing the heavyweight championship back to America is more important to me than anything," stated Johnson. "For the entire 20th Century there wasn't a bigger prize in all of sports than being the heavyweight champion of the world. Since the Europeans took over the heavyweight division, boxing lost some of its appeal. The average American walking down the street couldn't tell you who the champ is. When I think of great fighters I think of Jack Johnson, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson. When these guys were champs, they were icons in this great nation. The Klitschko's are a temporary mistake and I'm going to fix that mistake for good. Winning the World Championship and bringing the belt back to America, were it rightfully belongs, will be a huge step in that direction. Like those great heavyweights did in the past-I will restore the shine to Heavyweight Boxing."

While Johnson is very confident in the outcome of the fight, he does respect Vitali as "the only true champion" in the heavyweight division.

"I give Vitali a lot of respect for giving me this opportunity. He is a true champion that doesn't duck anybody. Of all the champions he is the only one who has stepped up and given us young guys, such as Chris Arreola and myself a chance to fight for his championship."

While some critics might argue that Johnson is too inexperienced to dethrone Klitschko, Johnson chooses not to let it bother him.

"There are always going to be people that hate on me, but just as much as my supporters motivate me, the haters motivate me too. I love proving people wrong, I have done it for my entire career, and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon." Muhammad Ali had haters too, it didn't stop him from being considered 'The Greatest of All Time'. Ali shocked the world when he beat the 'invincible' Sonny Liston and it won't stop me from beating the 'invincible' Vitali Klitschko.

"These co-called critics can say what they want, but bottom line is my time is now. I am in the prime of my career, none of the other top contenders or prospects want to fight me, so what should I do, sit around and pad my record with meaningless wins like most of these other guys do? I have studied Vitali for a long time and I've watched him destroy a lot of guys, but in each of those fights, I've seen him show a lot of flaws. The problem is that none of the guys he fought, other then Lewis, had the skills, stamina and technique to take advantage. Despite what everyone says I know what I can do and how I'm going to do it. I know I'll be the underdog going into this fight and that's fine with me. I'm letting all those big betters out there know, if they are looking to make a lot of money, put your money on the Kingpin."

Regarding of the outcome of the fight, Johnson sees the fight playing out one way and one way only, with him being the victor.

"My game plan going into this fight is to win, it's as simple as that. No matter what, I'm not leaving Switzerland without that WBC belt around my waste. I see the fight playing out whatever way I want it to play out. If I have to box him then I'll box him. From a pure boxing standpoint he is no where near on my level. People talk about his jab, but there is no heavyweight in the world with a better jab then me, and certainly not Vitali Klitschko. People might not know, but I actually have a longer reach than him. When it comes to jabbing he can forget it. If he tries to jab with me, his mouth will be wide open and his eyes will be closed by the middle of the fight."

"If he wants to fight, I'll go toe-to-toe with him and use my speed to knock him out. I want to make things clear for everyone; I'm not Cristobal Arreola, or Sam Peter. If he stands in front of me with his hands down, I'll hit him ten times before he can land once. It's going to be a short night for him if he tries that amateur stuff with me."

With about a month to go till fight night, Johnson says he is already in top shape and ready to go.

"I knew that this day would come sooner or later so I have been preparing myself for the last two years. I work out five days a week year round, so I'm always in shape. For Vitali I have stepped it up even more though and have been putting my body through some new intensive training. By fight time, I'll be leaner than ever and ready to go. I couldn't be more focused then the task at hand. I can already hear the announcer saying, "and the new heavyweight champion of the world, Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson! My long-awaited reign of the heavyweight division finally begins, starting with Vitali Klitschko on December 12th."

The Kevin Johnson vs. Vitali Klitschko fight for the WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World is promoted by Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing and K2 Promotions and will take place at the PostFinance Arena in Bern, Switzerland.