Klitschko and Haye set for “Knock-out in Schalke”
World IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko is aiming
for a “Knock-out in Schalke” when he faces Britain’s David Haye here on
June 20, it was revealed Tuesday.
“We have an agreement with Schalke 04 and the arena,” Klitschko’s
manager Bernd Boente told German tabloid Bild.
The fight is being billed as the “Knock-out in Schalke” between the
two hard-punching KO specialists. This will be Klitschko’s seventh
defence of his IBF title. And with 46 knock-outs to his name, it
promises to be a battle of the big hitters as David “The Hayemaker” Haye
has 21 of his own - although all bar one came in the cruiserweight
division.
Haye irked Klitschko, the younger of the siblings with elder brother
Witali holding the WBC title, by appearing in a British magazine holding
a mocked severed head of the Ukrainian champion.
The 28-year-old Brit only stepped up from cruiser to heavyweight in
November when he beat Monte Barrett with a technical knock-out. “This
fight will get world-wide attention,” Klitschko told Bild.
“The Schalke stadium is a worthy venue and the atmosphere will make
both boxers produce their best performance.”
Stamford Bridge, home of Premier League giants Chelsea had been one
possible venue for the fight, but Gelsenkirchen’s Veltins Arena won out.
The stadium has a capacity of 61,673 seats for football matches, but
will be extended for the boxing showdown.
GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany, Wednesday, AFP |
