Vitali Klitschko (37-2, 36 KOs), of Los Angeles, participated in an international media conference call to discuss his eagerly anticipated WBC heavyweight title defense against unbeaten, No. 1-ranked Cristobal Arreola (27-0, 24 KOs), of Riverside by way of East L.A., on Saturday, Sept. 26, at STAPLES Center.
Tickets, starting at $25, can be purchased at STAPLES Center, all TicketMaster outlets, by phone (800) 745-3000 and online at www.ticketmaster.com.
On Sept. 26, 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 belt.
The 12-round world championship will be promoted by K2 Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions. It will air live on HBO at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
OPENING COMMENTS:
TOM LOEFFLER:
“We’re really excited about this promotion. As was mentioned, this will be Vitali’s third time headlining at STAPLES Center. It’s the most of any fighter in Los Angeles. For Arreola, it would be the first time that a fighter of Mexican decent will have won the heavyweight championship if Arreola is successful. We’ve had a tremendous response so far in Los Angeles as far as ticket sales. Arreola has a lot of fans coming to support him and Vitali, because of his tremendous fight with Lennox Lewis and winning the WBC title from Corrie Sanders, has his own following here in Los Angeles. His children were born here and he has a house here. He spends a lot of time in Los Angeles and has a strong connection with the L.A. boxing fans as well.”
VITALI KLITSCHKO:
“I am in Los Angeles now. I feel great. I’m in a great mood, not just because of the weather but because of the fight coming. I feel good and can’t wait for Saturday night when I can show my performance for all boxing fans and everyone who comes to STAPLES Center and everyone who sees the fight on TV. I promise everybody will be surprised because my performance will be much better than before. Nobody has seen me in the shape I will be in on Sept. 26. Everything is good. I’m happy with my preparation and I’ve done all my homework.”
How difficult was it being forced into retirement at such a young age?
“I spent the time in retirement to fix all my problems. Before I made my comeback, I talked to many people. I talked to my coach, who supported me, I talked to my family. My mom and my wife didn’t want me to go into the ring anymore, but I feel good. I passed all tests and medical exams and we decided to make my comeback.
“To be honest, it was very difficult psychologically on me. Some people thought I didn’t want to fight Hasim Rahman. They didn’t think I had a real injury. There were so many stories out there. Physiologically, I think for every sportsman it’s very difficult to make the decision on retirement.”
What is your opinion of Arreola?
“Chris Arreola is a tough fighter. He’s the official contender, and to be No. 1 is not easy. You have to show your skills. I’ve studied him very well and I know he had a good amateur background and, as a professional, he’s undefeated. He moves very well. He has very good, explosive combinations. He has a big punch. He has everything you need to be a world champion, except one thing: He doesn’t have the experience as me. I want to show him my skills in the ring. I want to be world champion and keep my title for a long time.”
Can you talk about the techniques you are working on with (trainer) Fritz (Sdunek) that are a little bit different?
“We’ve been together almost 14 years. We’re one team and we know each other very well. We feel each other. We’re a good team. Every sportsman gets injured and it’s very important how a coach makes a preparation plan that gets you into great shape and in the right shape by fight time. I’ve had back problems, I’ve had knee problems and I’ve had shoulder problems before in my career. It’s very important that I am very careful with that. For example, if I have a back problem, I will run. Every morning before a fight, I run eight miles. Right now, we try to find exercises to fix the problems and be much stronger.’’
How rewarding is it for you to come back in fairly dominant fashion against two guys with very different styles?
“The main point in every profession is that you understand who the beginner is and who the professional is. The main point is experience and how you work with that. It’s very important that with experience, you get the best result.
