Final Stepping Stone: Vitali Klitschko to fight Boswell
15.05 – Dr. Vitali Klitschko, a former WBO heavyweight champion and currently #1 ranked contender of the WBC and the WBA, will fight against undefeated American Cedrick Bowsell, 21-0 (16), at the Los Angeles Stables Center on June 21. Klitschko’s fight will be the co-main event of the evening beside a contest between WBC champion Lennox Lewis and Kirk Johnson. In case Klitschko and Lewis win they will face each other later this year.
“It’s a risc to step into the ring against an undefeated man like Boswell when you are so close to a world title shot”, German promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl said. “But we wanted an opponent who presents a challenge to Vitali. This is the case with Boswell.”
The fight will be televised live by ZDF in Germany and by HBO in the USA.
Klitschko coach Fritz Sdunek regards the 33-year-old 6-foot-3 man from Atlanta, GA, as highly dangerous after studying the fight record and a video tape.
“No question – he is dangerous”, Sdunek said. “Somebody who is undefeated and won 16 times inside the distance can punch hard. We have to wait and see whether he will fight as courageous against Vitali. We are definitely beware of Boswell. For Vitali it’s something very special to fight in Los Angeles where he and his family are already living for several months each year. In addition we are fighting on the same card with Lennox Lewis. Everybody will keep a sharp eye on Vitali.”
Sdunek will go to the US next week to start preparing the 31-year-old Vitali Klitschko, 32-1 (31), for the upcoming fight.
Since May 5 a world championship between WBC champion Lennox Lewis and Dr. Vitali Klitschko is settled. Both signed a contract for a WBC world title contest that must take place until December at the latest.
In the fight between Lennox Lewis and Kirk Johnson the WBC belt will not be on the line.
