Workout Quotes: Vitali Klitschko

29.05 - Former World Boxing Organization (WBO) Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko will battle Cedric Boswell in the co-feature of the Lennox Lewis-Kirk Johnson fight card, Saturday, June 21, 2003 from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Klitschko (32-1, 31 KOs), of Los Angeles, by way of Kiev, Ukraine, currently is the WBA and WBC No.1 heavyweight contender. Lion Promotions, in association with Prize Fight Promotions, Duva Boxing and STAPLES Center, will present the historic card.

The older brother of former WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir will attempt to gain his sixth consecutive victory. In his last outing, Klitschko became the first boxer to stop Larry Donald when he flattened “The Legend” in the 10th round on Nov. 23, 2002, in Germany. Nicknamed “Dr. Iron Fist,” Klitschko became the first heavyweight champion with a Ph.D. to capture a world belt when he won the WBO belt with a second-round knockout over Herbie Hide on June 27, 1999. On Nov. 11, 1999, the Guinness Book of World Records added Klitschko for becoming the fastest heavyweight to win 26 fights by KO in the least amount of rounds (60).

Vitali Klitschko

“I have lived in Los Angeles for a couple of years now. This is the home of my wife and two children, so I am very excited to be fighting on June 21.”

“I would have liked to have fought Lennox Lewis. That is whom I thought I was fighting next. When they told me Lewis was going to fight Kirk Johnson, it was a big surprise, but this is the next best thing. If I win and Lewis wins, we will fight each other in our next fight.”

“Until they told me I was fighting him, I had never heard of Cedric Boswell. I know I cannot take him lightly. I have studied tapes of him, and know he is a very strong fighter. He will be a very dangerous opponent.”

“This will be a good exam for me. I never make a prediction on a knockout or decision because anything can happen when two heavyweights get together. I am in very good shape, and I expect a lot of my fans to be at STAPLES Center. It is going to be a very good fight"