July 3, 2007

Former two-time world champion Vitali Klitschko has arrived in Cologne to join his younger brother IBF/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and take over all of the management aspects of preparation for the upcoming fight. Our friends at Klitschko.com met up with Vitali during Wladimir’s evening training. Vitali quietly observed Wladimir’s ninety minute training session. As Wladimir finished up, and they began to pack, Vitali answered a couple of questions.

Vitali, this was Wladimir’s last training session before the fight with Brewster. From now on it will only be easy workouts. From your point of view what do you think of Wladimir’s preparation for the upcoming fight?

Wladimir is fully concentrated on the upcoming fight. He can be compared to a compressed spring. He’s quick and well-balanced. Good combinations both when he’s moving and when he is standing.

What does Emanuel Steward think?

Our team that observed Wladimir’s training from the start to the end, say only one thing – that Wladimir is completely ready for this fight. Also, most of the boxing analysts that I have spoken to earlier today, expect so much action in this fight, that they are already calling it - the fight of the year in the heavyweight division.

But these are also the same experts that state that Wladimir has to be under pressure due to his first loss to Lamon. So is Wladimir mentally ready?

Wladimir is mentally ready, so any talk of psychological pressure on Wladimir’s shoulders lacks any truth.

Vitali, what do you think Lamon has in store for Wladimir? Is it going to be a chess match or an all-out war?

As far as a chess match, the World Chess Champion Wladimir Kramnik not only challenged Wladimir but will also be present at this fight. So it looks like the chess part is already covered.

Then, a question about an all-out-war…

Lamon Brewster in his last fights has proven that he is a strong and dangerous fighter. Therefore Wladimir should expect a very hard fight. Among Brewster’s strong sides I would definitely add his explosive style, as well as his ability to carry out a fight rather rigidly. I want to point out his skill of focus, when he’s able to collect all of his strength even under extreme conditions. He’s not bad with techniques. But if we are to address his weaknesses, it’s hard to focus on his weak points from the last few fight, since as you all know, following each fight there is a great deal of analysis and work done to correct and improve those shortcomings. Nevertheless, I am sure that Wladimir will find a weak point and use it to his advantage leading to a victory.

Vitali, we know that you don’t like to forecast. But do you think the fight will end by a knockout?

No one knows what will happen, until the actual fight ends. But considering Wladimir’s and Lamon’s records, where most of their wins came by a knockout, it’s possible to guess, and with certain confidence, that it’s highly unlikely that the fight will go to the judges' scorecards. This fight will end with a knockout....In this fight Wladimir has a chance to put an end to all the questions about what took place three years ago - did Wlaidmir simply lose the fight or was it due to outside influence?