Ukraine’s world heavyweight boxing champion and aspiring politician Vitali Klitschko on Saturday defends his WBC belt against challenger Germany’s Manuel Charr in a 12-round bout in Moscow.
The veteran Klitschko, 40, enjoys an impressive professional record of 44-2 with 40 KOs and the bout at the 30,000-capacity Olimpiysky indoor sports arena in Moscow will be his 17th world heavyweight championship fight.
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Charr is still unbeaten in his professional career. With 21 wins and 11 KOs, he is ranked seventh in WBC standings.
At 2.00 metres tall with a reach of 2.03m, Klitschko, known as Dr. Iron Fist for his intelligence and punch power, is eight centimetres taller than the Beirut-born Charr with a reach of five centimetres longer.
Klitschko said he experienced smooth preparations for the bout with Charr, after taking a break from his political activities in his native Ukraine ahead of parliamentary elections on October 28.
The boxer leads the aptly-named Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform (UDAR, meaning punch) party which is currently running third in opinion polls and is vehemently critical of President Viktor Yanukovych.
“It’s my first ever bout in the Russian capital and I’m really happy to have my title defence in Moscow,” Klitschko told reporters.
“I know that professional boxing is very popular in Russia and many of Russians support me and my brother (and fellow boxing champion) Vladimir.”
“I’m happy that I had little trouble during my preparation for this bout. I’ve gained terrific form and ready to perform exciting boxing for those who will attend the bout in Olimpiysky or will watch it on TV.”
Klitschko gave credit to his opponent Charr, whom he has called one of the brightest representatives of the new generation of the heavyweight boxers.
“I know that some people are not taking Charr seriously, considering him a boxer without big-sounding name and serious experience,” Klitschko added.
“However, he represents the new generation of heavyweight boxers. He’s a fighter from the top-ten of WBC. He’s young, aggressive and strong.”
Meanwhile, German contender Charr said he was ready to make history by winning the world title, adding he was confident that his team had chosen right tactics against the title holder Klitschko.
“I know Klitshcko’s coach Fritz Sdunek very well as I have already worked with him. I know his strong features and his weaknesses and I know which tactics he will chose for Vitali,” Charr said.
“That’s why I have called Russian manager Valery Belov to coach me. We’ve put in a good work with him. And we’ve chosen excellent tactics against Klitschko. I’m 1,000-percent sure it will work on Saturday and I will become new WBC champion.”
Charr referred to the words of Mahatma Gandhi, who said: “At the beginning they ignore you, than they laugh at you and after they fight with you. And at the end you win.”
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