Sports
Vitaly Klitschko
Elder Klitschko accepts Valuev’s challenge
Published 24 June, 2009, 12:06
WBC heavyweight champ Vitaly Klitschko has agreed to fight WBA champion Nikolay Valuev, Sovetsky Sport newspaper reports.
“Valuev and I have mutual friends, and Nikolay asked one of them for my contacts. I was pleasantly surprised when Nikolay called and said that he wants to meet me in the ring. I accepted his challenge,” Vitaly Klitschko said.
The Ukrainian stressed that organizing the bout will be no easy matter. He said he and his younger brother Wladimir can decide their sporting destiny by themselves as they are not only boxers, but promoters also, while Valuev is a controlled by other people.
“Promoters make decisions for Nikolay – Wilfried Sauerland and the notorious Don King. Who knows whether they want to fight this?” he explained.
Klitschko didn’t announce the date of the bout, but had some ideas about its possible venue.
“Our fight, if we’ll be able to organize it, will spark great interest in Russia, Ukraine and Germany. So I think will choose from one of those countries,” Vitaly Klitschko said.
Nikolay Valuev has confirmed that he called Klitschko with a proposition to hold a fight.
”I called Vitaly on the phone recently, and we agreed to meet in the ring. It was a simple decision for us champions. But difficulties are likely to appear during the negotiating process. But I believe that all the problems will be solved and we will meet in the ring. Vitaly wants this fight, I want this fight – it means the fight will take place,” Nikolay Valuev said.
2.13-meter tall Valuev, who holds the WBC crown, is the only obstacle on Klitschko brothers’ way to unifying all the heavyweight titles in one family. Vitaly Klitschko is the WBC champ and Wladimir holds the IBF and WBO belts.
Earlier this month, Wladimir Klitschko proposed Valuev to become a replacement for injured David Haye at June 20 boxing night in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, but the Russian Giant refused, due to a shortage of time for preparations.
