Former World Champion Wladimir Klitschko is facing IBF champion Anthony Joshua on April 29 at Wembley Stadium, and Wladimir is determined as never before.
“I am obsessed with winning this fight”, Wladimir Klitschko said at today’s media event in Austria in front of about 50 journalists. “It’s important for me to prove to myself that I am able to defeat every man facing me in the ring. I am ready to walk a long and hard walk to show myself that I can master myself and can be proud of myself.”
He seems to enjoy his role as the hunter, as Bernd Boente, the Managing Director of the Klitschko Management Group, confirmed: “He is very relaxed, calm and focused. But this is only the calm before the storm. He is incredibly motivated to fight on this stage, the sold-out Wembley Stadium, and also to fight as a challenger for the first time in a long time. Sometimes I thought that he lost a bit of his motivation before. If you have to defend your title again and again and if you are the champion for more than nine years it’s an unbelievable burden. Today, I believe that Wladimir is feeling like a bird that has just left its cage and is finally able to fly again.”
CAMPBELL FACES PEREZ IN WBA ELIMINATOR AT WEMBLEY
Luke Campbell MBE will face Darleys Perez in an eliminator for the number one position for the WBA World Lightweight title at Wembley Stadium Connected by EE on April 29, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Campbell defended his WBC Silver title for the second time in February with a second round demolition of Jairo Lopez in his hometown of Hull, following hot on the heels of his impressive stoppage win over Derry Mathews in October in Liverpool.
The London 2012 Olympic gold medal hero is gunning for his first World title shot at Jorge Linares who defended his crown in a rematch with Anthony Crolla in Manchester last month, but Perez will be hunting a clash with the Venezuelan himself.
Perez is no stranger to the UK having met Crolla twice in Manchester in defence of the WBA Lightweight crown, and Campbell is certain that the 33 year old will provide him with his stiffest test to date in the paid ranks.
“This is the fight of my career so far and I’m so excited to be boxing on this huge night at Wembley,” said Campbell. “I feel like I’ve been improving with every performance and believe now that I’m ready for a shot at the World title.
“Darleys Perez is by far my toughest fight yet but I need to come through this in order to face the champions. We have identified Linares as a fight we want and this win would put us number one in the WBA and in a great position to fight him. It’s going to be an incredible experience and I’m looking forward to shining on the big stage.”
Campbell’s clash with Perez is the latest fight to be added to the blockbuster show at a sold-out Wembley Stadium, topped by the huge Heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua MBE and Wladimir Klitschko.
Former World Super-Bantamweight king Scott Quigg continues his quest to become a two-weight champion by facing Viorel Simion at Featherweight and three GB Olympians are on the bill in the shape of Lawrence Okolie, Joe Cordina and Josh Kelly.
Olympic Trio Added To Joshua Klitschko Bill
Olympians Lawrence Okolie, Joe Cordina and Josh Kelly have been added the undercard for the Heavyweight blockbuster between Anthony Joshua MBE and Wladimir Klitschko on April 29 at Wembley Stadium Connected by EE, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
The trio represented Team GB in Rio last summer before turning to the paid ranks, with Okolie the first to make his debut and in spectacular fashion in Manchester earlier this month.
Kelly will make his pro bow next weekend in Glasgow on the undercard of Ricky Burns’ World Super-Lightweight title unification battle with Julius Indongo, while Welshman Cordina steps through the ropes for the first time for money a week later in Liverpool where Martin Murray and Gabriel Rosado top the bill in a tasty Middleweight battle.
One of the fighters will follow in Joshua’s footsteps and open the show, just like the London 2012 gold medal hero did in 2014 before Carl Froch knocked out George Groves.
Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that the trio will draw lots ahead of the event, with the man that picks number one out grabbing the first spot on the bill while numbers two and three will be TV floats.
“I’m delighted to add these outstanding young fighters to a historic night of boxing at Wembley on April 29,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “In terms of platform and experience, there is no better stage for their career. It was nearly three years ago that Anthony Joshua kicked the night off at Wembley Stadium for Froch v Groves II and I believe all three of these fighters have the ability to headline there in years to come. We will draw numbers on fight week with the number one spot kicking off the night and the other two sitting tight for the knock on the changing room door as the huge 90,000 crowd begins to build.”
Okolie, Cordina and Kelly are the latest fighters to be added to the Joshua Klitschko show after the announcement that former World Super-Bantamweight king Scott Quigg continues his quest to become a two-weight champion by facing Viorel Simion at Featherweight, with more fights to be announced shortly.
Quigg Faces Simion At Wembley Stadium
Scott Quigg will face Viorel Simion on the Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko bill at Wembley Stadium Connected by EE on April 29, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Quigg will defend his WBA International Featherweight title, which he captured in his first fight at his new weight in December in Manchester with a ninth round stoppage.
Wembley Stadium represents another first for Quigg as he has future hall of fame trainer Freddie Roach in his corner for the first time as he takes on Simion.
The Romanian has just the one blemish on the record from his last trip to the UK, where he severely tested Lee Selby over 12 rounds in Hull in 2013, and the 35 year old is ranked number five in the IBF having picked up and defended the International title last year.
Former WBA Super-Bantamweight king Quigg is gunning for a shot at becoming a two-weight World champion, and he believes that a big win in his first ever stadium fight will put him at the front of the queue.
“This is a fight I’m really looking forward to,” said Quigg. “It’s my first fight working with Freddie and training team and it’s a fight that will catapult me right in the mix for a World title fight.
“Simion is an experienced, skilful and strong fighter and his only blemish on his record is against the current IBF champion Lee Selby, who he pushed all the way. I’m expecting and preparing for a very tough fight but one I’m very confident in and expect to put in the best performance of my career and put myself in line for shot at one of the champions.
“Training camp couldn’t be going any better. The switch out to L.A has been a breath of fresh air. The change of environment working with Freddie and the quality of sparring has really freshened things up and I’m excited to show the improvements made on such a massive platform at Wembley stadium.”
Quigg’s desire to box for world honours at 126lbs could be boosted ahead of the fight as his promoter Eddie Hearn is looking to get the bout official eliminator status.
“This is a great fight for Scott and the last hurdle before he hunts his second World title,” said Hearn. “Simion gave Selby a great fight on our Hull show a few years back and is an all action fighter that will bring the heat on April 29.
“Because of both fighters’ rankings, we are looking to apply to the WBA or the IBF to make this fight an official eliminator for the World title and if victorious I expect Scott’s next fight to be for a Featherweight World crown.”
Quigg’s clash with Simion is the first undercard fight confirmed for the sold-out blockbuster battle between IBF king Joshua and former lineal World ruler Klitschko, with the WBA strap also up for grabs.
Scott Quigg’s showdown with Viorel Simion has been ordered as an IBF World Featherweight eliminator on Saturday night at Wembley Stadium Connected by EE, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Quigg returns to the UK to fight for the first time under new trainer Freddie Roach, and his clash with the Romanian now takes on even more importance following the IBF’s move.
Simion is ranked at number four in the IBF, one place ahead of the Bury ace, and the winner would take the two spot, and if Selby’s mandatory challenger Jonathan Barros is unavailable to fight the Welshman, then Saturday’s winner will meet Selby next.
“It’s a great opportunity for Scott and with the uncertainty over Jonathan Barros it’s very likely that the winner in Saturday will have to fight Lee Selby next,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “It’s a fight Scott is targeting and one he would jump at so Saturday’s win now becomes even more vital.”
Quigg’s clash with Simion is part of a historic night of action on the sold-out blockbuster battle between IBF king Joshua and former lineal World ruler Klitschko, with the WBA and IBO straps also up for grabs, Luke Campbell MBE and Darleys Perez clash for the number one spot in the WBA, Irish sensation Katie Taylor faces Nina Meinke for the WBA Inter-Continental Lightweight title and World title eliminator and Team GB Rio Olympians Lawrence Okolie, Joe Cordina and Josh Kelly will draw lots to see who kicks off the historic night.
Joshua vs. Klitschko is live and exclusive on Sky Sports Box Office. To book visit www.skysports.com/joshua
Jamie Cox Signs Promotional Deal With Matchroom Boxing
The Commonwealth Games winner and former Commonwealth Light-Middleweight champion is gunning for major titles and the 30 year old penned the deal in Liverpool at the Echo Arena where he’s a keen ringside observer tonight.
The unbeaten Swindon banger is mandatory challenger for the winner of the clash between Rocky Fielding and John Ryder for the vacant British Super-Middleweight title, and Cox is relishing a clash with the winner as he begins a new chapter in his career.
“I’m excited to be working with Eddie Hearn and boxing on Sky Sports,” said Cox. “It’s a massive platform for me to showcase my skills. Eddie is putting the biggest shows on, especially at Wembley next week, and I want to be part of these huge nights.
“I’ll be boxing in the Super-Middleweight division, I feel strong, fit and explosive at that weight – I’m ready to rip my way through the 168lbers out there. I want to fight a big profile name ASAP, so the public can see what I’m all about. We will then push towards that World title shot in the next year to 18 months.
“I love training. We work under the butchers shop and I go up to the lab with Des Witter in Birmingham, I’m sure that if I play my part right and work hard, I will fulfil my potential with Eddie and Matchroom.
“I’ve been made mandatory to fight the winner of the British Super-Middleweight title fight between John Ryder and Rocky Fielding. I will fight anyone and of course that would be an honour to win that belt. I just can’t wait to get going and get back in the ring doing what I do best!”
“I’m delighted to welcome Jamie to the team and I’m very excited about his future,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Jamie is one of the hardest hitting 168-pounders in World boxing and is ready to go in all the big fights.
“He is mandatory for the winner of Fielding vs. Ryder tonight but we are also looking at some major names moving forward. He is brilliant to watch and Sky Sports fans are going to enjoy following his journey over the coming years.”
Cordina Kicks Off Fight Night At Wembley Stadium
Joe Cordina will open the blockbuster show at Wembley Stadium Connected by EE on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
A draw to see where the three Team GB Rio Olympians would box on the bill was made a JD Sports in central London this evening by Cruiserweight king Tony Bellew and promoter Eddie Hearn, and the Welshman’s second pro fight takes the same slot that Anthony Joshua had as the first fight in the stadium on the night that Carl Froch knocked out George Groves.
Lawrence Okolie will be a live float in his third pro outing after two first round KOs under his belt so far and Sunderland ace Josh Kelly will also float on the night in his second fight in the paid ranks.
Cordina, Okolie and Kelly are part of a historic night of action on the sold-out blockbuster battle between IBF king Joshua and former lineal World ruler Klitschko, with the WBA and IBO straps also up for grabs, Scott Quigg faces Viorel Simion in an eliminator for the IBF World Featherweight title, Luke Campbell MBE and Darleys Perez clash for the number one spot in the WBA, Irish sensation Katie Taylor faces Nina Meinke for the WBA Inter-Continental Lightweight title and World title eliminator.
Joshua vs. Klitschko is live and exclusive on Sky Sports Box Office. To book visit www.skysports.com/joshua
