CaribCommx welcomes receiving the following Press Releases from Matchroom and from the management/promoters of Vitali Klitschko

AUDLEY FIGHT ON APRIL 9 IS STILL ON
Hearn tips Sosnowski to stun Klitschko

BARRY Hearn has tipped Poland’s Albert Sosnowski to ‘cause a big upset’ and beat WBC Champion Vitali Klitschko in May.  Sosnowski hails from Warsaw but is now based in Brentwood, Essex and is managed by Hearn, who has co-promoted the majority of his fights. Klitschko will be favourite to beat Sosnowski when the pair meet in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on May 29 but Hearn believes current European Champion Sosnowski will stun the boxing world.
“Albert has been European Champion for just two months and has already been offered a shot for the World Heavyweight Championship,” said Hearn. “This is a life-changing opportunity for Albert and I feel he has the potential to cause a big upset in Germany.”
Sosnowski, 31, propelled himself into the boxing big-time in December when he defeated Italian Paolo Vidoz to become European Champion.
Former Olympic Games gold medalist Audley Harrison was scheduled to face Sosnowski at London’s Alexandra Palace on April 9. However, Hearn confirmed that Harrison will still be in action against a European fighter on that date and a new opponent will be named shortly. "The show on April 9th will go ahead as planned and Audley Harrison will now be fighting a new European opponent,” added Hearn. "This opportunity for Albert shows just how close Audley is to realising his dream of fighting for a world title."
Sosnowski, who is licensed by the British Boxing Board of Control, has defeated current British Champion Danny Williams and won 45 of 48 professional contests. Harrison, 38, a former Olympic Games gold medalist, kept his professional career alive by winning Matchroom Sport’s Prizefighter Heavyweights 3 tournament in October.

Vitali Klitschko to face European Champion Albert Sosnowski in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on May 29

WBC World Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko defends his title against European Champion Albert Sosnowski from Poland at Veltins-Arena Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on May 29. The arena is the home field of the famous soccer club Schalke 04.
Vitali Klitschko: „I am very happy to have my next fight in Germany again. The arena in Gelsenkirchen and the fans there are very special. I experienced that last year when my brother Wladimir had his fight there in front of 61,000 spectators. The atmosphere was simply electrifying. I saw Sosnowski’s fights on DVD and must admit that he is a very experienced, quick and tough opponent. He will do anything to get my belt but I promise that this is not going to happen.”
31-year-old Albert Sosnowski, who was born in Warsaw (Poland), lives in Brentwood, England. „The Dragon“ Sosnowski turned professional in 1998 and since then the 6'2½'' tall has an outstanding fight record of 45 wins (27 KOs), two defeats and one draw.

Last December, Sosnowski won the European Heavyweight Championship against former champion Paolo Vidoz from Italy. 2008 he knocked out former world title challenger and Tyson conqueror Danny Williams. Sosnowski was scheduled to defend his European title against Olympic champion Audley Harrison in London on April, 9, but cancelled it for the chance to fight Vitali Klitschko instead.
Albert Sosnowski said: “A dream comes true. Because of the Harrison fight I am already in training and suddenly comes the once-in-a-lifetime chance to fight Klitschko. I want to thank him and his team to give me that opportunity which I will definitely take. For me, Klitschko is already over the hill. I know that I am the underdog for everybody, but I tell you, Klitschko will regret that he picked me. Many Polish and Germans with Polish roots live in the Gelsenkirchen area and I hope that they will support me. I will be the first Polish Heavyweight Champion of the World!”
It is Klitschko’s 12th World Championship fight. His impressive record is 39 wins (37 KOs) and two defeats due to injury. In Germany, the fight between World Champion Vitali Klitschko and European Champion Albert Sosnowski will be broadcasted live and exclusively on RTL.

10^th March 2010

Audley Harrison:
Aims for Albert -
Then the Klitschkos

Audley Harrison believes he has recovered from ‘being a broken man’ and is ready to claim the European Heavyweight Championship. Harrison, 38, saved his career by winning Prizefighter Heavyweights 3 in October and faces Poland’s Albert Sosnowski for the European belt on April 9 at London’s Alexandra Palace. Former Olympic gold medalist Harrison hopes victory leads to a shot at a world title with the Klitschko brothers in his sights, although England’s WBA Champion David Haye is not on his radar.
“I’m not interested in David Haye,” said Harrison at a press conference held at The Dorchester in central London. “All I’m interested in at the moment is Albert Sosnowski and he will not give up that belt easily. The worst thing I could do is look past Albert. If I can’t get past him then there’s nothing in the future. The heavyweight division is desperately looking for marque names and, no disrespect to David Haye, but no one in the US is talking about David Haye. They’re all talking about the Klitschkos and no one is giving David Haye any play as a World Champion so the guys I want to fight are the Klitschkos. If you get a chance against David Haye then people will say ‘you now have to beat the Klitschkos’, so if I beat Albert, I want the Klitschkos.”
Harrison claimed gold in Sydney in 2000 but four defeats in eight contests left his career in the balance before victory in Prizefighter kept his hopes alive. However, Harrison, who has won 26 of 30 contests, admits he nearly walked away from the sport and almost gave up on his dream of winning a world title.
“I have a personal mission to be a world champion. Call me delusional or crazy but I call it reality,” added Harrison. When my contract with the BBC ended I lost my feel for boxing and the passion for boxing died. I left England and almost didn’t want to box as I was that disheartened - you saw that in my performances. I was a shell and I had no desire. I was a totally broken man and it took a long time to recover from that. It took a lot of soul-searching and I asked myself what I wanted to do and I said to myself I wanted to achieve my goals. I had to lick my wounds and go back to the drawing board. Ability gets you to the top but character keeps you there. I had certain characteristic flaws but it’s been part of my learning and journey. I wasn’t ready to be the next Lennox Lewis in 2004 and it was almost a blessing that I lost as I had a chance to grow through adversity.
I’ve been through so much in my career but I’m still here, still believing, still persevering and that’s what character is. My moment of destiny is really close but I have a real obstacle in front of me. If he beats me to a pulp then I will know it’s over. If Albert Sosnowskis beats Audley Harrison fair and square then there will be no excuses as I’m 100 per cent physically, mentally and spiritually ready to win. Albert has been beaten before so there’s a blue print to beat him. With my skills and my ability you will see why I won an Olympic gold medal and why I was 19-0. I want to get my London fans in their St George’s T-shirts and I want to get nostalgic and hear chants of ‘Audley’, ‘Audley’, ‘Audley’. I want to hear the fans of boxing, the fans of Audley, the fans of perseverance and the fans of overcoming adversity and get back to boxing.”
Sosnowski, who is based in Brentwood, Essex, but originally hails from Warsaw, Poland, claimed the title with an emphatic points victory over Italian Paolo Vidoz in December. However, 30-year-old Sosnowski is best known for a shock stoppage win in 2008 over Harrison’s long-term rival Danny Williams, the current British Champion and promises to bring with him an army of Polish supporters for the fight.
“I will be ready and I want to show my best,” said Sosnowski. “I have respect for Audley and he was Olympic Champion but I believe in myself and I will win this fight.”

Submitted by Matchroom Sport
22^nd February 2010

IBF-, WBO- and IBO World Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko and his opponent Eddie Chambers met at ESPRIT arena Düsseldorf, where their fight will take place on March 20, for a press conference, yesterday, January 28. 
Klitschko: ”This is a great arena and the idea of more than 50.000 spectator gives me additional motivation. After a break of 7 months I am really looking forward to stepping back into the ring. Chambers is a very strong and quick opponent; therefore he is the number 1 in the WBO ranking. But for me, there is no doubt that I will win the fight and keep my belts.”
Chambers: ” Sure, Klitschko is the favorite. But I will surprise him and shock the boxing world when I take his titles to the US on March 20.”
For the second time Klitschko will be fighting in a soccer stadium. The ESPRIT arena Düsseldorf, homefield of Fortuna Düsseldorf, will have a capacity of 51.000 seats on fight night. In his last fight, Champion Klitschko beat Ruslan Chagaev at Schalke Arena in front of 61.000 spectators in June 2009.
Tickets for the highly anticipated fight are available at www.eventim.de or via phone +49-1805-570070. Price start at 20 Euro. VIP packages cost 350 Euro or 600 Euro.

WILLIAMS PULLS OUT OF TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST CHISORA

Danny Williams has withdrawn from his British Heavyweight title defence against Derek Chisora at Wembley Arena on February 13 claiming that he has a viral infection.
Promoter Frank is now in talks with two boxers who hold wins over Williams to face Chisora instead on the huge Night of the Champions show.
Williams caused confusion last week when after accepting to fight Chisora - who replaced the injured Sam Sexton - he then failed to turn up at a press conference to announce the Chisora bout, leaving his manager Micky Helliet to say that Williams "needed some time to get his head around the change".
However, Williams confirmed last Friday that he was going ahead with the fight against the unbeaten puncher from Finchley.
Now Williams has once again disrupted the Night of the Champions event that features the future of British boxing all on one big show including James DeGale, Frankie Gavin, Kevin Mitchell and Nathan Cleverly.
Promoter Frank Warren, who has had plenty of experience dealing with Williams and his mood swings, said, "It's very disappointing and frustrating after last weeks antics for Danny to once again pull out of the fight leaving Derek in the lurch. I'm just sorry for Derek who has trained his heart out for his British title opportunity and has had it scuppered - and remember that Williams didn't want to fight him when I tried to make the fight last year. I am working hard for Derek who will still feature on the Night of the Champion show and the two boxers I am negotiating with have beaten Danny already. I said last week that Danny should vacate the title or retire if he didn't want to fight him."
He added, "The Night of the Champions features the best in young talent that I promote like Derek, Nathan Cleverly, Kevin Mitchell, James DeGale, Frankie Gavin, Billy Joe Saunders, Jamie Cox, and the Walsh brothers and it will a fantastic night showcasing the future of British boxing."
Tickets priced at £40, £50, £75, £100 and £150, are available from:
See Tickets
0871 220 0260
www.seetickets.com
Wembley Arena
0844 815 0815
www.wembleyarena.co.uk

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Eddie Chambers on March, 20th in Düsseldorf, Germany

IBF-, WBO- and IBO World Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko defends his titles against Eddie Chambers on March 20^th at ESPRIT arena Düsseldorf, Germany. Chambers is the current WBO #1 and the official challenger. On fight night, the arena, homefield of 2. Bundesleague Club Fortuna Düsseldorf, will have a capacity of 51.000 seats.
Wladimir Klitschko: „I am really happy to be back in the ring. I have only good memories of Düsseldorf, my only fight there I won by TKO. This fight is going to take place in a giant stadium. The audience of over 50.000 spectators is a further motivation for me. Chambers is currently the best heavyweight boxer from the US.”
27-year old “Fast” Eddie Chambers lives in Philadelphia, USA. In July 2009, the 1,85m tall Chambers won the world champion final against odds-on favourite Alexander Dimitrenko (Universum Boxing). A few months before, he had beaten previous WBC champion Samuel Peter. Eddie Chambers has a record of 35 victories (18 KOs) and one defeat.
Eddie Chambers: „I worked very hard for this championship fight. In the way I surprised Dimitrenko I am going to take Klitschko by surprise and will collect his three belts. This is a great chance. He is the favourite, but I am confident and take his belts to the US.”
It is Klitschko’s first fight since his title defense against Ruslan Chagaev in June 2009 in front of 61.000 spectators in Gelsenkirchen, Germany (TKO 9). With his victory over Chagaev the 33-year old became the “Ring-Champion”, the unofficial World Champion title by the legendary boxing magazine “The Ring”. Klitschko’s record is 53 wins (47 KOs) and 3 defeats.
Bernd Bönte, Managing Director of the Klitschko Management Group: „The Esprit arena is a state-of-the-art stadium and we are looking forward to presenting another boxing event in a football stadium. Together with the officials of the arena, who are very supportive in any way, we are planning a great event with well-priced tickets and expect to have a sold out venue.”
The ticket sale starts on January 28th at 3 p.m. German time exclusively on www.eventim.de. From January 29th tickets will also be available under +49-(0)1805-12 13 14 and at box offices nationwide. Ticket prices start as low as € 20.

HARRISON WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DREAM
Prizefighter Champ Audley signs with Matchroom and gets European title shot

PRIZEFIGHTER Champion Audley Harrison has vowed to ‘gatecrash the boxing big-time’ by winning the European Heavyweight Championship in April. Harrison, 38, saved his career by triumphing in Prizefighter Heavyweights 3 in October and will now meet Poland’s Albert Sosnowski for the European belt. Former Olympic Gold medalist Harrison hopes the fight, scheduled for April 9 at London’s Alexandra Palace, leads to a shot at World title.
“Albert Sosnowski represents a difficult challenge for me and I know he wants to keep his crown he won in December against Paolo Vidoz,” said Harrison. “I was impressed by Sosnowski’s fitness and pressure. I’ll need to be at the top of my game if I’m to be successful. He’s only lost twice before in 48 fights, but that tells me he can be beaten. I have enough time to get my preparations right; no excuses, this is it! I will be giving it my all to rip away the European title and gatecrash the big-time. David Haye and the Klitschko brothers will be within my sights if I can get a victory and that’s enough motivation for me to lay it all on the line. I am so happy to have agreed terms with Matchroom Sport and truly feel this opportunity will lead me to a World title this year. They have done everything they said they would do and that’s a rare commodity with promoters within this industry.”
Harrison’s career appeared to be over in December 2008 with a shock defeat against Martin Rogan but Harrison, who won an Olympic gold in 2000, responded in fine style. He claimed impressive victories over Scott Belshaw and previously-undefeated duo Danny Hughes and Coleman Barrett to win Prizefighter.
“Forget the past, the dream is still very much alive for Audley,'' commented Matchroom Sport Managing Director Eddie Hearn. “When I first met with Audley in Vegas last Summer I told him a win at Prizefighter would put him back in line for a shot at the big-time. Prizefighter was a big gamble and he showed plenty of bottle and quality to get the job done. Albert represents a tough challenge but the winner puts himself right in line for a World title shot - and who could rule out an all British battle with David Haye if Audley can produce the goods in April.''
Sosnowski, who is based in Brentwood, Essex, but originally hails from Warsaw, Poland, claimed the title with an emphatic points victory over Italian Paolo Vidoz in December. However, 30-year-old Sosnowski is best known for a shock stoppage win in 2008 over Harrison’s long-term rival Danny Williams, the current British Champion and promises to bring with him an army of Polish supporters for the fight.

Submitted by Matchroom

 NAPA OUT TO REGAIN EURO CROWN

IAN NAPA has been handed a chance to regain the European bantamweight title. The slick Hackney boxer (19-7) has been nominated to face Frenchman Jerome Arnould for the vacant title, which is likely to take place in March or April. Napa, 31, will still press ahead with his British title defence against Jamie McDonnell at Brentwood Centre on Friday January 22 despite his date against the former world title challenger.
Promoter Frank Maloney said: "The pressure is on now for Ian, because a loss to McDonnell and the EBU will withdraw their nomination. The fight against McDonnell is all or nothing for Ian, but if he has prepared right McDonnell cannot beat him."
Arnould, 24, is on a eight fight winning streak and unbeaten since being knocked out in the seventh round of a WBA bantamweight title challenge Wladimir Sidorenko in June 2007.
Napa lost the European title ten months ago when he was shocked by Arnould's countryman, Malik Bouziane. Top of the bill is Ian Napa's (19-7) British bantamweight title defence against Jamie McDonnell (12-2-1)
On the same bill Cheshunt's cocky Ashley Sexton (8-0) faces fellow extrovert Usman Ahmed (6-2-1) in a clash for the vacant English flyweight championship. On the comeback trail is former British super-featherweight champion Carl Johanneson (27-4) who boxes for the first time since his defeat to Kevin Mitchell in March 2008. Maloney's heavyweight Larry Olubamiwo (6-1) moves up a notch when he boxes Irish puncher Scott Belshaw (10-3).

WILLIAMS INSPIRED BY DeGALE

Danny Williams says he has been inspired by youth ahead of his British heavyweight title defence against Sam Sexton on Frank Warren's Night of the Champions extravaganza. Williams, a veteran of the fight game, spent Christmas working with young talent James DeGale and their mutual trainer Jimmy McDonnell. And the 36-year-old, who has vowed to go out on a high by knocking out Sexton, admits that their joint training sessions have given him a new lease of life.
"James is an inspiration," said Williams, who will defend his Lonsdale belt at Wembley Arena on February 13 live on Sky Sports. "Having spent a few days with him in camp I can see why he won an Olympic gold medal. He's really pushing me fitness wise, and thanks to him and Jimmy I'm going to be in great shape when it comes to taking on Sexton. DeGale is going to be a world champion in the future, and some of his star-dust is beginning to rub off on me. I may be 36, but at the moment I feel like the fighter I was when I was in my 20s. I've got that spark back and I'm going to go out with a bang against Sexton."
DeGale, who appears on the same card as Williams and will make his London debut in his sixth professional fight, has also been impressed with what he has seen.
"I heard Danny saying he was shot at the press conference to announce this fight, but he's looked far from it in training," said the 23-year-old. “He's been pretty sharp and I'm sure him against Sexton is going to be a thriller. It's been a pleasure working with him and I've learned a lot already. How can you not pick up things from a man who beat Mike Tyson and fought Vitali Klitschko for the world title."
Night of the Champions features the exciting heavyweight showdown between British heavyweight champion Danny Williams and Commonwealth champion Sam Sexton; Kevin Mitchell's WBO Intercontinental Lightweight title defence; Kell Brook's WBO Intercontinental Welterweight title challenge; Derek Chisora versus Matt Skelton for the Vacant English Heavyweight Championship; The Olympians James DeGale, Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders; plus hot prospects Vinny Mitchell and Liam, Michael and Ryan Walsh.

IT'S CROSSROADS FOR CHISORA AND SEXTON

Heavyweight hitters Derek Chisora and Matt Skelton are both promising explosive performances when they meet in a classic crossroads fight on February 13 at Wembley Arena. The pair will slug it out for the Vacant Southern Area title on Frank Warren's first action-packed show of the new decade featuring British Champions Kevin Mitchell and Kell Brook, more heavyweight action with Sam Sexton versus Danny Williams, plus The Olympians James DeGale, Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders.  Chisora v Sexton will also double as an eliminator for the British title, and represents a massive test for both men.
Unbeaten in 11 fights and with a stoppage win over Sexton, Chisora is one of the country's hottest prospects and is vowing to back it up with victory over former world title challenger Skelton.
"Matt's been there and done it all, he's had his chance, but it's time for a new generation of heavyweights to come through," said 25-year-old Chisora. “I respect what he has acheived but I'm going to send him into retirement. This is a much tougher fight for me than one against Sexton or Williams, and once I've done the business against Skelton I'll knock out the winner of that one as well. This a great chance of me to test myself against a proven champion, and it's just the kind of fight that I've been waiting for. Skelton won't know what's hit on February 13 and I'm going to knock him out in style.The Bedford Bear will be well and truly tamed."
Skelton, a former British, Commonwealth and European champion, has spent the last five years campaigning at championship level.
"Chisora is the new kid on the block, but I'm going to take him to school big time," said Skelton. "He's always running his mouth off and I'm going to shut it up for him once and for all. He's taken this one because he thinks that I've had a couple of tough fights and I'm going to be there for the taking. But he's going to get a nasty surprise when I take away his unbeaten record. He might have snacked on his last opponent's ear, but he's bitten off more than he can chew in this fight. People have been asking me recently if I'm going to retire, but I've never even thought about hanging up the gloves. I want my British title back, and Chisora is standing in the way of me getting a crack at the Lonsdale belt again."