World heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, 33, is determined to fight for his WBC title, his nation (orange mottos Tak! - Yes! and Tak, Yushchenko! -Yes, Yushchenko! are popular slogans of Ukraine's democratic opposition presidential campaign)
Williams bets on reversal of fortunes, Klitschko to fight for his WBC title, Ukraine
LAS VEGAS, US; Dec. 10 – The 31-year-old Briton Danny Williams immortal fame not only for just his surprise victory over Mike Tyson, but also for defeating “Retire Master“ Vitali Klitschko and striping his world heavyweight title. The Londoner hopes to do so by completing a remarkable reversal of fortunes as soon as tomorrow in Las Vegas. But Danny Williams admits that his rapid rise from Brixton’s obscurity to the highest level of boxing stars is something that even he has difficulty believing.
Danny Williams is challenging Ukraine’s Vitali Klitschko, 33, a 6-foot-7 Ukrainian heavyweight, in what is going to be a fantastically spectacular battle of the boxing giants for the highly prestigious World Boxing Council title.
Williams is a truly HEAVYweight claimant. Having got a record-equalling 19st 4lbs record at today’s weighing, Williams said: "I am the strongest I have ever been and you have all seen that despite my weight I have not lost any speed. I feel absolutely tremendous at this weight and very confident. I didn't even notice Klitschko looking at me when we were getting on the scales."
"It is disappointing because we worked out who the heaviest ever had been and it was our intention to beat it," Danny joked.
However, Williams admits he will need to be 30-40% better than he was against Tyson.
"In the Tyson fight I was good, but I need to be better. There wasn't enough head movement or foot speed. I have tremendous hunger and desire and these are the things it's going to take to beat Klitschko," said Williams, a Muslim, who refused to shave off his beard due to respect for his religious beliefs. But boxing authorities were quoted by Thisislondon.co.uk as saying that his beard could injure his opponent. As Williams’ decision contravenes the rules of boxing, the organizers may be forced to cancel the forthcoming heavyweight showdown.
The Ukrainian admitted he was surprised by Williams' July victory over Mike Tyson. Vitali Klitschko had hoped to fight Mike Tyson himself. "Danny surprised me with his boxing skills, his big heart and his iron chin. He destroyed my dream. Now I want to destroy the dream of Danny Williams to become world heavyweight champion," said Vitaly.
Even fears of fight being cancelled are not worrying Klitschko. The only problem that seems to upset him at the moment is the Ukrainian political crisis.
"After the elections, the democratic challenger, Viktor Yushchenko, and many western observers in Kiev mentioned that the election was not really fair and did not meet democratic standards," said Klitschko PR representative. "Hundreds of thousands of people were in the streets and are still in the streets in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, and Vitali and Wladimir decided immediately after the election that they wanted to fly over to Kiev. Wladimir Klitschko and Fritz Sdunek, the head coach of Vitali, were here with us. After long discussions, they convinced Vitali to stay here and not postpone this fight," he added.
"It is 10 hours difference between Ukraine and Los Angeles," said Klitschko. "When I wake up at six in the morning, I have one hour before I start training to check the news, make calls to my friends and get information. I know that my fight is very important for Ukraine, and it is my will to be ready for this fight. I think this fight will be a very important message for everybody not only in Ukraine but all over the world. I have kept focused for training and for the fight. But I do get the information on what is happening in Ukraine every day. It is difficult, but in life nothing is easy."
Klitschko's fight has taken on a deep symbolism in a time of renewed national pride--particularly since Klitschko, 33, is a backer of Yushchenko's truly revolutionary battle against Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, whose victory was annulled as fraudulent.
A new presidential election in Ukraine with the same two candidates will be held Dec. 26.Klitschko and his boxer brother, Wladimir, earned goodwill with Ukrainians by promoting Yushchenko's cause long before it became big news.
Vitali Klitschko's entire corner team has been dressing in the opposition party's orange T-shirts."I know that my fight is very important for Ukraine, and it is my resolve to be ready for this fight," Vitali Klitscho recently said. "I think this fight will be a very important message for everybody, not only in Ukraine but in the world. The fight will help call attention to the Ukrainian cause.”
According to Oddschecker.com, Vitali Klitschko was a favourite to keep the WBC crown, listed at 0.24/1 by Pinnacle, 0.25/1 by Betfair, 1/5 by William Hill and 1/5 by Bet365.com.
Danny Williams is offered at 3.8/1 by Pinnacle, 3.52/1 by Betfair and 10/3 by William Hill and 3 by Bet365.com. Readabet.com reported, that the British boxer is 4/1 with VC Bet to defeat the 1/7 Vitali Klitschko.
Read also Klitschko favourite despite Williams ‘drug’ attack.On December 1, TV ads began running in Ukraine with international music stars supporting the opposition against the recent manipulated Ukrainian presidential elections — including Sting, Joe Cocker, Chris de Burgh, Zucchero, The Cure, Jethro Tull, The Moody Blues and The Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan.
Germany's Der Spiegel magazine reported that non-music stars will also feature, including tennis star Boris Becker and German footballer Franz Beckenbauer.
The television campaign is being organized Vladimir and Vitali Klitschko, who have been living in Germany for a number of years. Vladimir — and the stars in the video — give their support to opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko.
"It is very important that the international pressure continues," Vladimir Klitschko told Der Spiegel. "The people have been in the street fighting for democracy and free elections for the past week. They need support."
Like the Klitschko brothers, Ukraine’s Ruslana, who won the Eurovision Song Contest this year has also been seen regularly in Kiev’s Maidan Nezalezhnosti, main square with hundreds of thousands of protestors, as Ukraine’s most internationally famous artists perform to entertain demonstrators, including Okean Elsy and lead singer of the band VV, Oleg Skrypka
