It didint last long and was far from dramatic but Vitali Klitschko made the sixth defense of the WBC Heavyweight title when Odlanier Solis could not continue at the end of round one in Cologne, Germany.

Solis was doing decent in the first round as he landed a couple of shots with his quick hands. Klitschko was forcing Solis but landed nothing of note. At the end of the first frame, Solis jumped forward and then fell to the canvas after his leg gave out. The action was ruled a knockdown by referee Guadlupe Garcia. Solis got to his feet and was limping badly and the fight was waved off.

Klitschko, 249 lbs of Kiev, Ukraine is now 42-2 with thirty-nine knockouts. Solis, 245 lbs of Miami is now 17-1.

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that former two-division world champion Tomasz Adamek will challenge either Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko in September in Adamek’s homeland of Poland.

“I am ecstatic. I can’t even put it into words,” Main Events CEO Kathy Duva said. “To work so hard with Tomasz with a goal in mind — moving him up to heavyweight, getting a heavyweight title fight. We got him there and we got a good deal.”

Said Bernd Boente, who manages the Klitschko brothers, “We made some changes, their side and our side. We now agree on everything. We have a go from both sides for a fight in September.”

The fight will take place at a new soccer stadium being built in either Warsaw or Wroclaw, Poland. Duva said there are four new stadiums being built in Poland for the 2012 European Soccer Championships and that two of the stadiums are bidding for the fight.

“There is this window of opportunity for this fight because of the stadiums being built in Poland,” Duva said. “It will be a huge event in Poland.”

If both Klitschkos were to lose, the deal with Adamek would be dead. If one loses, Adamek, a former light heavyweight titlist before winning the cruiserweight championship, would face the other brother under terms of the deal, Boente and Duva said.

If both Klitschkos win, the choice of Adamek’s opponent would be decided by the Klitschko side.

“Either one, their option,” Duva said. “We don’t care which one it is. They have to tell us something like 90 days before the fight which one it will be. Tomasz’s attitude is, ‘I want a heavyweight title fight. I don’t care which one of them I fight.'”

“Knock on wood, both brothers win their respective fights and then we will make a decision,” Boente said.

However, if they both win it is likely to be Wladimir against Adamek, both sides said.

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that contracts are signed for a March 19 WBC Heavyweight title fight between champion Vitali Klitschko and mandatory challenger Odlanier Solis in Cologne, Germany.

“We got the signed contracts now and we have a go for March 19 in Cologne,” said Bernd Boente, Klitschko’s manager. “I think that Solis is a very, very tough opponent. His fantastic amateur record speaks for itself — three times world amateur champion and Olympic gold medalist. He is definitely one of Vitali’s toughest opponents. I think it’s a very interesting fight for the audience.”

Said Klitschko, “I am very happy the deal is done. I have heard and read different quotes from Solis saying that I tried to avoid him. This is nonsense. There’s a reason why I’m WBC champion and I am proud of holding the same title that Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis held. I will show inside the ring that I am the strongest heavyweight champion and I am 100 percent sure I will successfully defend my title. But I know Solis is a very tough opponent and I will not underestimate him.”

“This is not about money — it’s about respect,” Solis said shortly before the deal was finalized. “The Klitschkos seem to think that I am just another opponent like the last tomato cans they cherry-picked so Vitali could easily beat them up. But I am not only the mandatory challenger. I have been the best amateur fighter in the world and I will prove that I am the best professional fighter as well.

“I am not interested in a couple of extra dollars. The only thing I want is to strip the world championship belt from Vitali. Klitschko shouldn’t be afraid of losing money; he should only be afraid to lose his title. I will end his career.”

“Solis was a very good amateur and is a very good pro, and I expect he will be the best guy he can be,” said Shelly Finkel, Klitschko’s adviser. “We’ll see if it is good enough to offer a challenge to Vitali.”

Through out the 1950 Cuba was undergoing their Revolution, in the early 1960’s they imposed an embargo that is still in operation today with America. Since those days they have developed the world’s top amateur Boxers, we only got to see them unfortunately every 4 years at the Olympics. The odd one got out and turned professional like Joel Casamayor who went on to become a 2 weight world champion, nothing else of note made an impact on the pro scene. That was until late in 2006 when it was revealed that three 2004 Olympic Gold medallist’s had defected whilst in a training camp in Venezuela. One of those was Heavyweight Odlanier Solis who’s quickly torn his way through sixteen opponents knocking out twelve of them. Tomorrow Solis 30, will take on Ray Austin 28-4-4(18) in Miami in a WBC title eliminator, the winner becoming Vitali Klitscko’s mandatory challenger, assured of a shot in 2011.

Hello Odlanier, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – You are fighting Ray Austin and the winner becomes Vitali Klitschko’s WBC mandatory. What are your thoughts on Austin and this fight?

Odlanier Solis – My thoughts are very simple: I will blow away Ray Austin and then go on, beat Vitali Klitschko and finally become the first ever Cuban heavyweight champion of the world. I have been waiting for a long time to get my hands on Klitschko who decide to run away and hide as long as he could. I thank the WBC and my promoter Ahmet Oener for giving me the chance to finally fight for the world title. I know that I have to beat Austin to get there so that’s what I’m gonna do on Friday in Miami.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your training for this fight? Where has it been, how has it gone & who have you sparred with?

Odlanier Solis – I had a good training camp in Miami. I sparred with a young German fighter named Erkan Teper who is very fast and moves well. I also had some more seasoned and experienced partners like Larry Donald. Unfortunately, he had to return home after a couple of days because I hit him too hard. But I give him props for coming to Miami to work with me. We had some other guys there as well. The camp was alright and I thank my coach Pedro Luis Diaz and all the other people around like Ahmet and Jose Perez who organized everything perfectly.

Anson Wainwright – Obviously you want to fight one of the Klitschko’s in 2011, what do you think of both of them?

Odlanier Solis – Honestly, I don’t care about them. I don’t care about any of my opponents. I know that I am the best heavyweight fighter in the world today and I also know that I only have to focus on myself and what I do in the ring. When I step into the ring and fight my own fight it doesn’t matter who stands in the opposite corner. I’ll simply run over every opponent who faces me.

Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us about team Solis, who is your trainer, manager & promoter? Also what gym do you train at most of the time?

Odlanier Solis – As I said before, my trainer is Pedro Luis Diaz. He is a very experienced coach and I have known him for a long time. He was our national team coach back home in Cuba. In the last years he also made himself a name at the pros and I cannot imagine a better trainer. He organizes everything for me and I thank him for all the hard work and effort. Ahmet Oener is my promoter since I started my professional career. He brought me to where I am right now. Before I even signed with him he told me that I would become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. We’re both on the same page on that and we are ready to go all the way together. Then there is Jose Perez who is taking care of a lot of things for me. He is working closely with Ahmet. Those are the most important people around me right now. I live and train in Miami.

Anson Wainwright – What was it like growing up in Havana as a kid and how did you first get involved in Boxing?

Odlanier Solis – I started boxing when I was quite young. We didn’t have many different choices in Cuba. If you wanted to mean something and be somebody you had to get involved in sports. When I first entered a boxing gym the coaches immediately told me that this is what I was born to do. They saw something special and made me work hard to exploit my talent in the best possible way. So I got hooked to it.

Anson Wainwright – You had a fantastic amateur career, you won gold in the 2004 Olympics and won the World Championships three times. Can you tell us about some of your other amateur credentials? What current pro’s did you fight and how did you do? Also what was your record?

Odlanier Solis – It would be far easier if you asked me who I didn’t beat… I basically won every title there was to win and never lost an important tournament. I am a seven-time Cuban national champion, three-time Pan-American champion, winner of the World Cup and the Nation’s Cup, Junior World Champion… what else do you want to know? I beat guys like Sultan Ibragimov, Alexander Alexeev, David Haye… and whoever entered the ring with me.

Anson Wainwright – In the 2001 World Championship final you stopped current WBA champion David Haye. Can you tell us about that fight? did you drop him etc?

Odlanier Solis – Haye was a decent fighter. I remember that he connected with a nice uppercut early in the fight. He provoked me with that. But then I took control, did what I have to do and gave him the beating of his lifetime. The referee stepped in and prevented him from getting knocked out.

Anson Wainwright – You also beat Felix Savon two out of three. He is widely thought of as one of the Greatest Heavyweights to ever fight. Tell us about those fights? How good was he?

Odlanier Solis – Savon is a legend. Of course, it was a special thing for me to beat him. But then again he is just another name on the list. I know what I have to do in the ring. And I do it in the best possible ways. I am not afraid of big names and the respect I feel for a person will never stop me from beating up my opponent when we face in the ring. Once I step to the ropes I just do what I have to do. That’s all.

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do away from Boxing? what are your hobbies & Interests?

Odlanier Solis – I hang around with my friends and family a lot. I am rather a calm guy. Oh, and I love fishing.

Anson Wainwright – I’m sure you’ve heard it said many times but some people have asked about your weight. Last time you fought at 268. Your only 6’1, what is your answer to that? Presumably you still feel in great condition?

Odlanier Solis – I don’t understand why people are worrying about my weight so much. To me the most important thing is how I feel and how I move in the ring. I am a heavyweight fighter so I don’t have to enter the ring at a certain limit. As long as I got the power to go twelve, fifteen or even thirty rounds I don’t care how much I’m carrying around. Just look at me fighting and tell me afterwards if I’m carrying too much weight and if I look to be in shape or not. My coach always says: At the amateurs my body looked better on photos but now I have more punching power. Amateur boxing and professional boxing are too different things. You need more power at the pros because every shot can be decisive. I trust in my team and in my ability and I believe that now I am bringing the full package: Speed, technique, stamina and power. Just watch me fight and ask that same question again after that fight.

Anson Wainwright – Several other Cuban Heavyweights have turned pro since you have including Mike Perez, Luis Ortiz, Yasnay Consuegra etc what are your thoughts on those guys?

Odlanier Solis – I don’t care about other fighters. When I meet them I chat with them but I don’t talk about boxing. It doesn’t matter to me. The guys you mentioned were looking up to me when I was the amateur champion. I fought Luis Ortiz a couple of times at the amateurs and beat him at will. The other two were still too young. I think I’m sort of an idol for them. I’m happy for them that they want to try their luck at the pros but they won’t have any chance to win a title – at least not as long as I am around…

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans who are looking forward to seeing you in action against Ray Austin?

Odlanier Solis – Watch the fight, enjoy the show and support me on my way to finally ending the reign of the Klitschkos!

Thanks for your time “La Sombre”

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Midweek Musings – Word is Pacquiao will now fight on 7 May and not as originally thought 16 April, he’ll be in with one of Berto, Mosley or Marquez…Top Rank has shows on 19 February (Montiel-Donaire) & 26 February, 12 March (Cotto-TBA), 19 March (Lopez-TBA) & now the Pacquiao card, also mentioned is a possible early June showdown between JuanMa & Gamboa if both win interim fights, that looks a pretty solid first half of the year for them…No such line up as yet from Golden Boy, I look forward to seeing them fill there dance cards in the coming weeks…On 18 February Fernando Guerrero will take on Saul Roman on ESPN in his hometown of Salisbury, Maryland where he’s fiercely popular…I’m looking forward to seeing Jean Pascal – Bernard Hopkins this weekend. There’s lots of intrigue in this fight, will youth prevail or will the old man once again spring the surprise? He couldn’t could he?…Over the past month we’ve had some cracking fights Marquez-Katsidis, Soto-Antillon & Khan-Maidana this weekend in Germany we could get our fourth in as many weeks with Marco Huck against Denis Lebedev, it pits two heavy handed Cruiserweights who don’t like to take a backward step, unless someone goes to sleep early it looks like a barnburner…Finally congratulations to World ranked Lightweight Brandon Rios, his wife gave birth on the 2 December to a little girl, Mia Guadalupe who weighed 6.1, he says he’ll be back at the Palms in Las Vegas on 26 February against one of the Miguel’s either Acosta for the WBA title or Vazquez for the IBF crown.

If there are any fighters you would like to hear from you can contact me on elraincoat@live.co.uk

There is a reason that New Yorkers have garnered a reputation for being tough. On Saturday, Brooklyn’s Shannon Briggs embodied that reputation by going the distance with WBC heavyweight champion, Vitali Klitschko.

In doing so, Briggs became just the third fighter to ever go to the scorecards with the dominant Ukrainian. Unfortunately, his doing so also meant paying a steep price, one that could have and should have been avoided.

A first round bicep injury to Brigg’s left arm went undetected by ESPN3.com’s broadcast team of announcer Jon Anik and analyst BJ Flores, but surely not by Briggs, who didn’t come out as aggressive as anticipated. Post-fight knowledge of the injury puts the pieces together as to why Briggs shied away from throwing the haymakers he promised the pre-fight press conferences.

From the opening bell, Briggs was never in this fight. Klitschko controlled the action throughout, using his stiff jab to keep his shorter opponent on the outside. The big Ukranian effortlessly landed crushing rights at will, repeatedly finding on the left side of Brigg’s face. By round six, it was clear that Klitschko would retain his title. The only question left unanswered was whether or not Briggs would make it to the final bell.

As I watched Klitschko dominate round after round, I was brought back to September 2009 when “Dr. Iron Fist” battered Chris Arreola around the Staples Center ring for ten full rounds.

Klitschko easily won all ten rounds against the “Nightmare”, continually landing his vicious rights against Arreola’s ever-swelling face. While Arreola sat on his stool waiting for the round eleven bell to sound, trainer Henry Ramirez stepped in and told referee Jon Schorle to stop the bout.

When Ramirez stopped the fight, Arreola’s immediate reaction was one of devastation and disappointment. As he got up from his stool, Arreola screamed “No!” at Ramirez and raw emotion in the form of tears began to stream down the “Nightmare’s” red puffy face.

Although it was against his fighter and good friend’s will, Ramirez saw that Arreola didn’t even possess a fighter’s chance by the time round ten had ended and consequently threw in the towel.

Conversely, with regards to Brigg’s courageous efforts against the elder Klitschko, the “Cannon” was apparently calling his own shots.

“Despite prior reports, throughout the contest my trainer, Herman Caicedo wanted to stop the fight, but I made it clear that stopping was not an option. Thank you for all of your support and hopefully I showed you the heart of a lion and the perseverance of a Champion,” said Briggs in a released statement following the bout.

Nobody questions the heart of Briggs or Arreola (at least when he is in the ring). If Arreola had his way, he would have fought the championship rounds against Klistchko.

While Ramirez stepped in and saved his fighter from taking excessive, unnecessary abuse, Caicedo stayed quiet, letting his defenseless fighter take absorb a cringeworthy amount of punishment.

Perhaps Caicedo let him go because he — and Briggs — are both well aware that the fighter is well onto the back nine of boxing’s golf course, only a hole or two away from heading into the clubhouse and calling it a career. For the former WBO heavyweight champion, it was do or die, and Caicedo knew it.

Conversely, when the “Nightmare” was stopped by Klitschko last September, it can be presumed that it was Ramirez’s intent was to preserve his young fighter’s future, learn a lesson, and move on.

When thinking about the two fights and how both played out, I wondered if Briggs was in Arreola’s position at the time of the Klitschko fight — a young undefeated contender — would Caicedo have thrown in the towel and saved his guy for another day? My honest guess would be yes — the logic be that you’ll work your way back into contention down the road. But with this being a last hurrah type fight for Briggs, Caicedo let his guard down and failed to appropriately look after his fighter’s safety, as did British referee Ian John-Lewis, for that matter.

There is no doubting the heart of Briggs, who fought thirty-six minutes with Klitschko and was never sent to the canvass. Unfortunately for Shannon the Cannon, he went from spending time with “Dr. Iron Fist” to spending time with German doctors afterwards as he was found to have a suffered torn ligament in his left arm, multiple facial fractures, and a concussion.

Let this be a lesson in unnecessary punishment. There was no way Briggs was going to quit on his stool — he has too much pride, too much courage. But as a trainer, part of your job is protecting your fighter — not only preserving your boxer’s future in the sport, but also a healthy future outside of the ring.

Kyle Kinder can be reached at Twitter.com/KyleKinder

Photo by Claudia Bocanegra

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Former Heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs went to the hospital in Hamburg, Germany after his twelve round beatdown defeat at the hands of WBC Heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko.

Now, he is in Hamburg’s Eppendorf University Hospital with a broken left orbital bone in his face, a broken nose and a torn left biceps, Empire Sports and Entertainment promoter Greg Cohen told ESPN.com.

“He was banged up pretty bad,” Cohen said, shortly after arriving back in New York on Sunday. “The CT scan came back normal, thank God. Shannon wants to get out of there as soon as possible, but he’ll be there for a little bit longer. He’s devastated. He really thought he was going to win.”

“His biceps is a very serious injury and they have to do surgery, and he’ll probably be there for a week,” Cohen said. “It might require more than one surgery.”

I wouldn’t be here [in New York] if he wasn’t OK,” Cohen said. “He was in intensive care after the fight for precautionary reasons. The injuries are not life-threatening. He’s just banged up, but it’s not life-threatening or very serious. Other than the injuries I described, everything else is OK.

“He walked out of the arena on his own. They wanted to put him on as stretcher, but he wouldn’t let them. He’s going to be fine.”

“He trained for this. He was 100 percent ready mentally and physically, but I wish they would have stopped it around the eighth round,” Cohen said. “I love Shannon. He’s like family to me. As a human being, he is much more important to me than as an athlete. So it was tough to watch. But Shannon did not want them stopping this fight. I wish they didn’t listen to him, but I understand. I spoke to his corner after one of the rounds and Shannon was telling him, ‘I’m OK, I’m going to get him.’ Even after the 11th round, he thought he was still going to do it. His will was never broken. If I was in the corner, I would have stopped it. But I’m the promoter, not the cornerman.

“I don’t blame the referee at all. The referee did a good job. And I don’t blame the corner. I understand, but my preference would have been for it to be stopped.”

Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that WBC Heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko will defend his belt against former WBO champion Shannon Briggs on October 16th in Hamburg, Germany.

“Contracts are signed, everything is done,” Said Bernd Boente, who manages Klitschko adding that there will be news conferences to make the formal announcement in Klitschko’s native Kiev, Ukraine, on Aug. 30 and another in Hamburg, his adopted hometown, on Aug. 31.

“I am very happy that I am finally fighting in Hamburg again. I started in Hamburg as a pro [in 1996],” said Klitschko, who hasn’t fought there since a 1999 knockout of Obed Sullivan. “The O2 World is a fantastic arena and the fans in Hamburg know their boxing, and a great atmosphere is guaranteed.”

“Shannon Briggs is an unbelievable trash-talker, but he is definitely a very strong challenger,” Klitschko said. “He has huge experience, has way more professional fights than I have and is one of the hardest punchers in the heavyweight division. I know I will have to prepare myself with my coach [Fritz Sdunek] very intensely.”

Said Boente: “It’s a very interesting matchup. Vitali has to be prepared very well because Briggs is very dangerous for the first six or seven rounds and you can’t underestimate the guy. Vitali knows this not a walkover. You know Briggs. He can show up as a really good fighter and perform on world-class level, or he can show up like he did in the [Sultan] Ibragimov fight and just walk around the ring.”

“I tried for a long time to get into the ring with one of the Klitschkos. Now it’s time to write history,” Briggs said. “Most of their opponents [expletive] in their pants before they enter the ring. But I will put a lot of pressure on Klitschko. Klitschko can look at his WBC belt for a couple of more weeks. After Oct. 16, it belongs to me.

“I have been in touch with [ESPN programmer] Doug Loughrey and hopefully we can work something again for Vitali’s fight,” Boente said.

Earlier today in Cardiff, Wales whilst attending the WBC “Night of Champions” Shannon Briggs 51-5-1 (45) confirmed to 15rounds.com that he had signed to fight Vitali Klitschko for Klitschko’s WBC title on 16 October in Hamburg, Germany.

Briggs 38, returned to the ring in late 2009 and has won three straight this year all by first round KO since his two and a half year lay off. He will be hoping to become a two time champion and seems highly motivated to achieve that goal.

CLICK FOR FULL EVENT INFO

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS

WBC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (12) – MAIN EVENT – PPV

Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs), WBC Champion, Los Angeles, California, USA by way of Ukraine 247 LBS.

vs.

Albert Sosnowski (45-2-1, 27 KOs), Challenger, Brentwood, Essex, United Kingdom way of Poland 224 LBS.

NABF HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (12) – CO-FEATURE – PPV

Johnathon Banks (34-1, 17 KOs), NABF Champion, Detroit, Michigan, USA 225 ½ LBS.

vs.

Jason Gavern (19-7-3, 8 KOs), Challenger, Kissimmee, Florida, USA 225 ½ LBS.

HEAVYWEIGHTS (6) – PPV

Nendad Borovcanin (25-0, 18 KOs), Benja Luka, Bosnia 219 LBS.

vs.

Raymond Ochieng (21-10-2, 17 KOs), Nairobi, Kenya 218 LBS.

FACT SHEET

WHAT: “Fists Of Steel” PPV

WHEN: Saturday, May 29, 2010 – 3:00 PM/ET 12:00 PM/PT

WHERE: Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

PROMOTER: K2 Promotions and Klitschko Management Group

PAY-PER-VIEW INFORMATION: Distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Bell TV, Shaw PPV and Viewer’s Choice in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

A 30-minute condensed viewing and U.S. televised debut of the March 20th IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight title fight between champion Wladimir Klitschko and challenger Eddie Chambers, as well as Johnathon Banks highlights from his NABF title-winning bout on the same card against Travis Walker, will also be shown as part of the “Fist Of Steel” PPV.

PAY-PER-VIEW ANNOUNCER: Dave Farrer, former BSKYB boxing commentator

RING ANNOUNCER: Michael Buffer

OFFICIALS (Klitschko-Sosnowski): Jay Nady, USA, referee. Ken Morita, Japan, judge;

Hubert Minn, USA, judge; Sergio Silvi, Italy, judge. WBC Supervisor, Bob Logist, Belgium.

WBC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

MAIN EVENT – 12 ROUNDS

Vitali “Dr. Ironfist” KLITSCHKO ALBERT “The Dragon” SOSNOWSKI

3-Time World Champion and reigning WBC Title Holder Challenger & Former European Heavyweight Champion

Los Angeles, California, USA by way of Ukraine Brentwood, Essex, UK by way of Poland

39-2 (37 KOs) 45-2-1 (27 KOs)

NABF HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

CO-FEATURE – 12 ROUNDS

JOHNATHON BANKS JASON “The Sensation” GAVERN

NABF Heavyweight Champion WBC CABOFE Champion

Detroit, Michigan, USA Kissimmee, Florida, USA

24-1 (17 KOs) 19-7-3 (8 KOs)

CRUISERWEIGHTS — 6 ROUNDS

NENDAD BOROVCANIN RAYMOND OCHIENG

Banja Luka, Bosnia Nairobi, Kenya

25-0 (18 KOs) 21-10-2 (17 KOs)

(all fights and fighters subject to change)

WHAT: “Fists Of Steel” PPV

WHEN: Saturday, May 29, 2010 – 3:00 PM/ET 12:00 PM/PT

WHERE: Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

PROMOTER: K2 Promotions and Klitschko Management Group

PAY-PER-VIEW INFORMATION: Distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Bell TV, Shaw PPV and Viewer’s Choice in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

A 30-minute condensed viewing and U.S. televised debut of the March 20th IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight title fight between champion Wladimir Klitschko and challenger Eddie Chambers, as well as Johnathon Banks highlights from his NABF title-winning bout on the same card against Travis Walker, will also be shown as part of the “Fist Of Steel” PPV.

PAY-PER-VIEW ANNOUNCER: Dave Farrer, former BSKYB boxing commentator

RING ANNOUNCER: Michael Buffer

OFFICIALS (Klitschko-Sosnowski): Jay Nady, USA, referee. Ken Morita, Japan, judge;

Hubert Minn, USA, judge; Sergio Silvi, Italy, judge. WBC Supervisor, Bob Logist, Belgium.

CLICK FOR FULL EVENT INFORMATION

HOBOKEN, N.J. (May 19, 2010) – NABF heavyweight champion Johnathon Banks makes his first title defense May 29 on the “Fists Of Steel” pay-per-view event, featuring WBC heavyweight title holder Vitali “Dr. Ironfist” Klitschko against challenger Albert “The Dragon” Sosnowski, live from the 61,000-seat Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

Detroit punisher Banks (24-1, 17 KOs), ranked # 7 in the world by the WBC and #9 by the IBF, takes on veteran Jason “The Sensation” Gavern, rated in the top 15 of the WBC, in the 12-round co-feature.

“Fists Of Steel,” presented by K2 Promotions and Klitschko Management Group, is being distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Bell TV, Shaw PPV and Viewer’s Choice in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

A 3-time U.S. national amateur champion, Banks captured the NABF crown last March in what was voted NABF Fight of the Year, stopping Travis Walker (34-3-1) with a dramatic KO in the sixth round of their title fight in Germany. The former NABO and IBO cruiserweight champion, Banks has been the chief sparring partner for the Klitschko brothers for the last three years. He has now emerged in his own right as one of the top heavyweights in the world.

“We’re excited by the progress Johnathon has made in the heavyweight division,” said Tom Loeffer, managing director of K2 Promotions. “He was struggling to make weight as a cruiserweight when he lost to Adamek, but now he is much stronger as a heavyweight. By winning the NABF title the way he did, Johnathon has established himself as one of the top heavyweights in the world today.”

Gavern also won a title in his lasts fight, when he captured the WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation title with a win over Manuel Quezada. In what turned out to be the biggest win of his career, Gavern beat Quesada (29-4), rated #7 at the time by the WBC, by a 10-round decision to capture the title. The battle-tested Floridian has also defeated Cisse Salif, Jermell Barnes and Raphael Butler during his 7-year career.

In the 12-round main event, Sosnowski will attempt to upset Klitschko to become the first Polish heavyweight champion of the world against 3-time heavyweight champion Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs), who returned to the ring after a 4-year retirement to regained his WBC championship belt by stopping Samuel Peter in 2008. He has since defended his title three times by stopping Juan Carlos Gomez and Chris Arreola, and winning every round against Kevin Johnson last December.

Sosnowski (45-2-1, 27 KOs), now fighting out of the United Kingdom, became the European champion by capturing the European Boxing Union heavyweight title in his last fight. He won a 12-round decision last December against Italian Olympian, Paolo Vidoz.

CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS FIGHT CARD

HOBOKEN, N.J. (May 12, 2010) – WBC title challenger Albert “The Dragon” Sosnowski plans to become the first Polish Heavyweight Champion of the World when he fights defending champion Vitali “Dr. Ironfist” Klitschko on May 29, headlining the “Fists Of Steel” pay-per-view event, live from the 61,000-seat Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

“I will shock the world” Sosnowski predicted. “Everything happens for a reason and this is my time. Klitschko has ruled the heavyweight world long enough. I will win this fight for all of my Polish fans across the world.”

“Fists Of Steel,” presented by K2 Promotions and Klitschko Management Group, is being distributed in North America by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Avail-TVN and DISH Network in the United States, as well as Bell TV, Shaw PPV and Viewer’s Choice in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $24.95.

Sosnowski (45-2-1, 27 KOs), now fighting out of the United Kingdom, became the European champion by capturing the European Boxing Union heavyweight title in his last fight. He won a 12-round decision last December against Italian Olympian, Paolo Vidoz.

“Fighting Klitschko for the WBC world title is a dream-come-true for me,” Sosnowski remarked. “It looked like an impossible dream when I first started boxing, but now it will happen on May 29th. Winning the world title will be more than a dream and then I will be on top of the world.

“It’s very important and a great honor for me to be fighting on pay per view in the United States. Fans in the U.S. know about great Polish boxers – first Andrew Golota and now Tomasz Adamek. They have great names and unbelievable followings, packing arenas across the U.S., and I know that they will be supporting me 100-percent.”

After a 4 year retirement, 3-time heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs) returned to the ring and regained his WBC championship belt by stopping Samuel Peter in 2008. He has since defended his title three times by stopping Juan Carlos Gomez and Chris Arreola, and winning every round against Kevin Johnson last December.

“Both of Klitschko’s hands are lethal and he has an awkward style,” said Sosnowki, who came into boxing from kick-boxing. “He is powerful and tough. It’s difficult to find a sparring partner who can simulate him because nobody fights his way. From a technical standpoint, Klitschko makes tons of errors, but he’s very tough and intelligent in the ring. He never lets you fight your fight but I will find a way to capitalize on the mistakes he makes in the ring.

“I have nothing to lose and I know people aren’t giving me much of a chance. That’s okay, though, they don’t know what I can do or hard I’m training. I will aggressive and take risks against him because too many fighters have gone in the ring against Klitschko just to earn a pay-check. I will move sideways, trying to explore his defensive errors, and see what happens when he gets hit. Aggression, movement and speed are the keys for me to win. I will not just stand there and let him beat me like others did. It’s all or nothing for me.”

For more information about the Klitschko-Sosnowski PPV event go to www.integratedsportsnet.com.

Integrated Sports Media: North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events has presented World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Erik Morales, Ricky Hatton, Cristian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Ivan Calderon, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Khan, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, David Haye, John Ruiz, Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr. and Ruslan Chagaev. In addition, Integrated Sports Media distributed numerous International soccer matches showcasing teams like Club America of Mexico and the National Teams of Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador and the USA, as well as World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.