Boxing Press Conference Quotes: Wladimir Klitschko – Ray Austin

International Boxing Federation heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and IBF mandatory challenger Ray “The Rainman” Austin participated in the final press conference in Heidelberg, Germany, for their championship fight on Saturday at the SAP Arena in nearby Mannheim.

The bout will be televised live on HBO at the special time of 4:45 p.m. ET/1:45 p.m. PT with a same day replay at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Promoters from K2 Promotions announced they expect a sellout crowd of approximately 15,000 persons with only 500 tickets remaining for sale.

The press conference was held at Klitschko’s host hotel, the Europaische Hof in a quaint section of downtown Heidelberg. The Austin camp is being housed in downtown Mannheim. The SAP Arena sits in between, conveniently equal-distance from both hotels.

quotes from the press conference:

Ray Austin: “I’m looking forward to a great fight. We are both great athletes and this match is going to be special.

“I don’t come to lose. I come to win. This is going to be a beautiful thing for me and shocking for others. I’m going to bring the belt back to America. I’m ready to rumble!

Styles make fights, that’s why this will be a good fight. We match up at about the same height and reach. That’s why this is going to be a good fight. I’m gonna make some rain fall on Klitschko come Saturday night.

“The things I’ve been through in my life make it easy for me to step into the ring to fight. You’ve got to go through what you got to go through in life to get where you’re at. I don’t want to fight at the press conference. I’m going to fight him in the ring.

“My training has been great, the best ever for me.”

Stacey McKinely (Ray Austin’s trainer): “Klitschko has a history of having problems with taller, heavier heavyweights. They’re going to weigh about the same, have the same reach and share the same height. Ray Austin is a dangerous man in the condition he is in today. We’re looking forward to a real good fight for the fans here in Germany on Saturday.”

Wladimir Klitschko: “I am enjoying being back at this hotel in Heidelberg. We stayed here last year for the fight with Chris Byrd where I won the title.

“I’m really looking forward to Saturday night because I love this sport. The sport of boxing means so much to me.”

Are you the one and only heavyweight champion?

“I really don’t want to comment. I’m in the sport. I’m looking forward to the fight ahead of me. That’s for other people to judge. There is a lot of work to be done. I keep hearing the same questions. I always prepare carefully. I’m impatient. I want to get back into the ring.

“Height does not make a difference during the fight. This subject is addressed in the training leading up to the fight.”

Emanuel Steward (Wladimir Klitschko’s trainer): “We have a great deal of respect for Ray Austin, more than Ray apparently has for Wlad judging by his comments at the first press conference. I have the same respect for Ray that we had for Chris Byrd.”

After one minute of the first round everything will change for Ray Austin when he realizes who he is in the ring with. Wladimir is on a different level and at age 30, he’s already entering his 51st fight. Ray Austin is running into the growth and progression of Wlad.

“Those watching the fight are going to be lucky enough to see the emergence of one of the greatest heavyweights ever, Wladimir Klitschko.”