Question: Chris, you had a little bit of difficulty taking Klitschko’s punches in the first fight in the later rounds. Was that more fatigue or do you think it is just a more of an accumulation of punches? How do you see things being different this time?

Byrd: My goal this time is not to take all those punches like I did the first time. I have tried to correct a lot of things from the first time and do things differently to not have those things happen in this fight.

Question: Chris, do you feel that Klitschko will have an advantage if he keeps the fight on the outside? Do you feel that your best chances are to get inside of his jabs? Do you have any plan to deal with if Klitschko wraps you up in his arms like he did Sam Peter?

Byrd: I have been working on so many different things with my sparring partners trying to work on all of these different movements and different styles. Hopefully, the referee will do his job. Hopefully, we just fight and give a good performance to the crowd. You will see as the fight goes on the different changes both of us make if we are not doing things like we should. So I cannot really tell until we start boxing and see what happens. But I am ready for almost anything that comes and ready to adjust and do things right to win this time.

Question: Wladimir, how comfortable are you fighting inside where your height and leverage give you pretty distinct advantages?

Klitschko: Everybody uses their own advantages.

Question: Wladimir, how is having Emanuel Steward as your trainer impacted the way you train and fight?

Klitschko: I have a great opportunity to work with great people and trainers, like Freddie Roach, where I actually learned how to fight slow (pace myself) with him. I have enjoyed working with Emanuel very much and he is a great coach. The man knows about strategies, technology, techniques, etc. I enjoy the work and it takes a lot of time to really understand each other, but right now we are already three years together, so we have become closer and closer and I understand exactly what he thinks and he understands what I mean.

Question: Wladimir, would you say that you are closer to Manny than you have been to any other trainer you have had?

Klitschko: I am saying that after three years we are getting closer and closer and understanding each other better.

Question: Wladimir, how many rounds of sparring did you do in preparation for this fight?

Klitschko: I went approximately around 150 rounds.

Question: Chris, you have had several very close fights recently. Do you expect this fight to be another real close fight? Also, do you think the close fights have taken something out of you and caused you to adjust your style? Have the close fights helped or hurt you?

Byrd: I think they have helped me. It makes you realize everybody is coming to take your title. You have to be on top of your game and fight. I cannot take these guys for granted. Everybody is coming to win the heavyweight championship of the world. So I train harder and I try to give it my best each time out. I feel this is going to be a close fight. It should be a really good fight.

Question: Chris, are you planning to come out fast or are you planning to weather Wladimir’s early storm if he comes out fast?

Byrd: I have been boxing a long time. Sometimes I come out fast and sometimes I just come out. I do not have a strategy in that area. I am in great shape. I can come out fast and stay fast for 12 rounds. I just look forward to boxing. I love it. I cannot wait until the bell rings and we both get it on. It is going to be a great event.

Question: Chris, do you feel you still are strong mentally, physically, and still focused?

Byrd: I have to be. I am always trying to prove something to somebody. I am proving stuff to myself everyday and training and doing certain things. I am trying to prove to people that I really belong in this division. I have been champion since December 2002 and still do not get any respect and I am willing to face any opponent any time, and I am 210 pounds. I come to fight and, as of recently, I have been trying to prove to people that I come to fight and not shy away from anyone, not trying to be cute, but straight up and fight.

Question: Chris, do you think you can test his chin?

Byrd: Oh no, that is something I really do not concern myself with. We train to box and win. If you catch somebody, you catch them, and if not, you go 12 rounds. I do not look at a guy’s previous fight. I know what kind of talent Wladimir will have and I respect it a lot. I do not go and try and test anybody’s chin because if you do that, he will test mine. So I just go in and give it my all and put on a good show.

Question: Wladimir, you are in a similar situation to Chris in that you have won the title, but you have also been criticized for your stamina and your chin. Do you think that the criticism is fair or do you think it has kind of been overblown?

Klitschko: On your way to the top, you always get some criticism. Criticism is a great motivation. Failure is not an option to me.

Question: Do you feel any necessity or any need to disprove the critics, or can you do what you did against Samuel Peter and just focus on what Emanuel told you to do and box your way to the title if you have to do that?

Klitschko: I understand they have to talk about it, but I believe in myself and I will do it in my way.

Question: So you are a more confident fighter as a result of getting up from those knockdowns in the Williams and Peter fights than you are skeptical about your ability?

Klitschko: I am a complete fighter right now.

Question: What weight do you see yourself coming in at?

Klitschko: 240.

Byrd: As for me, it is between 212-215. That is just the normal weight for me. I feel very comfortable and strong. Anything above that is too big for me.

Question: Chris, your style has been quite successful against big men, but you have also taken a bit of flak for not being as exciting as you could. Has this caused any changes? Are you going to look to fight differently in order to become a little bit more exciting?

Byrd: I think when you fight the top challengers of the world, you have to adjust to many different styles. One style just will not cut it fighting such big guys. So I am still an elusive guy and fast, but at the same time gritty. But at the same time, if that does not work, I can resort to something else. So I just try to adapt everything and make it more exciting.

Question: Wladimir, do you think there is a certain bias against you and your brother for just being so much bigger than the opponent?

Klitschko: Of course. I think it is normal that the smaller guys get more sympathy than the bigger ones in the fight. But I will repeat myself again and have success is in the performance. So everybody has their own advantage.

Question: Chris, this is your first fight without Don King as your promoter. Could you comment on how that has made you feel a little bit looser and more happy?

Byrd: I am so pumped. I had a great training camp without Don calling me and bothering me with certain things -- you know, negotiations. It has been great. I feel free. I am not going to bash Don too much, but I am a lot happier than I was.

Question: Where are you staying?

Byrd: I am staying at the hotel. I visited the Air Force and the Army Hospital yesterday. So it was pretty cool. But I am not staying on the base.

Question: Chris, right now we have two Europeans heading things up in the heavyweight division with Wladimir looking for his shot, which makes it a European division. Do you feel any extra added pressure as an American to bring that title home?

Byrd: No, not at all. I am not putting any extra pressure on myself. Representing America for the title is great, but at the same time, if you can fight – and there are a lot of great fighters all over the world, a lot of great heavyweights – you can fight and on any given night it can be a new champion. So I respect all these guys and I respect their ability all over the world, the fighters that get in the ring in the heavyweight division. Things happen. It is like basketball in the Olympics. The other countries are coming up everywhere playing great basketball and winning the gold medal, and America has got to tend to their p’s and q’s to stay on top because there is talent everywhere. The same with boxing. It is just showing that there is a lot of talent all around the world, not only in the smaller weights, but in the heavyweight division. You have match-ups from guys all over the world to make this division really strong. It does not matter where you are from. If you can fight, you can become champion of the world.

Question: Chris, boxing may be the only sport where the media feels that they have the right or the ability to claim who won a fight regardless of what the judges say or who the real champion is despite who owns the title. When a boxer that you have beaten was declared by The Ring magazine as the true champion, how did that make you feel?

Byrd: Oh, stuff used to bother me as I was coming up and what people said or what they thought. It does not matter. I think when you get in the ring and fight, we have to prove it there. What people say, even about the fight with myself and Wladimir, they can say we are No. 1 overall, which is great. But you still have three other guys up there that are saying, “No, I am the best guy.” Until we fight each other, that is when you really prove it. So what people in the media say about certain guys and their abilities and who they think are the best, it really does not matter. Opinions and polls and independent ranking do not mean anything. That is just your opinion. Until you fight the best, you know you are the best and each one of the champions feel that they are the best in the world. So until you fight, that is when you find out.

Question: Chris, considering that Wladimir has been down nine times in his last seven fights, are you going to try to check his chin early on even though that is not your style?

Byrd: No, not at all. Like I said , if you try to check somebody’s chin, you will get checked. You have got to work on the things you did in the gym and try to make it work for you and execute it throughout the whole fight, and not get hit with the big bombs. I am a small guy in a big man’s division, and Wladimir is one of the big, talented guys. So I have to be very smart in what I am doing and just fight a complete fight and not worry about knockouts or trying to check somebody’s chin. Just box. Let the cards fall where they may.

Question: Wladimir, you got mostly knockouts in your career, but you have gone to the decision in your last fight and it looks like you are starting to be more of a boxer than just a puncher. Are you looking to get a knockout in this fight?

Klitschko: I think that is the best win that you can have. Win by points or lose by points or whatever, after the boxing is over, and people after that have so many questions as to who won. To win by KO is the best answer for all those questions.

Question: Wladimir, do you think as a champion that you are going to be more active?

Klitschko: Of course.

End Press Questions. Begin Closing Comments.

Byrd: Hopefully, we can put on a great fight Saturday night and may the best man win.

Klitschko: Enjoy the fight.