WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko and his mandatory challenger Juan Carlos Gomez met at Hamburg airport yesterday for the first time before stepping into the ring on March 21st in Stuttgart, Germany. Klitschko’s ‘warm reception’: “Juan, my friend, I am sorry that I have to beat you up!”

The “Black Panther” answered: “I’m so fast, you won’t even hit me – I will beat you up!”

At the official press conference at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart two hours later the champion and his challenger continued throwing verbal jabs at each other. Vitali told the public that he doesn’t like “fighting friends” and also mentioned the personal relationships between his trainer Fritz Sdunek and Gomez and his promoter Ahmet Öner (who is married to Sdunek’s daughter Kati). “Who are you – Dr. Ironfist or Dr. Psychologist?” asked Gomez. “We’re here to fight and not to talk about family and friendship. And how dare you calling me a friend? Just because we used to train in the same gym I am not your friend, Vitali. We haven’t talked in eight years.”

Klitschko agreed that “family is family, business is business and boxing is boxing” while Gomez added: “Many people didn’t believe in me and didn’t think that I could come back to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world. I thank my promoter Ahmet Öner who brought me here and made this happen. Now I am ready to show everybody that the “Black Panther” is back! I’m ready to go! It’s showtime!”

RTL will broadcast the fight on March 21st live in Germany. Also Klitschko spokesman Bernd Bönte revealed that ESPN will be the US TV partner for the world heavyweight championship. Tickets are on sale in a range from 50,- to 600,- Euros.

Weights for the February 3rd Darwish Brothers Knockout Promotions Show

East Rutherford- The fighters who will be participating in Tuesday’s Darwish Brothers Knockout Promotions boxing event weighed in on Monday at the fight venue, the Meadowlands Sheraton Hotel in East Rutherford, NJ. The entire card will be broadcast live by GoFightLive.tv throughout the world.

Fans interested in viewing the entire seven-fight card entitled “Knockout Night” can simply visit www.gofightlive.tv and stream the event live at the affordable price of $4.99 .

The ten-round main event is a competitively matched junior welterweight fight between former world champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley of Washington DC and former title challenger “El Topadora” Wilson Enrique Galli of Salto Uruguayo, Uruguay. Corley tipped the scales at a trim and ready 140.5 pounds while Galli checked in at 141.5. Neither was lacking in confidence as they faced off, taking advantage of a final opportunity to impose a mental edge over the opponent.

“I want this win bad,” Corley says. “Ever since the day that I lost my title, I’ve been on a mission to regain my belt. Galli is a tough opponent standing in my way but I’m going to do what I do best and knock this guy out.”

“I respect Corley for what he has done in his career but that is the past,” Galli says. “The only thing that matters is tomorrow and tomorrow I will be victorious.”

Cruiserweight prospect Elvin Sanchez of Paterson, NJ weighed in at 198 pounds. His adversary Charles “Sweet Chuck” Presnell of Fernley, NV by way of Masan City, South Korea weighed in at 198.5. Sanchez won the New Jersey Golden Gloves title in 2007 after being a star wrestler in high school. Sanchez is managed by the legendary Lou Duva.

In a battle of former amateur stars, Rashad Bogar of Newark, NJ weighed in at 147 pounds, while his opponent Rami Ibrahim of Philadelphia checked in at 145 pounds. Bogar had am amateur record of 79-10 and won the NJ Golden Gloves and Ohio State Fair titles. He is trained by Charlie “Dew Drop” Young at Dew Drop Boxing Club.

Ibrahim was born and raised in Kuwait of Palestinian descent but came to the United States during the Gulf War. In addition to boxing, Ibrahim is also a master in the arts of Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, freestyle karate, kickboxing and wrestling. His various combat sports titles include a Philadelphia Kickboxing Championship, a WKA United States Muay Thai Championhip, a USKBA International Muay Thai Championship, a Philadelphia All-Public Wrestling Championship, as well as Philadelphia Golden Gloves and Diamond Gloves titles. Ibrahim is ranked number 3 in the world in Muay Thai.

William Gill of Toms River, NJ weighed in at 183 while his opponent Chuck Berry of Philadelphia weighed in at 204. Gill is known as one of the toughest boxers in the Northeast, rarely being involved in a boring fight. In his pro debut Gill upset 3-0 local favorite Bobby Rooney. Gill also holds a win over 1996 US Olympian Dante Craig and came within a punch of knockout out Jaidon Codrington in his last outing which was televised on Versus.

Omar Brito of Pleasantville, NJ weighed in at 135 pound while his opponent Hector Rivera of Ft. Lauderdale, FL weighed in at 134.

Providing musical entertainment is the world-famous DJ Absolut from the most prominent hip hop station on the planet, New York’s Hot97. And to help remind everyone which round is next, 18 of the most beautiful women in the tri-state area will serve as ring card girls and greeters.

This event is sponsored in part by Tri-County Lexus of Little Falls, Gold’s Gym of Teterboro, Martial Maxx of Teterboro, Lace of Wayne and Platinum Dollz of Clifton.

Tickets, priced $100 for Ringside and $50 for Reserved, are on sale now and almost sold out. For more information on Knockout Promotions, visit http://www.darwishbrothers.com . For ticket purchase information and other inquiries, call (973) 339-9611. The Sheraton Hotel is located at 2 Meadowlands Plaza in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

“February Frenzy” Final Press Conference & Official Weigh-In

WHAT: “February Frenzy” Final Press Conference & Official Weigh-In

WHO: JOEY “KO Kid” SPINA MATT GOCKEL

Former USNBC & IBF Int. Champion Cagey Veteran

Providence, RI Topeka, KS

23-1-1, 16 KOs 12-9, 7 KOs

“Irish” JOEY McCREEDY RICHARD “Bobo” STARNINO

Lowell, MA N. Providence, RI

9-2-1, 5 KOs 9-4-2, 2 KOs

EDDIE “The Puerto Rican Sensation” SOTO SEAN EKLUND

Pawtucket, RI Lowell, MA

10-0, 4 KOs 6-2, 1 KO

BRIAN MACY JESUS CARO

U. of Conn. Graduate Providence, RI

Ledyard, CT 3-0, 3 KOs

5-0, 2 KOs

KEITH KOZLIN JAY HOLLAND

W. Warwick, RI Providence, EI

2-0, 1 KO Pro Debut

ADAM “The Hitman” HARRIS RASHAD MINOR

Worcester, MA Worcester, MA

10-0, 7 KOs 1-0, 1 KO

JOSH “Steamin’” BEEMAN

Providence, RI

4-2-2, 2 KOs

WHEN: Thursday, January 15, 2008 – 12:30 PM/ET

WHERE: Providence Marriott Downtow

1 Orms St.

Providence, RI

401.272.2400

WHY: Final press conference and official weigh-in for Friday night’s (Feb. 6) “February Frenzy” at Twin River Events Center in Lincoln, RI.