RING heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko weighed a career-high for Saturday's defense against Tony Thompson.
A Saturday press conference is in the works for smack-talkers Adrien Broner and Paulie Malignaggi.
W. Klitschko 249.1, Thompson 244.7
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RING heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko weighed in at a career-high 249.1 pounds compared to 244.7 for his opponent, Tony "The Tiger" Thompson on Friday in preparation for Saturday's EPIX-televised clash at Stade de Suisse in Berne, Switzerland. Click here for a video of the weigh-in staredown. A 36-year-old holder of IBF, WBA and WBO belts, Klitschko (57-3, 50 knockouts) weighed the most he has since Sept. of 2010, when he came in at 247 pounds for a rematch with Samuel Peter, whom he knocked out in the 10th round. Thompson weighed the least he has since February of 2007, when he tipped the scales at 240 pounds for a unanimous decision over Timur Ibragimov. Klitschko-Thompson II is a rematch of their first clash in July of 2008, when a 241-pound Klitschko scored an 11th-round knockout of a 247 1/2 pound Thompson.
During their first clash, Thompson (36-2, 24 KOs) claimed that he was hampered by wear and tear in his right knee, which has since undergone two surgeries and is in better shape, according to Thompson. Thompson, 40, stands 6-foot-5 to the nearly 6-7 Klitschko, who is after his 16th straight win and his 12th knockout during that run.
Photos by KMG Management Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com |