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Size matters, Austin says ahead of Klitschko title fight

Ray Austin and Wladimir Klitschko are about evenly matched in size and reach. Austin figures that will work in his favor when the two fight on Saturday for Klitschko's IBF heavyweight title.

"Styles make fights, that's why this will be a good fight," the US fighter said on Monday at a news conference.

"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," Austin said.

The fight in Mannheim's SAP Arena is a mandatory defense for Klitschko, who is 47-3, with 42 knockouts. Austin is 24-3, with four draws and 16 knockouts. His last lost was in 2001.

"Klitschko has a history of having problems with taller, heavier heavyweights," Austin's trainer, Stacey McKinely, said.

"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," McKinely said.

Klitschko is 2m tall and Austin 1.99m. Klitschko's reach of 203cm gives him more than 2.5cm over Austin. Klitschko did not seem concerned.

"Height does not make a difference during the fight. This subject is addressed in the training leading up to the fight," he said.

Emanuel Steward, Klitschko's trainer, said the Ukrainian fighter had a lot of respect for Austin -- "more than Ray apparently has for Wlad judging by his comments at the first press conference."

"After one minute of the first round everything will change for Ray Austin when he realizes who he is in the ring with," Steward said.

"Wladimir is on a different level," he said.
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