Vitali Klitschko of the Ukraine will defend his WBC heavyweight title against Mexican-American Chris Arreola on Sept. 26 in the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Klitschko’s management said on Tuesday.
Arreola’s promoter Dan Goossen had confirmed details of the fight last week.
“I am very pleased that the negotiations have been successfully concluded and that we can offer fans worldwide the fight that everyone wants to see,” said Bernd Boente, head of Klitschko’s management group.
PHOTO: EPA
“Vitali and Chris Arreola are both known as hard punchers and few experts believe this fight will go the distance,” he said.
Klitschko said in the statement he was looking forward to fighting again in Los Angeles, where he had already fought against Lennox Lewis and Corrie Sanders.
“Chris Arreola is one of the strongest possible rivals. He is young, undefeated, has a hard punch and is very confident. I will definitely not underestimate him, but at the same time I have no doubt that I will leave California as the champion still,” he said.
The bout will be the 38-year-old Klitschko’s third fight since returning from a layoff of nearly four years to beat Samuel Peter late last year. Klitschko (37-2, 36 KOs) hoped to fight England’s David Haye in Germany on Sept. 12, but Haye backed out last month.
Arreola is hoping to become the first Mexican-American to win a major heavyweight title, and Goossen expects a large Southern California crowd supporting both boxers. Klitschko has also lived in Los Angeles.
“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime,” Arreola was quoted as saying in Tuesday’s statement. “It’s a dream come true to fight the best heavyweight in the world in my hometown.”
Klitschko, whose brother Wladimir holds the IBF and WBO heavyweight titles, won the WBC title in Los Angeles in 2004.
Klitschko retired and postponed comeback attempts because of injuries and two failed campaigns to become the mayor of Kiev, Ukraine.
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