Vitali Klitschko/Shannon Briggs Set For Oct. 16

WBC World Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko will defend his title against former champion Shannon Briggs on October 16, at o2 World Hamburg, Germany.

After eleven years, Klitschko returns to the city of Hamburg where he is living with his family since 1996.

Vitali Klitschko: “I am really happy that I will have a fight in Hamburg again, the place where I started my professional career. The o2 World is a great arena and the fans in Hamburg are real box experts and will make a perfect atmosphere. Shannon Briggs is not only big at talking but also big in the ring and a very tough challenger. He is more experienced than me, has more professional fights on his record and is one of the hardest punchers in the division. I will be very well prepared together with my trainer Fritz Sdunek.

39-year-old Vitali Klitschko has a professional record of 40 wins (38 KOs) with only two defeats due to injury. It is Klitschko’s 13th World Championship fight. Vitali Klitschko is the fourth boxer alongside Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis to win a heavyweight belt for the third time. Klitschko was also just named Champion of the Year by the WBC, it is the third that he has won this award.

Shannon „The Cannon“ Briggs is 38 years old and lives in Brooklyn, New York. The WBC # 8 is 6?4? tall (1,93m) and has an impressive professional record of 51 wins (45 KOs) with only five defeats. In his career, he beat former champion George Foreman, Ray Mercer and Sergej Liakhovich. He was WBO World Heavyweight Champion from 2006 to 2007. With 27 first round KOs, Briggs holds the all time record for first round KOs for champions on the way to the title.

Shannon Briggs: “For a long time I have been trying hard to fight a Klitschko. Most of their opponents are scared to death when they step into the ring. I will put Klitschko on pressure and take the fight to him. Klitschko can enjoy his belt for a few more weeks; after October 16 it will be mine!

Bernd Bönte, Managing Director of Klitschko Management Group (KMG): “This is going to be a dramatic fight between two of the biggest punching heavyweights. We are glad that this fight will take place in Hamburg. Last time Vitali fought here the o2 World Hamburg did not even exist. It will be a great fight night in a fantastic arena.“

In Germany, Klitschko vs. Briggs will be shown live and exclusively on RTL. The ticket sale starts on August 31 on www.eventim.de.