 Vitali Klitschko says he should not be underestimated |
Vitali Klitschko has rounded on the critics who say he will be knocked out inside five rounds by world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis. The Ukrainian is a late replacement for Lewis after the Briton's original opponent for the bout in Los Angeles on 21 June, Kirk Johnson, withdrew because of injury.
"People say I am not strong enough or in the champion's league. I don't care what people say," said Klitschko.
"Look at my record. Everybody I fought said they were going to knock me out.
"Don't forget we are all human beings. The ring is the same whether you are in Japan, Africa or the United States.
 It will show at the end who can change and be ready to fight on short notice |
"Everybody has their strengths and weaknesses. We aren't talking about a God here.
"I will give everything in this fight. But I don't want to get crazy or nervous about it."
Klitschko was scheduled to fight Cedric Boswell on the Lewis-Johnson undercard.
But the German-based boxer says he will be ready to take on the WBC champion.
"It will show at the end who can change and be ready to fight on short notice," said Klitschko.
"We were both training to fight on 21 June so we should both be in shape."
MMIX
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