Boxing fans from around the world can flock to the biggest fight of the year – the Clash on the Dunes in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia – to support their heroes Unified WBO Heavyweight Champion Andy Ruiz Jr and Anthony Joshua after the Kingdom launched new super-fast tourist visas.

On December 7, in the UNESCO heritage site of Diriyah – known as the land of kings and heroes – Anthony ‘AJ’ Joshua will attempt to recapture belts taken from him by Andy ‘Destroyer’ Ruiz Jr in Diriyah Arena, a purpose-built arena for 15,000 fans on the night.

Tickets for this incredible showdown go on sale this Sunday, October 13, at 9pm KSA time (10pm in UAE, 7pm in the UK and 2pm US) and are available at www.diriyahseason.sa.

It will be the first-ever World Heavyweight Title fight ever to be staged in the Middle East and forms part of the month-long ‘Diriyah Season’, a spectacular season of world-class sport, global entertainment, and culture, officially launched on Sunday night at a glittering ceremony in the ancient city, the birthplace of modern Saudi Arabia on the outskirts of Riyadh.

This follows the announcement in recent days that travelers from 49 countries across the world can now secure 90 day tourist visas online in just seven minutes to attend the festival. For more information got to visa.visitsaudi.com.

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said: “This is the biggest boxing match on the planet, and it will be taking place in one of the most unique venues ever.

“We already know there is a great passion for boxing in the Kingdom, but AJ and Andy will want their fans to come and support them, from across the region and from the UK and the US and Mexico.

“It’s great news that these tourism visas have been launched, that’s a big step forward for the country and it means that boxing fans wherever they are can come witness an unmissable night. This fight will go down in history as one of the greats.”

Due to the unique venue, being staged outside of the UK or the US, the fight has already seen parallels drawn in the media to some of the most iconic fights in history, such as Muhammad Ali’s fights against George Foreman – “the Rumble in the Jungle” – and Joe Frazier – the “Thrilla in Manila”.

Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki AlFaisal Al Saud, Chairman of the GSA, said: “We have already seen the energy created by boxing when we staged the World Boxing Super Series match last year, this landmark moment – the first World Heavyweight Title fight in the Middle East – now takes that excitement to a whole new level.

“Athletes and audiences can expect to be knocked out by the passionate reception this event will enjoy in the Kingdom, and now, with the launch of tourism visas for 49 countries, it has never been easier for fans from around the world to come be part of history.”

HH Prince Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chairman of SCEE, said: “This is a historic moment for Saudi Arabia welcoming the first World Heavyweight Championship. As a nation we have started to pave the way for becoming a global player in the sports and entertainment industry and we have witnessed a real appetite for the boxing sport.

“This is the biggest boxing fight that has taken place in the region to date and we are bringing it to Saudi Arabia on December 7 – the world is watching us and we promise to deliver an unparalleled experience. SCEE are a proud partner of the GSA bringing Clash on the Dunes to Diriyah Season, 2019.”

Tickets for all of Diriyah Season’s spectacular events and entertainment will be available online at www.diriyahseason.sa with Formula E Tickets on sale now, Clash On the Dunes tickets on October 13, and Diriyah Tennis Cup on October 26. Tickets for other events as well as season long tickets will be announced soon. Follow Diriyah Season’s news and announcements on the official social media pages on twitter and Instagram @diriyahseason.

Parker Fury Complaint

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WBO World Heavyweight mandatory title challenger Hughie Fury will face the champion Joe Parker in Auckland, New Zealand, at the Vector Arena on Saturday 6th May, it was confirmed last night.

Undefeated Fury, from Manchester, will travel to the other side of the world as he looks to cause a massive upset against the similarly unbeaten and big-hitting Parker who is a superstar in his native homeland.

Fury aims to emulate cousin Tyson’s amazing feat of ending the reign of then division king Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015 when he travelled to Germany and tore all the belts from the seemingly invincible Ukrainian.

The hard-hitting and highly-skilled 22-year-old, trained by father Peter, has a perfect record of 20 wins with 10 knockouts in a four-year career and captured the WBO Intercontinental title in his last fight against Fred Kassi. Fury had a glittering amateur career that culminated in winning Gold at the 2012 World Youth Championships – England’s first ever at super-heavyweight.

Parker became New Zealand’s inaugural World Heavyweight Champion when he won the WBO crown in December, defeating the previously unbeaten Andy Ruiz Jr for the vacant title at the Vector Arena with a very tight points decision. The 25-year-old is certainly heavy-handed after winning 18 of his 22 fights by knockout in a near five-year career.

It will be the first time in history that a recognised world heavyweight title has been defended in New Zealand and Parker versus Fury is expected to become the biggest boxing event ever staged in the country, with an expected global audience of over 100m.

Fury is not bothered with the hype and is fully focused on shaking the world up – just like Tyson – by defeating Parker, “I’m really looking forward to it and I just can’t wait! I feel great and I’ll be in the best shape my of life come fight night and you’ll see something special. It doesn’t matter what country the fight’s in, a boxing ring is a boxing ring to me, no matter where in the world. The result will be the same, a Hughie Fury victory and on May 6th you’ll be looking at the new WBO World champion.”

Despite the enormity of the event, Peter is confident that his son will rise against the odds and cause an upset. He said, “I see it as a very competitive fight between two of the best young heavyweights in the world today and the fans and media are certainly going to relish this one. Parker’s the World Champion and we’re going into his territory, but we’re fighting people through and through and this does not bother us. I see my son coming back home with the World Title.”

Mick Hennessy, CEO of Hennessy Sports, is backing his man to return home crowned the new WBO World Champion. He said, “Hughie is an exceptional talent who has been underestimated in his career. I know that the bigger the fight and the bigger the occasion, Hughie will rise to that challenge and Parker will bring out the very best in him. We’re under no illusions, this is a very hard test for Hughie, but I believe he will shine through.”

www.fightnews.com/Boxing/parker-vs-fury-set-may-6-nz-396757#more-396757

duco Photo: Dave Cameron

By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing –

WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker will likely be ringside on April 29 at the Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko IBF, WBA heavyweight title bout in London to call out the winner and unify the titles. “That’s what we want – to unify the belts and we are willing to lose trying,” said David Higgins of Duco Events. “If the other belt holders shared our views it would fix the heavyweight division. Any heavyweight worth their salt should be looking to unify the division and hold all the belts. When the belts aren’t unified, the public are confused about who is the champion.”
Parker, who is promoted by Duco Events and Top Rank, captured the WBO championship on December 10 in Auckland, New Zealand, with a twelve round majority decision over Andy Ruiz.

www.fightnews.com/Boxing/parker-planning-to-call-out-joshua-klitschko-winner-385880

 

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WBO/IBF/WBA/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko was working hard during a training session at the Hotel Stanglwirt in Going, Austria. Klitschko is scheduled to defend his titles against the mandatory WBO challenger Alex Leapai of Australia at the Koenig-Pilsener-Arena on April 26 in Oberhausen, Germany.  Leapai, a heavy underdog but a big puncher, secured his mandatory shot after last year’s upset decision over previously undefeated Denis Lebedev.

http://www.boxingscene.com/photos-w-klitschko-working-hard-leapai-defense–76511

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Date: May 4, 2013

WBO Heavyweight Championship Title Bout

Location:  SAP-Arena, Mannheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

Promoter:  K2 Promotions/SES Sport Events Steinforth

Referee:  Ernie Sharif

Judges:  Patricia Morse Jarman, John Lawson, and Roberto Ramirez, Sr.

Supervisor:  Francisco Valcarcel, Esq.

Results:  Wladimir Klitschko TKO’ed Francesco Pianeta in the sixth round, Time: 2:52.

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Mariusz Wach has tested positive for anabolic steroids following his Nov. 10 loss to WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, according to the German newspaper Bild.

Wach’s A-sample has allegedly tested positive, but at this point, his B-sample has yet to be tested.

The Polish fighter is in danger of being suspended and could face heavy fines from the German Boxing Federation and the sanctioning bodies if he is guilty of having used performance-enhancing drugs in the heavyweight title fight.

2012 has certainly been a rough year for boxing, as Wach is now the fifth fighter to test positive for some sort of PED either before or following a major fight.

Other fighters who have tested positive for banned substances this year include current IBF junior welterweight titleholder Lamont Peterson along with former champions Andre Berto, Antonio Tarver and Erik Morales.

It should be noted that neither Peterson, Berto nor Morales were suspended for their infractions or had their licenses revoked.

All three of the previously listed men tested positive for tests administered by either the United States Anti-Doping Agency or the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency, which have no affiliation with any State Commission.

It is looking more and more like these are not isolated instances and that boxing has a serious issue with PEDs.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1430874-wladimir-klitschko-opponent-mariusz-wach-reportedly-tests-positive-for-steroids

AFP / John Macdougall

Wladimir Klitschko venció al polaco Mariusz Wach, un adversario más pesado y más alto y defendió sus títulos de la Asociación Mundial, Federación Internacional y Organización Mundial de Boxeo, en una pelea celebrada el sábado en el O2 Arena en Hamburgo, Alemania.

Fue la primera pelea de Klitschko desde que su entrenador Emanuel Steward falleció el pasado 25 de octubre.

Klitschko se llevó la victoria por decisión unánime en 12 rounds. Las tarjetas de los jueces marcaron 120-107, 120-107 y 119-109 para Klitschko, que s´lo estuvo en problemas al final del quinto round, cuando Wach lo sprprendió con una gancho de derecha antes de lanzar una lluvia de golpes, fallando la mayoría.

La derrota fue la primera de Wach, que llegó a la pelea como el boxeador más alto en enfrentar al campeón ucraniano. Klitschko mide 1,98 metro (6 pies 6) y Wach 2,01 metros (6, 7 1/2) con mayor alcance de brazos.

Para Klitschko fue la pelea número 22 por un título mundial y llevó su foja a 59-3 (51 nocauts). Wach cayó a 27-1 (15) desde que se hizo profesional en el 2005.

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Wladimir Klitschko defeated Polish Mariusz Wach, an adversary heavier and taller and defended his titles in the World Association, International Federation and World Boxing Organization, in a fight held on Saturday at the O2 Arena in Hamburg, Germany.

It was Klitschko’s first fight since his trainer Emanuel Steward passed away on October 25.

Klitschko earned the win by unanimous decision in 12 rounds. The cards of the judges scored 120-107, 120-107 and 119-109 for Klitschko, who s’lo was in trouble at the end of the fifth round, when it sprprendió Wach with a right hook before throwing a flurry of punches, failing most.

The loss was the first of Wach, who entered the fight as the fighter confront higher Ukrainian champions. Klitschko measured 1.98 meters (6 feet 6) and Wach 2.01 meters (6, 7 1/2) with wider arms.

Klitschko was fighting for number 22 for a world title and took his record to 59-3 (51 KOs). Wach fell to 27-1 (15) since turning professional in 2005.

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=1655448&s=box&type=story

Wladimir Klitschko (58-3, 51 KOs) and Mariusz Wach (27-0, 15 KOs) participated today in the fight week press conference at the Google Germany HQ in Hamburg to talk about their fight on November 10. IBF, WBA, WBO, IBO and “The Ring Magazine” Heavyweight Champion Klitschko and his undefeated Polish contender Wach will face off next Saturday at the o2 World Arena Hamburg, Germany.

Wladimir Klitschko: “It took quite a time and I have put a huge effort in getting these belts. I am 100 per cent prepared to defend my titles again and I know what I will be facing in the ring on Saturday. I will defend the titles that I won together with Emanuel Steward.”

Mariusz Wach: “I know it will be a very difficult fight but I am prepared for anything. If it’s gonna be 12 rounds, I am prepared, if it’s gonna be a technical fight I am prepared. I will do anything to get Klitschko’s titles. This fight will be very special and will be memorized by the boxing fans.”

For the first time, the press conference was also broadcasted on the official Klitschko Brothers’ Google+ page (www.google.com/+Klitschko). Fans and journalists worldwide were thus able to follow Klitschko and Wach five days before their fight.

During the press conference it was also announced that Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, the two World Heavyweight Champions, will continue to have their fights on German TV station RTL. Bernd Bönte, Managing Director of Klitschko Management Group GmbH, and RTL Sports Chief Manfred Loppe signed a new contract for five further fights, regardless of which brother enters the ring.

KMG and RTL have been working together very successfully for six years already. In 21 fights the brothers always left the ring victorious, drawing TV crowds of up to 16 million viewers only in Germany.

Bernd Bönte: “Together we are creating great shows and neither the brothers nor myself can think of a better TV partner than RTL.”

The fight will be shown live on RTL in Germany. EPIX will show the fight in the US at 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT.

Heavyweight contender Mariusz Wach (27-0, 15 KO’s) is being billed by some as the fighter to end the title reign of WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO and Ring Magazine heavyweight titlist Wladimir Klitschko (58-3, 51 KO’s). Wach and “Dr. Steelhammer will clash on November 10 at the O2 World Arena in Hamburg, Germany.

Wach enthusiasts are quick to point out that “The Viking” as his fans call him, will be the first fighter who is not dwarfed by Wladimir’s sheer size.

Mariusz stands 6’7 ½” and tips the beam at roughly 250 pounds. There is no question that Wach is huge, powerful and has KO power. His knockout over journeyman Kevin McBride (35-10-1) in four rounds in July 2011 was noted by boxing observers for its brutality. In that fight Wach landed his trademark right hand and the 296 pound McBride went crashing to the floor. McBride whose only claim to fame was his stoppage of a badly faded Mike Tyson in 2005, had to be carried from the ring on a stretcher.

Wach and his supporters are buoyed by the fact that the ring giant has scored seven straight KO victories and are hopeful that he will add Wladimir to that list. Klitschko’s detractors, of which there are many, gleefully point out that Wlad’s chin is suspect and that he has already suffered three KO losses in his career.

Of course it is a good thing to have confidence as a fighter, particularly when you are embarking on the quest to defeat a heavyweight champion who has dominated the division for the last several years.

It should be pointed out however that “Dr. Steelhammer” has improved dramatically since he was stopped by the likes of Corrie Sanders, Ross Purity and Lamont Brewster.
Wladimir, pushed by his brother, did a self assessment after he suffered his 3rd KO loss. Vitali even suggested that it may be time for Wladimir to hang up the gloves and try something else.

It was at that point that Wladimir took on arguably the best trainer in boxing, Emanuel Steward. Manny worked on the areas he thought Wlad needed to improve on while helping him to refine his god given talent. The lack of proper conditioning was one of the first aspects of Klitschko’s game that Steward went to work on. Manny believed that Wladimir’s chin was not the only culprit in his KO losses. Steward felt that Klitschko’s lack of conditioning was one of the primary reasons that he was KO’d three times.

Steward turned Klitschko around and played a big part in making him the fighter he is today. For Wach to be competitive with Wladimir he needs to improve in every aspect of his game. Unfortunately “The Viking” has only competed against 2nd and 3rd tier opposition. Wach’s boxing skills and ring generalship are nowhere near that of Klitschko’s.

Wladimir will have the opportunity to demonstrate to boxing fans that it is not just his size which makes him the fighter he is. More than likely Klitschko will pick his larger opponent apart in the early rounds and after softening him up go for the KO.

By: John F. McKenna (McJack)

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/08/being-tall-wont-be-enough-for-wach/

World heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko punches during his boxing fight on July 7, 2012 in Bern. Klitschko will defend his WBO, IBF and WBA belts against Poland's Mariusz Wach in Hamburg on November 10, it was announced on Wednesday. (AFP Photo/Fabrice Coffrini)World heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko punches during his boxing fight on July 7, 2012 in Bern. Klitschko will defend his WBO, IBF and WBA belts …

World heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko will defend his WBO, IBF and WBA belts against Poland’s Mariusz Wach in Hamburg on November 10, it was announced on Wednesday.

The 36-year-old Klitschko, who is based in Hamburg, faces his 23rd world title fight against the undefeated Wach, four months after the champion’s sixth-round knock-out of US boxer Tony Thompson in Basel.

“It is always something special to box in Hamburg,” said Klitschko.

“This fight will also be special because I have never fought against a boxer who is bigger than me and has a longer reach.”

At 2.02 metres (6ft 7.5in) tall with a reach of 2.08m, Krakow-born Wach, who is based in the United States, is four centimetres taller than Klitschko with a reach two cms longer.

Klitschko last fought in Hamburg on July 2, 2011, when he earned a clear points win over Britain’s David Haye to add the WBA belt to his collection.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/klitschko-defend-titles-against-wach-140231644–box.html