ESPN Classic

Wladimir Klitschko vs. Ruslan Chagaev

June 20, 2009

Veltins Arena

Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Featured Bout:

IBF \ IBO \ WBO \ RING (vacant) Heavyweight Title Bout

IBF \ IBO \ WBO Champ Wladimir Klitschko (52-3, 46 KOs) vs. Ruslan Chagaev (25-0-1, 17 KOs)

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Live Coverage of Klitschko/Chagaev on ESPN Classic and ESPN360.com

ESPN Classic and ESPN360.com will present live coverage of the June 20 Wladimir Klitschko/Ruslan

Chagaev bout from Gelsenkirchen, Germany, beginning at 5 p.m. ET. This marks the second time in three

months that ESPN networks have aired a heavyweight championship boxing match.  ESPN International will

also air the fight on ESPN Brasil and ESPN Dos (Mexico and the northern cone).

In March, ESPN Classic aired Vitali Klitschko’s WBC title defense against Juan Carlos Gomez. Vitali is the

older brother of Wladimir Klitschko.

“We continually seek boxing content that serves fans across multiple platforms,” said Doug Loughrey,

director of programming & acquisitions at ESPN. “We are pleased to offer up another championship bout.”

The winner of the bout will receive the vacant Ring Magazine Heavyweight Championship belt, which was

held by Vitali Klitschko until he retired in 2005. Wladimir Klitschko, 33, is a three-time heavyweight

champion and holds a 52-3-0 record with 46 KOs. He defeated Hasim Rahman by TKO in seven rounds

December. Klitschko has not lost since April 10, 2004.

“I’m very proud that ESPN, the No. 1 sports channel worldwide, will cover my upcoming fight,” Klitschko

said. “Now all the fans in the United States can watch this fight between two champions.”

Chagaev, 30, is 25-0-1. In February, he beat then-undefeated Carl Davis Drumond in six rounds. Klitschko

has the physical advantage. The Ukrainian is 6-foot-6 with an 81-inch reach, while Chagaev, a southpaw, is

6-foot-1 with a 74” reach.

BJ Flores will provide analysis.  Flores, a world-ranked cruiserweight, has worked in studio with ESPN’s

Brian Kenny on select ESPN Friday Night Fight telecasts and will continue to do so through the 2009

season. 

-  Press Release issued by ESPN with a little editing from us (color, etc...)

Subject to change

(6/20/09)