Klitschko vows experience is enough to see off survivor Pianeta
Wladimir Klitschko (59-3) has promised to use all his experience to give Francesco Pianeta (28-0-1) a boxing lesson on Saturday night at the SAP Arena, Mannheim live on ESPN.
The 37-year-old Ukrainian, who will be looking for his 60th win as he puts his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles on the line, goes into the bout a huge favourite against the man he used to spar against but insist he will not be underestimating his 28-year-old opponent.
"I don't want to and I won't underestimate Francesco Pianeta," said Klitschko. "I have prepared how I should, because I know what to expect. He's a young chap who, of course doesn't know his limits. They have to be shown to him in the ring.
He's very ambitious I understand. I was in the same skin and this is very similar to me, and therefore what is in is head and in his team's is that this is the chance of his life, and of course he'll give everything to win this fight.
Pianeta will be super motivated to and wants to use his big chance but I am very experienced and will show him his limits."
The undefeated Italian Pianeta, who overcame testicular cancer, is hopeful of using his sparring experience to catch Klitschko out.
"I know him from inside the ring," he said."Together with my coach Dirk Dzemski we have a tactic to draw Wladimir out of his comfort zone. Then he's vulnerable."
If, as expected Klitschko adds Pianeta to his lengthy list of wins, attention will turn to a likely bout with Alexander Povetkin of Russia. He's the "regular" WBA champion after Klitschko was elevated to "super champion" by the WBA after his win over David Haye.
Povetkin became the mandatory challenger to Klitschko with his win over American challenger Hasim Rahman last September.
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