The popular Ukrainian heavyweight boxer Volodymyr Klychko and his rival for the IBF title Chris Byrd (US) have set a new boxing ticket sales record in Germany. The organizers of the bout that will be held in Mannheim on April 22 printed 14,000 tickets, and they were all sold out within 48 hours. Most Germans, who consider Klychko their man, probably bought tickets to see the sound “spanking” that Volodymyr will administer to the US veteran boxer. Still, despite the optimism in Klychko’s camp, Byrd has plans of his own. He and his team are certain of victory and even say that Chris can knock Volodymyr out. This is hard to believe because in the past five years Byrd, whose technique is better than his striking force, has managed to knock out just one opponent, with a not-so-brilliant overall record of 18 wins and 9 defeats.
But the American won the vacant IBF title in the very next bout against Holifield and then managed to defend the title four times, but not without the help of Lady Luck and the referees.
