Photos: Eroll Popova
Things heated up at the press conference for Friday’s heavyweight showdown between unbeaten German heavyweight hope Francesco Pianeta (26-0-1, 14 KOs) and the “White Buffalo” Francois Botha (48-7-3, KOs) at the RWE-Sporthalle in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany. Also on the card is female middleweight world Champion Christina Hammer (12-0, 7 Kos) who defends her WBO and WBF belysts against Yahaira Hernandez (11-3, 5 KOs).
Francesco Pianeta: “Francois Botha is a big name. Gosh, I was eleven years old when I saw his big fight against Axel Schulz on TV. With all respect for his career, I will be joining in the list of big names, such as Wladimir Klitschko, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson, who have beaten him. So I will probably finally send him into retirement!”
Frans Botha: “I came to Germany to show everyone again. Sorry Germany, I’m going to pulverize these ‘green kids’ into dust. Lose is not in my vocabulary. Ulf Steinforth, whom I like very much, has unfortunately made a mistake with this fight – his boy is is going to get run over by the ‘buffalo’. The ‘White Buffalo’ is has a lot left and has big plans. I want to fight for the chance to get one of the “Klitschko Sisters. To do this, Pianeta must suffer!”
SES promoter Ulf Steinforth: “We’ve granted you every fight, ‘White Buffalo,’ but this will be your last. I have great respect for the professionalism of Francois Botha, but my confidence in the abilities of Francesco Pianeta is much greater. Thus, here in the Ruhr area, a great career of a great sportsman will end!”
Christina Hammer: “I am really happy about this fight. Mülheim – this is a place for my many fans in the region. It’s my job to defeat Hernandez before the seventh round, then I am faster than my role model Natascha Ragosina. This is what I prepared for!”
Yahaira Hernandez: “I have clearly further developed. We’ve worked very hard on my punching power. Christiana will experience an a different Yahaira. I’m sure not going to the canvas, but Christina will find herself there!”
