Wladimir confident he can retain world titles against French rival

BERLIN - Wladimir Klitschko plans on making Jean-Marc Mormeck the 50th knockout of his career on Saturday, while the Frenchman says he is determined to become his country's first world heavyweight champion.

World champion Klitschko will defend his IBF, IBO, WBO and WBA titles against Mormeck, who stepped up from cruiserweight just over two years ago, in Dusseldorf.

The pair was scheduled to meet last December, but kidney stones forced Klitschko, 35, to postpone the fight which will be the 60th of his career.

"I'm ready for this challenge," said Klitschko at Monday's press conference.

"I still have the hunger and assume the task will not be easy."

Klitschko has not been beaten since April 2004 when he suffered a fifth-round technical knockout to Lamon Brewster in Las Vegas and Mormeck wants to break the Ukrainian's winning streak and take his titles.

"I know that I am underestimated against a bigger and heavier opponent," the 39-year-old Mormeck said. I have an iron will and I'm tough, I will give it my all. I have the mental strength too. Does he?"

This will be Mormeck's fourth heavyweight bout and Klitschko has said it will be tough against a man who is considerably shorter than he is with the challenger measuring 181 cm, compared to Klitschko's height of 198 cm.

Klitschko's brother, Vitali, defended his WBC heavyweight title against Britain's Dereck Chisora a fortnight ago in Munich, but the sport's image was tarnished by the post-fight brawl between Chisora and ex-champion David Haye.

Chisora had also slapped Vitali in the pre-bout weigh-in before running away.

Wladimir says he expects things to stay peaceful, but is taking nothing for granted.

"We are only on Monday, things also started peacefully in the press conference between Vitali and Chisora," said the younger Klitschko, who also suffered from Chisora's boorish behavior when he spat in his face.

"I am looking forward to the open training and the weigh-in."

Despite his threats to dethrone the champ, all bar three of Mormeck's 40 fights have been at the lighter weight including a technical knock-out at the hands of Haye at cruiserweight in 2007.

The Frenchman has still enjoyed 22 knockouts in 36 victories, but has suffered four defeats in his career.

"Wladimir is a great boxer in every way, but I've been preparing for years for this moment," said Mormeck, who turns 40 in June.

Agence France-Presse