BARCLAY TO SPAR WITH KLITSCHKO

Simon Barclay will go in the ring with unified world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko before he has thrown a professional punch.

The double ABA Champion from Corby, signed by promoter Frank Warren last month, will find out the date of his pro-debut shortly, but will get some valuable ring experience sparring with the heavyweight great.

Klitschko is preparing for his WBA Super/WBO/IBF World title defence against Alex Leapai on April 26 in Oberhausen, Germany, and Barclay will head out to his Austrian training camp to assist.

Barclay, 24, was stunned when he found out he was going to share a ring with Ukrainian legend.

He told the Northamptonshire Telegraph, “I really couldn’t believe what I was hearing when I had the call,”

“My manager called me up and asked if I would be okay to go out to Austria and then he paused before saying that I would be sparring with Wladimir Klitschko.

“It is going to be a brilliant experience for me and I just can’t wait to get out there.

“The training camp is state of the art and it will be great to see that in use.

“I am going out for the last week of his preparations.

“I think I was wanted out there for longer but I am hoping to make my debut as well so I am going out in the middle of April.

“His opponent is 6ft 1in and I am just a bit taller and it will be mainly speed work that goes on, it won’t be heavy sparring.”