Press release: In the run-up to the European heavyweight championship between Luan Krasniqi, 27-1 (13), and Timo Hoffmann, 31-3 (18), on Saturday, Dec. 4, in Berlin challenger Hoffmann continued to release questionable and offensive comments.

During a public workout session today at Hertie in Berlin Neu-Koeln the 6-foot-7 Hoffmann refused to begin training after entering the boxing ring. He turned down the rope and the pads offered to him and instead released one statement to several hundred fans and journalist at the shopping mall.

“I thank Berlin for supporting me and I want to bring the European heavyweight championship back to Germany”, Hoffmann said.

The European title, however, currently is already in the hands of a German: Luan Krasniqi. The tactless sideswipe in Hoffmann’s comment is that he questions his opponent’s citizenship because Krasniqi, who lives in Germany for 20 years and owns a German passport for ages, has Albanian parents.

After releasing this single comment Hoffmann left.

“Everbody tries to present himself the best way he can”, Krasniqi commented ironically and earned standing ovations from the nonplussed boxing fans at the shopping mall.

Beside European champion Krasniqi former WBO middleweight champion Felix Sturm, 21-1 (9), and light heavyweight contender Stipe Drews, 26-1 (12), showed up at the public workout session. To the delight of the spectators Sturm and Drews played soccer in the boxing ring with their heads.

On Saturday Sturm will face Frenchman and former world champion Hassine Cherifi, 35-10-1 (20), at Estrel Convention Center. Stipe Drews will fight Englishman Ovill McKenzie, 5-5 (1).

In another interesting undercard fight at welterweight Spotlight boxer Marco Cattikas, 3-0 (3), will fight on a Universum event for the first time facing Berlin’s local boy Andreas Schultz, 3-1-1 (2).