RAY AUSTIN

updated March 06, 2007

If Wladimir Klitschko is looking for a fight, he will not have to go far when he defends his International Boxing Federation (IBF) and International Boxing Organization (IBO) heavyweight titles against mandatory challenger and IBF No. 2 contender Ray "The Rainman" Austin on HBO.

"You won't need MapQuest to find me," Austin said. "I will be right there, right in front of him. This is going to be a real fight, an absolute war."

At six-foot-six, Austin is one inch taller than the boxer almost universally recognized as the true heavyweight champion of the world. Their reach is almost identical. So, for one of the rare times in his career, Klitschko will see eye to eye with an opponent.

"I am not Calvin Brock," said Austin, who likely will outweigh Klitschko on fight night. "I am not a 213-pound Chris Byrd. I am not an inexperienced, undersized contender. I am a full-grown heavyweight. The last time Klitschko faced a man his weight was against Sam Peter, who knocked him down three times while giving away five inches in height. I guarantee some rain is going to fall on Klitschko.

"Klitschko has a soft heart and a weak chin and I am going to knock him out."

The confident Austin, 36, of Cleveland, is unbeaten in 13 fights (9-0-4) dating to November 2000. He expects to extend that streak against Klitschko, and maybe even garner some respect along the way.

"I know everyone wants to see one unified champion, but at the same time I've worked my whole career to put myself into this position," he said. "I am definitely a proud fighter. I wish some fans and press would know the things I have had to go through, and things I've been through to get to this point.

"Early in my career, I never fought a bum; all the guys were prospects. People may not think I'm the most deserving challenger, but I know they think Klitschko is the best heavyweight champion.

"I just hope they feel the same way with me after I am the one to put Klitschko's chin in a box and bring it home. Why would I want to risk missing my opportunity to do that by stepping aside for anything? I respect what people think, but I think it was a good thing for them to enforce the mandatories."

Austin is coming off what should have been a win but instead went into the books as a 12-round draw with Sultan Ibragimov on July 28, 2006, in Hollywood, Fla. Austin was deprived of a win in the IBF eliminator because the referee missed an obvious knockdown when Ibragimov hit the deck in the seventh.

Austin filed a protest with the IBF, which ruled in his favor. "I am grateful to the IBF for seeing it my way," said Austin, who is getting his first crack at a world title. "It gives me the opportunity I've been waiting for. I have done what I needed to do to get here and I am going to make the most of it."

Austin was the underdog against the previously undefeated, hard-hitting Ibragimov (19-0, 17 KOs) even though he was rated higher (No. 2) than the 2000 Olympic Games silver medalist from Russia (No. 4) entering the elimination bout for the IBF's top spot. But Austin did not act the part.

"That's a fight I know I won in my mind, heart and soul," said Austin, who scored a legitimate, credited knockdown in the 10th round. "He was rough and strong, but I was rougher and stronger."

In a spirited slugfest in which the action was fast and furious from the outset, both boxers hit the deck and were forced to rally as they clubbed their way through 36 minutes of what became a rousing, wild, thrilling, entertaining affair.

At the finish of an exciting fight in which both hard punchers left little in the tank, one judge had it for Austin, 114-112, one scored it for Ibragimov, 115-111, and one had it even at 113-apiece.

Ibragimov floored Austin with several wicked shots to the chin in the last minute in the fourth round that left him sprawled against the ropes and apparently done for the evening. Remarkably, Austin beat the count, survived the onslaught and rallied to will himself back into the contest.

Austin began landing telling shots in the sixth that led to a knockdown of Ibragimov in the seventh that was ruled a slip. Replays confirmed that Austin had dropped Ibragimov with a right hand to the head, but the referee called it a slip, saying Ibragimov tripped over Austin's lead left foot.

After the knockdown that wasn't in the seventh, Austin floored Ibragimov in the 10th with a left to the head after missing with a right. "I knew I would catch him again," Austin said.

Austin may not be the most technically skilled boxer in the division, but no one can question the heart and toughness of a courageous veteran who grew up brawling in the streets in Cleveland.

"There is no way I could say how many street fights I had growing up because sometimes I got into more than one a day," said Austin, who's father, Al Bolden, boxed as an amateur, and his uncle, Alfred Bolden, fought as a pro. "We were always fighting back then. We had no choice."

Austin's most memorable pavement punch-out came when he was 16 years old. "There was a guy in the neighborhood that beat up everybody," he said. "I knew the time would come when we would fight so I started working out. At that time, I hung around guys in the game and used to go with them to the gym anyway.

"When the time came to fight, I was up for the challenge. He thought I would be easy, but I knocked him out with about three punches. I had played a lot of football and basketball, but after beating up that guy, I began to think I should take this sport seriously. I started working with trainers, who taught me patience."

Austin, a two-time Golden Gloves champ in Cleveland, did not turn pro until he was 27. He lost his debut on a four-round decision to Charles Hatcher July 10, 1998, in Columbus, Ohio, but was not dismayed.

"I was just a guy off of the streets and Hatcher had a lot more experience," said Austin, who tipped the scales at 260 pounds, the most he has weighed for a fight. "I lost, but I came away confident I could do better. I knew if I worked harder and got in better shape, I could be a force."

Austin won his second start two months later and all nine of his 1999 outings. After taking his first four starts in 2000, his 14-fight winning streak ended when he lost a decision to Harold Sconiers Nov. 2, 2000, in Bethlehem, Pa.

Austin rebounded to register a fourth-round TKO over Faii Falamoe on April 28, 2001, before losing on a ninth-round TKO to Attila Levin (19-1), on July 20, 2001, in Las Vegas. Austin floored Levin in the first with a right, and then injured the hand later in the round.

"I was disappointed I did not finish Levin when I dropped him, but I hurt my hand," said Austin, who has not lost since. "I'd had hand problems for over a year, but it felt good during sparring so I thought it was OK. He hit me with some good shots, but I was not hurt and could have continued. The ref made a mistake."

Austin stepped up a notch to face Lance Whitaker on April 13, 2002. The 10-round clash wound up a draw, but Austin gained new respect after it was revealed he had broken his right hand in the fourth round.

"I beat Whitaker clear as day with a broken hand," Austin said after a bout scored 97-93 (Austin), 97-93 (Whitaker) and 95-95.

After going 6-0-1 after Whitaker, Austin met highly ranked Larry Donald, who had recently defeated legendary former champ, Evander Holyfield. A good fight, for the vacant USNBC crown on April 30, 2005, at Madison Square Garden, ended in a 12-round draw. The scores: 114-114 twice and 115-113 (for Donald).

"I won that match seven rounds to five, at least in my mind," said Austin, who's right hand held up well "Donald went down in the first and they did not call it."

One start after the Donald draw, the strong, durable Austin took yet another big step up the rankings when he came away with a well-deserved 12-round split decision over Owen Beck in a thrilling match on Sept. 3, 2005, in Cleveland. Beck was supposed to whip Austin, a late substitute who had stepped in for an injured Sergei Liakhovich.

But Austin did not co-operate. In a hard-fought elimination bout for the IBF No. 2 ranking, the local favorite rocked and hurt Beck several times. There were no knockdowns, but Austin outfought Beck on the outside and inside for the most part to triumph by 117-111, 115-113 and 113-115. Austin won the last six rounds on one of the scorecards, the last four on another and the last three on the other.

"I took the fight on one week's notice and I had him out on his feet and ready to go in the 11th," Austin said. "I had five weeks to prepare for Sultan and I looked better. For Klitschko, I've got even more time to prepare. I will let the record speak for itself."

Austin, who scored a second-round TKO over Jeremy Bates April 1, 2006, is prepared for the fight of his life. "I will be in great shape and will fight Klitschko to the end," he said. "This fight means everything to me.

"People may think Klitschko is great, and that is fine. But I have not been impressed with any of his performances for quite some time. We were supposed to fight years ago, but it never happened and he wound up fighting Corrie Sanders. We all know how that turned out. This fight won't be much different."

Not surprisingly, Austin is not concerned about taking on Klitschko on his home turf in Germany.

"I am not intimidated by that sort of thing and won't have any problems going overseas," Austin said. "I don't feel any real pressure to go there and knock him out. A win, of any kind, is good enough."