KLITSCHKO FEELS WEIGHT OF EXPECTATIONS VITALI FAVORED, EAGER TO AVENGE BROTHER'S LOSS TO SANDERS.

Byline: Robert Morales Staff Writer

It appears all of the pressure in tonight's fight between Vitali Klitschko and Corrie Sanders for the vacant WBC heavyweight championship is on Klitschko.

Klitschko is favored. He is ranked No. 1. Compared to Sanders, Klitschko is a household name.

Klitschko outweighs Sanders, 245 to 235, but those extra 10 pounds probably feel like they are all on his shoulders.

Also weighing on Klitschko's mind is his brother Wladimir's recent loss to Lamon Brewster. Much of the talk this week has been about the possible effect that will have on this bout.

``Obviously, it could go both ways,'' said Sanders, who will square off with Klitschko in the main event at Staples Center (HBO will televise beginning at 6:30 p.m.) ``It could be, 'What happened to my brother? I have to make it right.'

``But doubts could also go through his head: 'It could happen to me, too.' It is going to be tough (for Klitschko) to get into the ring and know he has to win the fight. There is a lot of pressure on him.''

On top of everything else, Klitschko will be trying to exact revenge on Sanders, who knocked out Wladimir in the second round March 8, 2003.

At Wednesday's final news conference, Klitschko deftly swatted away negative comments about his brother. He had that same look he had the day before he stunned the world by putting Lennox Lewis through the grinder last June 21 at Staples Center.

Klitschko was stopped on cuts after six rounds in that fight, but thanks to a fine left jab and hard right cross, he was leading on all scorecards and made a lot of people take notice.

``In a couple of days,'' Klitschko said Tuesday, ``you can see if I'm good mentally or not. I feel very well.''

Klitschko, 32, is 33-2 with 32 knockouts. The 6-foot-8 behemoth from Beverly Hills via Kiev, Ukraine, will be taking on the No. 2 contender in Sanders. At 6-4, Sanders is himself a big man. He is also a left-hander with a great left cross, which makes Klitschko's job even tougher.

``Corrie Sanders is a very strong fighter,'' Klitschko said of the South African. ``He's a very good puncher and he's a southpaw. He has good head work and very fast hands. I don't want to underestimate him; that's why I prepared very well.''

The first three to four rounds could be key in this fight. Sanders, who has 18 first-round knockouts, is someone who does not waste time. He is expected to go right at Klitschko from the opening bell.

``I believe he will probably expect it,'' said Sanders, 38, who is 39-2 with 29 knockouts. ``But it all depends on the night. When you start the fight, you take what is going to happen.

``I believe he is going to come straight forward, or get on the outside and stay away from me.''

Emanuel Steward, an adviser to the Klitschko camp, said getting past the early rounds will not be easy for Klitschko.

``The fireworks are going to be early,'' Steward said. ``It is going to be a job to survive and get out of those first four rounds. But Vitali seems to be very focused. He's got a very good, systematic plan he has worked on that he is comfortable with.

``He is prepared for the early onslaught.''

But again, is Klitschko prepared mentally? He has been asked that over and over again this week. In Sanders, he will be fighting the man who not only viciously knocked out Wladimir 13 months ago, but who also might have reduced Wladimir to a shadow of himself, thus his knockout loss to Brewster two weeks ago.

``I know this is not an easy fight,'' Klitschko said, ``but I will give my best. I have seen many tapes of him and I am prepared for anything he will do. My focus is entirely on Sanders; I cannot think now about what happened to my brother.

``What is important for me now is to do what I have to do and become world champion.''

Robert Morales, [phone], Ext. 2213

robert.morales(at)sgvn.com

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Vitali Klitschko, right, picks out his gloves with trainer Fritz Sdunek, left, as Klitschko's brother Wladimir looks on.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Box:

KLITSCHKO vs. SANDERS