Perhaps even boxing has its moments of déjà vu.

Sixty-seven years ago, a European fighter thought to be no match for a quick-handed power punching North American heavyweight, entered the ring with a sly confident smile. All he told skeptics was that "I see something."

Today, Vitali Klitschko (32-1, 31 KOs), who has been fighting out of Germany, prepares to enter the ring against WBC heavyweight title-holder Lennox Lewis (40-2, 31 KOs) on June 21 at the Staples Center, despite having only 10 days to adjust for his style.

He also says he "sees something" useful to exploit in the champion's technique.

It was Germany's Max Schmeling who fought a then undefeated Joe Louis on June 19, 1936, and despite being a large underdog, unraveled a weakness in the young heavyweight and promptly knocked him out.

Klitschko, who is friends with 98-year-old Schmeling, said he has spoken several times to the former world champion and was told "you have to be focused" despite all of the hoopla and drama.

The Ukrainian prizefighter discovered something in Lewis's style when the movie "Oceans Eleven" was being filmed two years ago. Klitschko's younger brother Wladimir played a role as a fighter opposing Lewis in a heavyweight title fight. Vitali watched closely as they rehearsed the scene over and over.

"It was done the same scene 20 times," Klitschko said. "It was not a real fight but all of his movements I was watching from the side."

But don't ask him what he spotted.

"I know what he prefers," Klitschko said of Lewis. "I don't want to talk about it."

All talk has been focused on the lack of time for preparation. Klitschko wishes he had more time.

"Actually two weeks is not enough time," said Klitschko during a telephone press conference. But after chasing Lewis for three years in hopes of fighting for the world title, he was not going to be denied by time.

"This is the biggest fight of my whole career," he said, adding that in the past few days he has sparred with six-foot, seven-inch Lance Whitaker. "Maybe I don't get another chance."

Born in the Ukraine, Klitschko has a doctorate degree in kinesiology, speaks five languages fluently and his only defeat came against current IBF heavyweight title-holder Chris Byrd after he quit due to a shoulder muscle tear. He is brimming with confidence despite Lewis's predictions of a fifth round knockout.

"All my other opponents were saying the same thing," said Klitschko with indifference in his tone. "They said they would knock me out but where are they right now?"

Criticized heavily because he quit against Byrd though winning handily one the scorecards, Klitschko dismisses the loss as a necessary action to avoid a possible knockout.

"I know I got really bad criticisms," he said. "But it was my own decision."

In a few days, the six-foot, eight-inch Klitschko will be face to face with the most talented heavyweight the world has seen since Mike Tyson in his prime. But if you ask him why he looks so confident, he simply smiles.

"I don't want to talk about it, I want to use those weaknesses in the ring," Klitschko said.

Seems strangely familiar.

Eight Days of Fury

It all begins Saturday at the Arrowhead Pond when former lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo steps in the ring.

For the next eight days the Southern California area will be hosting four world-class professional boxing cards ending with a world heavyweight title match that rivals anything in the history of California.

"The stars are going to come out," said Emanuel Steward, who trains Lennox Lewis and Lucia Rijker - both of whom are fighting at the Staples Center. "There are going to be celebrities everywhere."

Mexico's Castillo (44-6-1, 42 KOs) will light the first match when he faces Gustavo Corral (12-4-3) in a 10-round main event in Anaheim. On the same card undefeated lightweight prospects Steve Luevano (18-0) and Rolando Reyes (23-2-2) will be fighting in separate bouts. Both could be heading toward a showdown in the near future.

A few days later at the historic Grand Olympic Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles, Juan Gomez-Trinidad (23-2) will face canny veteran Javier Jauregui (45-10-2) who has upset several champions such as Castillo, who he stopped twice. The fight card is promoted by Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. De La Hoya is expected to be at the arena.

The next day, the brand new Home Depot National Training Center in Dominguez Hills will host its first boxing card featuring former junior lightweight champion Diego Corrales (36-1, 30 KOs) against Damien Fuller (21-2). Corrales is on a run to get back a world title after losing decisively to Floyd Mayweather Jr. a few years back. So much that he even signed with Mayweather's manager James Prince. The 6-foot 130-pound string bean slugger wants another crack at Mayweather, but this time at 135 pounds.

On Saturday, June 21, the Staples Center hosts its third professional fight card featuring the heavyweight champion Lewis defending his WBC title against new L.A. resident Vitali Klitschko. The undercard features two sizzling women's fights, including Laila Ali, who many consider the top female fighter in the world, and Rijker, who others consider the best female fighter. Both are undefeated and will fight in separate bouts. It's the first time Ali or Rijker have fought in the area in many years.

The impressive string of prizefights has even pro boxers anxious for the coming events.

"Those are some real good fights," said Carlos "El Elegante" Bojorquez, who would love to fight in the area soon. "All of those are real good fights for the fans."

If you're a fight fan and live within 300 miles of Los Angeles, this is an opportunity to see top grade live action in the ring.

Castillo, Luevano, Corrales, Jauregui, Gomez-Trinidad and Goyo Vargas comprise a group of lightweights that could beat any of the current lightweight title-holders excluding Mayweather. Just pick any or all of the fights and see them live. You won't regret it.

And if women fighters are your bag, Ali and Rijker alone should entice you to pay a couple of hundred to see them perform in person. Rijker hasn't been very active in her professional career but she definitely has talent worth watching. She recently confided that she will not be fighting much longer. And Ali has rocketed to the top of the women's boxing world with hard work and expert tutelage from her trainer Roger Mayweather. Her beauty dazzles most people, but Ali has ripped three titles away from opponents with a combination of skill, power and speed that have propelled her to the top of the women's fight game.

Marco Antonio Barrera wants out of contract Featherweight world champion Marco Antonio Barrera is seeking to cut ties with manager Ricardo Maldonado and promoter John Jackson after learning that arrangements had been made to fight Erik Morales a third time without conferring with him first.

"To think my manager and promoter would be out making arrangements for such a big fight without even talking to me first is of great concern and undermines my ability to control my boxing activities," stated Barrera in a press release.

Jeffrey Spitz, attorney for Barrera said "an action has been filed in federal court in L.A." seeking to severe all ties with Maldonado and Jackson.

"We will pursue as quickly as possible seeking a declaration that the agreements are void and unenforceable because they don't comply with state and fed laws," said Spitz in a telephone interview. "Barrera is going to take control of his boxing activities and have no further involvement with either of those gentlemen or their companies."

For an exclusive training documentary with Klitschko, check out this link on Maxboxing.com.