(CORRECTS dateline)
MOSCOW, August 23 (RIA Novosti) - Vitali Klitschko vowed Thursday to "punish" his "narcissistic" title challenger Manuel Charr, but admitted the German may be stronger.
WBC heavyweight champion Klitschko and Charr will clash September 8 at Moscow's Olimpiisky arena.
"I will play with the Charr," Klitschko was quoted as saying by boxingscene.com.
"I'll use his mistakes against him and I will punish him. Maybe physically Charr is slightly stronger than me, but he's too narcisstic, it's evident in his posture and gestures."
"My goal is to send him on the floor of the ring. I will bring a tough fight and take aim at the head of Manuel."
Klitschko said he expected stubborn resistance from Charr, who is unbeaten in 21 fights, winning 11 of them by knockout.
Klitschko has won 44 of his 46 professional fights, with both of his defeats coming from technical knockouts due to cuts or injury, and has never been knocked down in the professional ring.
The Moscow bout will be his first fight in Russia.
Rumors have swirled that the fight may be the last for the 40-year-old Klitschko, who has said he will seek election to the Ukrainian parliament in October.
