Things heated up during Monday's Garay-Brähmer press conference at the Lütten Klein VW dealership in Rostock. Garay and Brähmer meet for the WBA world 175lb championship on Saturday's "Universun Champions Night" at the Stadthalle in Rostock.

"I have already fought twice in Germany against Zsolt Erdei for the championship and say even today that in reality I won those fights, not Zsolt," stated WBA light heavyweight champion Hugo Garay (31-3, 17 KOs). "Jürgen Brähmer I don't even know!"

The response of WBA #1 mandatory challenger Brähmer (31-1, 25 KOs) was direct and pointed. "Even though he claims that he doesn't know me, on Saturday I will show him who I am in the ring!

"It's finally my first world title shot as a pro and I have prepared intensively for Garay. I've planned for and waited for this title chance for a year. It's especially nice that as a Mecklenburg native my dream can come true here in Rostock."

Brähmer's trainer Michael Timm added, "Jürgen has done everything to be the 'best Brähmer of all time' on Saturday in the ring. I can say that I've worked together with Jürgen since 1994 and he has never been in such good shape. The way he looked in training, I hardly recognized him. But Garay ist an awkward old dog and not the cleanest boxer, so this will be a fight to the last drop of blood. Jürgen has the better technique which will tip the balance. A fighter must be able to to box and a boxer must be able to fight. That Jürgen will heed that."

Timm continued, "Light heavyweight is a tradition-rich weight division in Germany. The "Tiger" Dariusz Michalczewski and "Gentleman" Henry Maske, with their magnificent world title successes in professional boxing over the last 15 years made us great. Jürgen Brähmer can follow in those footsteps. We are very optimistic."

In preparation for the fight, Brähmer sparred with ex-world champion Byron Mitchell. "Unfortunately, Byron did not quite mke it through," stated Brähmer. "Two days before the end of the sparring phase last week, he had suddenly had enough of me."