Stuttgart  - World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko predicted Monday he would knock out Cuban Juan Carlos Gomez in a mandatory bout in Stuttgart in March.

"You're difficult to send to the floor but I'll manage it," the 37-year-old Ukrainian told his challenger in Stuttgart.

"You talk too much," Gomez countered at a news conference ahead of the March 21 bout at the Hans-Martin-Schleyer hall.

Klitschko came out of retirement to reclaim the WBC belt in a one-sided fight with Nigerian Samuel Peter in October.

The 35-year-old Gomez, who sparred with Klitschko when they were both with the same promoter, won the final elimination bout against Ukrainian Vladimir Virchis on September 27 in Hamburg.

The Cuban is a former cruiserweight world champion with one defeat in 46 professional fights.

Vitali Klitschko's younger brother Wladimir holds the IBF and WBO world heavyweight titles, and has lined up a fight this summer against Britain's David Haye.

Meanwhile Uzbekistan heavyweight Ruslan Chagaev returns to the ring in Rostock on Saturday following a long injury lay-off.

The unbeaten Chagaev, who has won 17 of his 24 professional bouts by knock-out, has a voluntary defence of his World Boxing Association (WBA) title against the Costa Rican Carl Davis Drumond.

Chagaev, 30, is the WBA heavyweight "champion in recess", sharing the title with Russian Nikolai Valuev whom he outpointed in April 2007.

He was forced to call off a defence against Valuev last July following an Achilles tendon tear, and the WBA has now called for the rematch to be held by June 30.

"I am fit despite the long lay-off and have just one aim - victory," said Chagaev whose 33-year-old opponent Drumond has won all of his 26 bouts, 20 by knock-out.

Chagaev last fought when beating Matt Skelton in January 2008 by unanimous decision.

Valuev outpointed former world champion Evander Holyfield in a controversial decision in Zurich on December 20. (dpa)