The Battle Of The Generations
Heats Up!
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23.06.06: It’s
going to be some hot night… Not that the vacant
Austrian championship, contested on Sunday night between
Fight Production’s Gotthard
Hinteregger and
Gojko
Knezevic
at the casino in Velden, Austria, means a great deal to
the boxing world – but it’s a different story for
the two boxers themselves. 39-year-old Hinteregger,
25-10-1 (13 KO’s), the former IBF/WBO Intercontinental
champion, is fighting to keep his career alive while his
26-year-old co-challenger, with just four, albeit
winning, bouts under his belt, is eager to gatecrash the
market for bigger deals.
Before
arriving in Velden on Monday, Hinteregger declined to
face his opponent for a media meeting in Vienna. That
angered Knezevic and his trainer Edip Secovic, the
former European champion and interestingly until
Hinteregger’s successes Austria’s last boxer of
international standing. |
“I
assume, Gotti is afraid to see the determination to win in my
eyes,” said Knezevic and added, upon hearing that Hinteregger
called him a “diligent boy”, “He better watch out that the
‘diligent boy’ doesn’t take his head off.” Needless to
say, Knezevic predicts an early night. Hinteregger’s German
manager Olaf Schroeder, who arrives in Austria for the
day-before weigh-in, immediately took exception upon hearing of
his charges’ rival’s comments. Schroeder replys:
“Whichever
way you look at it, that kid has boxed half a handful of
4-rounders against opponents with a combined record of 3 wins
out of 39 contests. That’s a fact and for someone who hasn’t
paid his dues yet, he should thank Gotti for giving him the
chance to make himself a name. No matter if he eventually
manages to back up his words, you just don’t be as
disrespectful towards an opponent as Knezevic has been”.
Read
on to hear what veteran Hinteregger, nicknamed ‘The Cougar’,
has to say on the eve of a fight that will decide if he has any
future in the ring.
What’s
the reason for you not to agree to meet your opponent for an
interview?
I’ve
got nothing against Gogi, but now its too short until fighttime
for a double-interview. I will only look at him again at the
weigh-in in Velden. I’m mentally already in the ring with him,
so there’s no time for talking anymore now.
And
what is your opinion of your opponent?
As
a boxer, Knezevic is a good technician, ambitious and a diligent
boy. As a person I don’t want to judge him, because I don’t
know enough about him.
How
will the fight end?
I
haven’t thought about loosing, not for one second. But surely
I know from my own experience that just one second can decide
about who wins. But this is a highly interesting fight for me
and another step in my career. I have the will to win, one
hundred percent.
Knezevic
has only featured in 4-rounders so far whereas you have been in
quite a bunch of 10- and 12-rounders. Will that have an effect
on the fight?
I
turned professional at 30, but with hindsight I even feel like
being pushed into it too early. I was too inexperienced. Yes,
absolutely, experience is a very important factor.
You
both have a lot of tatoos!
The
first I got about eight years ago, an indian shaman on my
stomach. That symbolizes valuable ancient knowledge, that is
getting lost more and more. The tribals on my arm show that
I’m a warrior, a warrior always fights for his life.
What
can fans in Velden expect after all?
An
honest and hard fight. I’m really looking forward to my first
fight in Kaernten (part of Austria), where I was born. My uncles
and aunts will all be sitting ringside.
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