19.9.2007: It’s likely that most sparrings are harder, but comebacking Dane Allan Vester, now up at superwelter, was simply too fast for Austrian veteran Gotthard Hinteregger last Saturday (Sept. 15) in Karlstad, Sweden and ran away with a unanimous decision over (the maximum allowed distance in Sweden) four rounds.

Knowing this was his last chance to re-enter some kind of spotlight, the 40-year-old former IBF/WBO Intercontinental champion from Vienna came out determined to push Vester, who once challenged for IBF and European titles down at lightwelter, out of his stride – but again and again Vester was gone before the ‘Cougar’ could catch his prey. And when Hinteregger pondered the situation a second too long, Vester countered with quick and precise shots, mostly overhand rights and uppercuts.

“What can you do when your opponent just runs away? I knew he’s a clever boxer and did what he had to do – but I was the only one in the ring who really wanted a fight,” Hinteregger said with a shrug of his shoulders.

While Vester will surely continue his comeback, it was Hinteregger’s third loss in a row and made his record dip 29-13-1 (15 KO’s). Olaf Schroeder, his German manager, makes no secret that he wants ‘Gotti’ to retire, instead of cashing in on the name he made for himself in 2004/05 when the Austrian at one point was world rated by the WBO.

Photo credit: Pognus Boxing.