Boxing

Interview with Danish heavyweight prospect Thomas Sörensen

By Teddy Stenmark

15.05 - Undefeated heavyweight boxer Thomas Sörensen (10-0) a former business owner and father of two, is probably one of the best bets for an heir to Brian Nielsen’s heavy Danish tradition. With his unbeaten streak of 10 straight wins and nine knockout’s it sure appears that he might be on the verge of a main event status in a very near future. He was definitely a joy to talk with on the phone. Here is what he had to say...

Teddy: Hello Thomas, how is your current form? Are you in top-shape? When do you fight next?

Thomas: No not really, I haven’t been able to train 100% due to an elbow injury, I am scheduled for a fight in Spain on June 7th but I sincerely hope that it will be postponed a few weeks so I can heal up this injury good!

Teddy: I know that you were a good amateur Thomas, exactly how many unpaid fights did you have and what years were you National champion?

Thomas: I had about 57 or 58 fights and was National champion in 2001. I was actually a light middle/ Middleweight/Light heavyweight at the start of my career so I wasn’t always a heavyweight.

Teddy: Really! (Surprised) How did you grow into a heavyweight?

Thomas: I had a long layoff for a while when I didn’t box, I got my kid and started my company, so I gained 27 kilos and when I returned to the ring I was a full-blown heavyweight

Teddy: Did you face any Swedish boxers during your amateur career? Who was the toughest boxer you met in the unpaid ranks?

Thomas: Yes I did actually; I fought Magnus Östergren at the Nordic championships and lost! The best fighter? Hmm..Well, Östergren was one of them, hmm but I guess I have to say Brian Lentz.

Teddy: You only gone the distance 1 time in 10 fights, were you as big a puncher in the amateurs as well?

Thomas: Only in my two last years when I campaigned at heavyweight, then I knocked a few guys out, but not so much when I fought at the lighter weights!

Teddy: How old were you when you started boxing and which clubs did you represent?

Thomas: I was 13 years old and I only represented one club, (Ringen, Odense) during my entire career.

Teddy: Have you ever competed at any other sport?

Thomas: Yes I played football (soccer) parallel with the boxing career to start with but once I got really serious with the boxing I quit the football!

Teddy: Which one of your probouts have been the toughest so far in your career?

Thomas: It’s the one I had with Rodney McSwain that went the full six round! I shouldn’t make any excuses for myself but I had been sick with the flu prior to that fight and had tried to get rid of the sickness in the sauna! That drained my strengths quite a bit.

 

Teddy: Do you come from a large family? Have your dad boxed?

Thomas: I have a sister and a brother and yes my dad did indeed box, approximately 30 fights (amateur)

Teddy: Who is your most frequent sparring partner? The one you have on a daily basis!

Thomas: That’s the problem in Denmark, I don’t have anyone! I travel down to Hamburg and the big Universum-training camp to spar, about two weeks before every fight; there I spar with their top-guys like Luan Krasniqi, Konstantin Onofrei, and Petkovic among others.

Teddy: Do you have any role-models in boxing that you look up to?

Thomas: I could give you the same cliché’s as most boxers with Tyson, Lewis, Holyfield and all of those guys but frankly, I don’t have any! If I have to say something I will say the Mexican fighters of this World, they have grit guts and skills! Write that!

Teddy: What’s the name of your trainer and where exactly do you live and train?

Thomas: My trainers name is Rene Haugesen and I train at different places, Odense, Varde where Rene is from, it varies from time to time.

Teddy: What is your favourite punch?

Thomas: Definitely the left hook, I seem to have most luck with that one.

Teddy: What do you aim for? Have Tangstad and Gert Bo Jacobsen mentioned anything about using you as a main event fighter soon? You are after all 10-0 in the professionals!

Thomas: I am not the kind of guy who asks questions but I guess that the amount of rounds will increase soon! What I aim for? Well! A title fight! Definitely.

Teddy: When you were offered your pro-contract, how did it happen who phoned you up, Steffen (Tangstad, head of Modern Sports & Events))?

Thomas: No it was Gert Bo Jacobsen actually after I won the Nationals, He phoned me up while I was working on a roof, I told him No I am finished with boxing but then I gave it some consideration and I told him OK, I couldn’t resist the opportunity.

Teddy: Do you have another work parallel with your boxing career?

Thomas: I had that plumbing business but I sold that one in November and now I am a fulltime professional boxer!

Teddy: You will 31 in November, Do you feel any stress that you must advance quickly in order to fulfil your professional ambitions?

Thomas: No I don’t feel any pressure because of my age, I feel stronger than ever, If anything rushes me it’s my own ambitions in that case. 31 is not old for a heavyweight, I am at my peak!

Teddy: Who were your biggest Danish rival as an amateur?

Thomas: Tue Bjorn Thomsen (current Palle-pro) was always my biggest rival! Although I beat him twice the national team coach still picked him for the National team instead of me. I guess Jesper Kristiansen (also pro with the Palle’s) and I had our share of rivalry as well.

Teddy: Finally Thomas a question I always ask the Danish heavyweights when I talk with them! Have you ever sparred with Brian Nielsen?

Thomas: Actually No! But I would love to! I love to fight guys who are believed to be better than myself.

Teddy: Thank you very much for this talk! Been great "chatting" with you! Keep up the good work!

Thomas: No problem! Keep up your good work too on Danish-boxing.

Teddy Stenmark; freelance writer based in Sweden and regular contributor to www.danish-boxing.dk and staff-writer for the Swedish boxing magazine "BOXNING" can be reached at tstenmark@hotmail.com

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