Boxing

From The Scandinavian Fight Scene

By Teddy Stenmark

14.04 - Everything can happen in boxing! And Friday night in Copenhagen (11th of April) it did... Mads Larsen's opponent, South African Dingaan Thobela, disappeared! He just suddenly packed his bags and went home to South Africa again, leaving the fans puzzled! In a letter to promoter Mogens Palle , through news bureau, Ritzau, Thobela excuses himself stating that he had some mental problems lately and doesn't want to come to the ring if he isn't 100 % fit. He also added that he wasn't afraid of Mads Larsen and would like to return to Denmark and fight him when he feels fully OK.

Mads Larsen took out his frustration and anger on late substitute Andy Liebing of Germany instead. Liebing, a German champion at the weight (super middleweight), no way near Thobelas league though, crumbled in the fifth. Larsen stretched his fine record to 44-1-0, scoring his 37th knockout in the process.

Boxing Danish prospect Mikkel Kessler won the WBC international title by destroying American Craig Cummings in the third round. The hard-hitting Dane (now 31-0) has his eyes set on European champion Danilo Haussler, who sat ringside in Copenhagen this night to study his possible future opponent.

Former European bantamweight champion Spend Abazi came through wit yet another fine victory against Algerian Samir Laala (TKO 8) and defended his WBA international featherweight title.

The under card saw heavyweight Steffen Nielsen stopping Nigerian Barthèlèmy Chukwuma in the sixth round. Heavy-punching Nielse is now a fine 19-1-0, with his only loss coming to to Julius Francis (KO 6) as sole blemish on his record.

Junior middleReda Zam-Zam took on Lucky Dlamini of South Africa who despite his name was all but lucky. The Dane finished him off already in the first round to secure his eight straight win (fourth coming by the short route).

Martin Nielsen, the fourth super middle this night, landed his fifth win as a pro knocking out South African Raymond Nyathi in the fourth round. Nielsen, who travelled the full six in November, improved with this outing and polished his unbeaten streak to 5-0, 4KO.

25 year old lightweight Martin Kristjansen also came out victorious in his fight. South African, Kaiser Mabuza had him work hard for his money though. The bout went the full six round with the Scandinavian as the superior man. Kristjansen now, 4-0, 2KO.

Flyweight Steffen Nörskov was fed an experienced Estonian by the name of Sergei Tasimov. Tasimov who beforehand had been in with such respectable foes as Igor Gerassimov, (former Johnny Bredahl opponent), Nicky Booth and Peter Culshaw, came short in his ambitions to defeat the Dane and was handed a point loss. In a non Scandinavian affair, Vitali Tsypko of the Ukraine defeated South African Thabiso Mogale on a fourth round knockout.

I had the opportunity to get some words from Danish junior welterweight, Allan Vester just recently and this is what the Aarhus-fighter said:

Teddy: Hello Allan! You are booked for a six round bout in South-Africa on the 25th of April and then that title bout in Holland on the 16th of May, why the busy schedule? What's your plan?

Allan: It's always nice with a tune up before a title-fight and I got to earn some money. It's my living.

Teddy: Your father Promoter Anders Vester, have had problems securing a solid TV-deal and seems to be in the process of letting fighters go, how has this situation affected your career?

Allan: I still hope he can secure a TV deal, and I know he still is working on it.

Teddy: If he drops the activity completely, would you consider working for Modern Sports & Events like your former stable mate, Christian Bladt or is Team Palle an option for you?

Allan: If so, Steffen Tangstad would have to come with an offer and the same goes with Palle, and if it's a good one, who knows?

Teddy: If you are successful in South Africa and Holland would you go for the World title once again? Which title would you prefer to go after?

Allan: Yes if it's possible. Because I feel much more equipped now that I have been there before, and much stronger now. Of cause one of the big titles (IBF WBA WBC)

Teddy: I heard somewhere that you were a talented soccer player as a youngster, Tell me a little bit about that and the reason to why you left that career as a "footballer" in favour for boxing!

Allan: I played for Skovbakken in Aarhus and was selected for the U15 Jutland team. Then we played a tournament against Zeeland, Bornholm, Lolland, Falster and fyn. And after this tournament they select the national team. I was selected as one of the 21 players for the U16 national team. But at the same time I was on the boxing junior national team, so I had to choose between the two, and I chose boxing. In boxing you only have your self and I think that's why it became boxing, even though my dad told me that boxing was a very hard sport, and he thought I was better in football.

Teddy: You are working under the guidance of trainer, Brian Mathiasen, what's the best with him as a trainer?

Allan: I have known Brian from I was an amateur. He helped Ivor de lima in the corner. Therefore he is the trainer who knows me best. And that is very important. We have the same idea of boxing, and we are good friends out side the gym. So that's perfect.

Teddy: Exactly how many amateur bouts did you have and what was your biggest achievement as an unpaid fighter? Which club did you represent?

Allan: I had 85 fights. My biggest achievement was silver at the Europeans for U16 and the two time Jutland championships.

Teddy: Did you come across any good boxers during your amateur stint?

Allan: I fought Hector Vinent from Cuba and they don't come any better. I believe he was 5 time world champ and 2 time Olympic champ

Teddy: What's your proudest moment in your boxing career?

Allan: To become the nr.1 challenger for the world championship

Teddy: You boxed Zab Judah for the IBF World title in June 2001, what went through your head stepping in with him in Uncasville that night? Tell me about that experience, being involved in such a top-level fight!

Allan: It was like the best thing I have ever tried, and I really thought I could beat him, but I was too exited, so I left an opening and at this level you get punished for that. Next time I have that in mind, and I'll win that championship.

Teddy: I read some harsh words about your performance in that European title fight with Gianluca Branco in 2002 that you lost on a 10th round TKO and didn't deliver one of your best performances, how was the Italian to meet? Was he problematic?

Allan: He was much stronger than I thought, and I made some bad attacks and got punished again. I get carried away, but I think I really learnt something from this fight and from the training in Florida with Steve Canton. Some times if you train something it shows later.

Teddy: I think your brilliant displays in the fights with Emanuel Burton in 1999 and George Scott in 2001 are your finest performances so far, do you agree?

Allan: It's funny both times I had very bad hands. It's like I control the fight better when I am not 100% ready. I know it's a matter of experience so in the future you will see a much more composed and calculating Allan Vester.

Teddy: You turn 26- year old this year! Is your career closing in towards the end or can we expect you to stay with us for a few years more?

Allan: I love boxing and I have never felt better, so I'm not going anywhere I still dream of that big title.

Teddy: I know that you have beautiful son that probably requires loads of quality time, what else do you do on your spare time to relax from boxing?

Allan: Going out with friends, playing some indoor football with the journalists from Ekstra Bladet, in the so called "Dream-club". And I love travelling.

Teddy: Do you have a job parallel with your boxing-career, something to fall back on once your fighting days are over?

Allan: No, but I hope to save some money, to invest in a restaurant/bar here in Aarhus. And maybe become a trainer, it would be stupid not to pass some experience on to some new talents.

Teddy: I know it's rude to ask but I'll do it anyway, has the boxing career made you rich and economically content? Have you had good sponsors?

Allan: I am doing fine thanks and I have a good sponsor as long as my fights are on TV.

Teddy: What's the favourite part of training in your opinion? What do you enjoy most about the training?

Allan: I think it's the sparring, that's where you can see if you are in shape or not. And when you are in shape you feel good about yourself.

Teddy: Who is your most frequent sparring-partner? You are probably skilled enough to figure all sparring partners out, but which sparring has caused you the most problems over the years? Who is the "crudest" one to box in the gym?

Allan: Right now I am sparring with Reda Zam-Zam. The best sparring partner I had was Junior Witter before the fight with Judah; he was very fast on both hands and feet. Another good one would have to be Jonathan Thaxton. In the US I had some sparring with Manuel medina and Diobelys Hurtado.

Teddy: Was the transition from amateur boxer to pro an easy step for you? Or was it a big change? Was it as /easy/difficult as you had thought?

Allan: To me it was not so difficult because I used to train with Racheed Lawal and Mads Larsen, so I knew the game. I have even been in Mads Larsen's corner helping Ivan de lima.

Teddy: Who are your closest friends in boxing? Which people (within pro boxing) have you change your mind about since you started out as a pro your self? In short were there folks within the business that your idea (created by the media) about how they were didn't match the picture you had initially, and now changed your mind about once you got to know them personally?

Allan: My closest friends in boxing are Henrik Risum, Brian Mathiasen, and of course my dad. I think nearly all the active boxers are very nice guys, but some of the people behind pro boxing are crazy.

Teddy: Finally Allan, I am a Swedish guy, former amateur boxer myself in fact, although no way near your league, what would you say is the key to your success? And what advice could you give a young aspiring fighter on his way up?

Allan: I have always believed in my self, and I'm strong mentally, and of course some talent. But hard training is most of it. I would tell a young fighter to train hard, trust him self and listen to me carefully. If I was the trainer.

Teddy: Thanks for taking the time out to answer my questions! I know you have busy schedule, good luck in your next bouts!

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