Interview: GOTTHARD 'The Cougar' HINTEREGGER

By Teddy Stenmark

13.04 - Gotthard Hinteregger is one of those travelling journeyman who performs well but comes from a small boxing boxing nation (Austria) and seldom gets easy fights. Although he is 35 years old, he believes his new fresh start with German fight manager and agent Olaf Schröder might do him good.

Hello Gotthard, you just recently signed with Olaf Schröder's company Fight Production. What made your mind up to choose him as your manager?

Very simply because I have known Olaf for years and I didn't wanted to sign with anybody about whom I don't know nothing about. Olaf has a good track record and I have no time to waiste experimenting with my career.

Tell the readers a little about your boxing career. How did you start out and what did you accomplish as an amateur?

Not much to tell actually. I only started to box at 26 years and at the time of my first amateur fight I was already 27. Before turning professional, I took part in only eleven contests. So I guess you can say that I'm well-preserved. Really, I was not too keen on sports as a youngster, just did a bit of kickboxing. One day I sparred with a boxer and at that moment it hit me: Boxing was my sport!

For us Scandinavians you are most known for your fight with Denmark's Michael Rask in April of 2000, which you lost on a TKO in four rounds. Tell us your opinion about that fight! What went wrong for you?

Funny that you ask that, because only a few days ago I watched the video again and was stunned at how amateurish I conducted myself from start to end. No doubt, Michael is a good fighter and he was my first big challenge. But it was wrong for me to think that I was ready at that time to hold my own with guys in that league.

You are now 35 years old. What are your ambitions with your career?

I wanna be a champ, but first I must be able to handle myself with the best in Europe before thinking any further, but in any case I want to be a champ. I still have a few good years in front of me and I want to make the best use of them. Let's see what happens in my next few fights.

What is your proudest moment so far in your career?

Clearly, my first professional fight in connection with the decision to turn pro despite my late start. Look, Teddy, that might sound a bit strange, but the boxing scene, especially the pro code, in Austria is really, really dormant. Those who get the chance to do it and do it properly can feel blessed.

Where do you train and live? Who are your closest friends in boxing?

At the moment, I live in Vienna where I also train. My best mate in boxing was a fellow-fighter, but he quit and now does athletics.

Do you have any siblings who box or are you the only one in your family?

No, my family has no boxing history whatsoever - I'm the only one who became a fighter.

Do you consider yourself a technician or more of a brawling type of fighter? Which type of fights do you enjoy the most?

Foremost I would say that I'm a technical kind of boxer - but sometimes, I must admit, going into the trenches is really fun for me. Emotions can take over in the ring sometimes.

Austria isn't a big boxing nation. What is the best and the worst about being a fighter from Austria?

Well, it's good that I had the chance to realize my dreams here in my own country, but it surely is a hindrance that boxing isn't so popular here compared to other European countries.

Have you been successful at any other sport?

Not at all, Teddy. It's hard enough to be successful in boxing, I can tell you.

Who is the best boxer to come out of Austria? Did you had a boxing idol growing up?

I never had what you would call a boxing idol, because growing up I was interested in other stuff and had nothing to do with boxing. As for the first part of your question, hopefully it will someday be Gotthard "The Cougar" Hinteregger.

Are you a full-time professional or do you have some other job on the side?

Until about a year ago, I always had side-jobs besides boxing, like bike messenger, building scaffolds, doorman, all jobs that were hard to combine with the training required of a pro boxer. But now I decided to only concentrate on boxing for the rest of my career.

What promotional or management team were you tied to prior to joining Fight Production or were you self-managed?

From the start of my professional career until about half a year ago I was managed by Peter Pospichal's Box-Team Vienna.

What do you do on your spare-time? What are your hobbies?

I have a dog, an American Stafford Terrier, and you can bet he keeps me busy. Other than that I enjoy working on cars.

Who is your biggest supporter? Are you married? Do you have kids?

My girl friend is surely my biggest supporter. She works as a chief secretary at a fire protection company, but we are not married yet. Myself, I have a five-year-old son, Christoph, from an earlier relationship.

Which fight was your toughest so far in your career?

Last year, I fought at Lugner City Vienna, a large shopping center, with a bad cold and found myself on the floor in the second round. I just lost concentration. It was hard, but I got up and won by knockout myself two rounds later.

I'm a reporter from Sweden mostly covering Scandinavian boxers. What's your opinion of Scandinavian fighters? And have you ever been to Scandinavia before that meeting with Rask?

No, the only time I was in Scandinavia was for the Rask fight. But I believe that in many Scandinavian boxers the spirit of the old Vikings is still very much alive - and the Vikings were strong and brave warriors.

Tell me something about you that is out of the ordinary and that has escaped the average fight fan!

Let me take the chance to get something off my chest, Teddy. I believe that everybody, regardless of age, sex, race or whatever, should care a little more about our planet, the only one we have. When everybody does his little bit plus treat other people and animals well, we can have the chance to let our world breath freely again. Our earth gives us food, air to breath, power and energy so we can concentrate on doing the right things.

Are you a health-freak? Are you careful with what you eat to get maximum effect out of your training? Do these kind of things interest you?

Sure, I try as best as I can to eat healthy. Since around two years I stopped eating meat and try as much as possible to get the maximum out of my food. Do you know that Olaf is a vegetarian, too? In that regard we are already a perfect team!

Do you have any special training methods that you call your own or are you an average type of boxer that trains the orthodox way? Which aspect of your training do you enjoy the most?

Yes, in the last few years I developed a few very own training methods and I'm most happy when I feel like growing with the training and see the rewards.

Finally, will you come to Scandinavia again to box?

I sure hope so, because Scandinavian boxers are real good and you can find them in all ratings.