Interview with undefeated Swedish brawler Milan Mirkovic

By Teddy Stenmark

02.11 - Swedish pro-boxer Milan Mirkovic (9-0-0, 9KO) is an unusual guy! Every time you speak with him he always assures us journalists that his boxing career is just for fun. He doesn't need it for a living. He is a businessman and has his pro-boxing career more or less as a hobby. He is the guy calling the shots regarding his own career. That's why he isn't tied to any of the big promoters in Scandinavia. He owns gyms and has just recently opened a restaurant in Sweden together with a partner. In addition to that, he has staged a few pro-boxing cards together with Hungarian Promoter Felix Racz where he also featured himself on the under cards. He is about to participate in his 10th bout as a paid fighter. It is in Mariehamn, Finland on the 16th of November, a show Promoted by Modern Sports & Events). Here is what he had to say:

Teddy: Hello Milan! What is your weight at now?

Milan: I weigh around 72 kilos, which is my weight all year around basically. I have no problems losing weight I can easily drop 4-5 kilos quick, sounds crazy but that's the way it always has been.

Teddy: You are boxing on the Modern Sports & Events card in Mariehamn, Finland on the 16th of November, Are you in good shape?

Milan: To be perfectly honest, I have been in better shape, but I am always in good enough shape to fight! I would never participate in a fight if I thought I wasn't in good enough shape.

Teddy: Whom have you been sparring with to prepare for this fight?

Milan: I have been sparring with undefeated featherweight pro, Samuel Kebede (17-0) junior welter Pro Mikael Nilsson and Elite amateurs Roger Pettersson and Tomas Acar.

Teddy: Have you signed for more fights with Modern Sports & Events or is this just "A one time deal"?

Milan: I was asked because the Team knows that me alone attracts 100 spectators that pays, I am taking this opportunity to show them what I am made of, and I am Pretty sure that I will convince Steffen (Tangstad, head of MSE) enough to get him interested in me as a fighter. If that is the case, fine! But I always want to "be in the drivers seat" calling the shots. That doesn't suit everyone I know, we will have to wait and see!

Teddy: How many Pro-fights have you had so far?

Milan: 9 straight victories all of them by knockout, that is a Swedish record in consecutive knockouts.

Teddy: Have you been good in any other sport than boxing?

Milan: Pretty good in basketball as a junior, almost decent in all sports, I am a bit of a Sport-nerd in fact.

Teddy: You are known as a tough aggressive boxer; can you box differently if you have to?

Milan: I think so, we have worked on that, boxing more with the brain rather than with your heart, on November 16 you will see!

Teddy: Which fight is the toughest you have gone? (Amateur or pro)

Milan: Toughest? Hmm, the one in England (amateur) against the reigning commonwealth welterweight champion at the time, David Walker, I got hit bad already in the first round and my nose got broken almost instantly. My coach wanted to stop the fight right there but I wouldn't let him. No way I said and went out there and hammered the guy so bad he was stopped in the fourth. He (Walker) is an undefeated pro now with 13-0 apparently! We both had to go to the hospital that night.

Teddy: Who trains you now?

Milan: Torsten Ahlin, He is a nice and very flexible guy to deal with. There are never any problems with him if I have to reschedule my training hours!

Teddy: Do you do a lot of roadwork (running)?

Milan: Yes two/three times a week, both interval to build speed and endurance, and long distance to build my stamina.

Teddy: How much longer do you think you will continue as a professional boxer?

Milan: I have promised my loved ones that I will quit when I get my first loss, we will see if I live up to that promise.

Teddy: How many rounds of sparring do you estimate to have had before this fight?

Milan: Totally I guess about 60-70 rounds!

Teddy: What kind of license do you box on now?

Milan: A Finnish one.

Teddy: This is your first televised fight (In Scandinavia) are you nervous?

Milan: Not yet but I might be when we get closer to fight-day!

Teddy: What is the best thing with being a professional boxer?

Milan: I don't make any money yet, so it is not about cash, I feel good when I am winning I guess and testing how far I can go. And through my business I help other pro-boxers (financially), it gives me a great feeling.

Teddy: Finally what will happen in Mariehamn Finland on the 16th of November?

Milan: I will score my tenth straight knockout victory of course!

Thank you for your time Milan and good luck in Finland!

Teddy Stenmark (tstenmark@hotmail.com)