Dariusz Michalczewski scored knockout with fever and broken thumb

01.04 - Hamburg – Light heavyweight king Dariusz Michalczewski, 48-0 (41), scored yet another sensational victory last Saturday when he punished and knocked out American Derrick Harmon in eight rounds in a fight for the WBO world title.

Michalczewski’s highly exciting and action packed fight in front of 15,000 at Hamburg’s Color Line Arena was already impressive enough. However, it’s even more stunning after Michalczewski unveiled that he was fighting with 38.2 C (100.76 F) fever and with his right thumb broken.

Neither Michalczewski nor coach Fritz Sdunek realized the injury during the fight.

„During the fight the adrenalin speculum of Dariusz is so high that he didn’t realize the broken thumb“, Sdunek said. „We only realized it after the fight when we saw the huge swelling. We don’t know in which round the thumb broke.“

Michalczewski now must wait until the swelling decreases. In mid April he will undergo surgery in Hamburg. After the operation Michalczewski will have to wear plaster of Paris for one month. Dr. Peter Benckendorff confirmed that after four to six weeks Michalczewski could resume training and continue his career.

Beside the broken thumb Michalczewski also suffered from the flu and had fever at fight time.

„When I smeared vaseline in the face of Dariusz I could feel that his forehead was hot“, Sdunek remembered. „After the fight we measured 38.2 C (100.76 F) fever.”

„Dariusz is just in remarkable physical condition. That’s why he was able to perform on such a high level despite of these handycaps. His stamina was top and Michalczewski was confident and knew what he had to do.“

It was Michalczewski’s 23rd defense of the title and his 48th victory in a row. The Polish born fighter wants to pass the records of the legendary boxing greats Rocky Marciano and Joe Louis. Marciano retired unbeaten after winning 49 fights in a row and Louis defended the heavyweight world title 25 times – more often than any other boxing world champion.

If Michalczwski wins two more title fights he can set up a new record in boxing history.

“I want to fight dangerous and top rated opponents”, the 34-year-old Michalczewski said who captured the WBO crown in September of 1994 against Leeonzer Barber. “I don’t want that anybody says my record is just a gift.”

There are only few challenges left for the “Tiger”. Possible matchups in Germany include fights against IBF and WBA super middleweight champion Sven Ottke or against the winner of the May 10 fight between Thomas Ulrich and Graciano Rocchigiani. Another interesting option would be a fight against unified middleweight world champion Bernard Hopkins.

But the challenge Michalczewski really wants for many years is a showdown with Roy Jones Jr. Coach Fritz Sdunek is confident that his charge could even beat the exceptional Jones Jr. who won the WBA title at heavyweight in March.

„Dariusz would crush Jones with his strong physic”, Sdunek said. “The decisive parameter will be his stamina. Dariusz would have to work off a safe defense. He won’t take as many punches as against Harmon. This would be too dangerous against Jones.”

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The next events of Universum Box-Promotion

April 26
Sport- und Kongresshalle, Schwerin
Sinan Samil Sam vs. Julius Francis
for Sam's European heavyweight title

May 10
Schleyerhalle, Stuttgart
Thomas Ulrich vs. Graciano Rocchigiani
for the vacant IBF intercontinental light heavyweight title
Artur Grigorian vs. Matt Zegan
for Grigorian's WBO lightweight title