05.02.04 – By Spud Woollatt: As well as the exciting World Light Heavyweight Title Fight between Clinton Woods and Glencoffe Johnson on Friday evening, another boxer will be appearing in his 20th fight, the fighter being Chesterfield’s Heavyweight Mark Krence.
Mark Krence fights Eastern European Mendauga Kulikauskas over 8 rounds. Readers will remember Kulikauskas is the fighter who floored heavyweight sensation Roman Greenburg before succumbing to the Israeli’s power in the fifth round of their fight.
So what of Krence, British Eastside has managed to get an exclusive interview with the heavyweight boxer who in our opinion is progressing quietly on the domestic scene, most ranking systems have Krence at number 10, so surely it will not be long before he is a big domestic fight.
This is what he had to say …
Good Afternoon Mark, I hope the training has gone well for Friday’s fight?
Hello Spud, Yes training has gone well, Richard Poxon my trainer has worked me hard, and I feel I am ready for absolutely anyone. The guy I am fighting on Friday is quite dangerous so I am going to have to be on my toes from the start. I am told he got a draw with Scott Gammer and he pushed Roman hard for 5 rounds.
I can not afford any slip ups, otherwise I will be back to square one again and in the present climate, I have got to keep my name in the frame so Dennis Hobson (Krence’s Promoter & Manager) can get me a title shot of sorts sometime this year.
Do you get annoyed at all of the attention Williams/Sprott/Skelton and Francis are receiving at the moment?
No not at all. They are the fighters who are in the spotlight at the moment so good luck to them. I know Mark Krence will get his chance one day and I will make sure I take that chance when it comes along.
Where and when did you start boxing??
It was in Chesterfield. I was 10 years old. I decided to go along to the YMCA and it has progressed from there. I had my first amateur bout at 11 years old, and my best achievement as an amateur was winning the Cruiserweight ABA Title in 1999. Shortly after that I decided to go professional with Dennis Hobson.
You have had 19 fights so far, which one do you regard as your hardest??
A lot of people will probably think I am going to say Audley Harrison which has been my only loss. I do not regard that as my hardest fight. It was a guy called Darren Chubbs. We decided to take the fight against him at relatively short notice. We went to Liverpool which was Darren’s hometown, and all I can remember is him hitting me with a double jab, straight right in the first round which had me thinking straight away it was going to be a hard night. I won the fight on points but thought it was a lot harder fight than it should have been. Another fighter who always make you win for your victories is Luke Simpkin, I have fought twice now and everytime you fight him you know he will make you work for your money.
You mention Audley Harrison, what do you remember about that night??
I know I hurt him in that fourth round, and to be honest I lost the fight in the first 2 rounds because I was far too nervous and cautious. It was great fighting Audley, I learnt a great deal from the whole experience.
Do you think Audley will progress far??
Yes I do. Personally I think Audley Harrison will become a World Champion. He has improved every fight he has had.
Mark, steering away from boxing for just a short time, readers will want me to ask about the unfortunate court appearance you had last year concerning an altercation with your ex girlfriend??
Spud, no one could be more sorry about that whole saga than me, with hindsight I definitely would NOT have acted the way I did, and like I say I am sorry about the whole situation. I have to say though, the media blew the situation out of all proportion and in addition what people don’t realise is, that I have a son who is 3 years old called Bailey to my ex, and it was around the time of this incident I was not seeing him as much as I wanted to, and like any father who loves his son I became increasingly frustrated. But that episode in my life is over now and I must move on to concentrate on my boxing!!!
Mark, what realistically are your ambitions in boxing??
I really want to be British Champion and win the Lonsdale Belt outright. It is a burning ambition of mine to get my hands on that belt so I can say to both of my boys Mitchell & Bailey “Your Dad was the British Champion”. If I was to progress on from being British Champion that would be a bonus.
Do you think Clinton Woods will beat Gelncoffe Johnson on Friday night??
Yes I do. He has trained a lot differently for this fight than he did the last and in addition he is back with his old trainer.
Who do you think will win the Matt Skelton and Julius Francis fight??
All I am saying is I hope Julius Francis wins not because I have anything against Matt, it is just because I have sparred with Julius in the past and in addition he is a really nice bloke. If Julius were to win I think it will be on points.
Mark, you have been more entertaining than Richard Poxon said you would be, thank you for talking and good luck not only for Fridays’ fight but in addition the future
No thank you Spud, wish the blokes on eastside all the best for me.