02.02.05 – On February 15th WIBF jr. featherweight world champion Silke Weickenmeier, 17-3-3, is defending her title on the Spotlight Boxing event at “Alte Reithalle” of Stuttgart. Two weeks prior to her 10th world title fight – which will be broadcast live and free of charge on the internet on www.boxing.de – the beautiful 25-year-old woman from Speyer (Southern Germany) answered the questions of Boxing.de..
Boxing.de: Silke, you will defend your world title on February 15. This will be your fourth fight in the past two years in Stuttgart. Is this your favorite location?
Silke Weickenmeier: I like to fight wherever they give me a warm welcome. In Stuttgart I won a lot of sympathies when I unjustly lost to Daisy Lang (Oct. 5, 2003). The journalists and the boxing fans in Stuttgart called me “Fighter of the Hearts”. That touched me very much. I also felt honored when they asked me to open up the Six-Day-Run at Schleyerhalle as Fasnachtsprinzessin. To fight in Stuttgart is fun.
How long did you prepare for this fight? How are you in shape?
In November and December I had to undergo surgery twice. Since December 20 I frequently train every day. My trainer and father Siggi Weickenmeier always managed to get me in top shape at fight time. I believe I will be perfectly prepared again when I step into the ring on February 15.
Your opponent changed last week. Instead of Linda Tenberg you will now face Jayla Ortiz. Did this confuse your plans?
It’s quite a switch if you have to change training on short notice. Because a world title fight has a lot to do with strategy. Jayla Ortiz is fighting a very different style than Linda Tenberg. Ortiz is unconventional. She is moving foward all the time and tries to slugg it out. My trainer and me will try everything to perfectly adjust me against my my opponent within the next two weeks.
Did you have the chance to watch Ortiz on video?
Unfortunately I couldn’t watch her on video. Everything that I know I got from the internet. We know that she is an aggressive boxer who is trying to dictate the fight and who is coming forward.
You are very active for charity purposes. What sort of human do you care for most?
I care most for children who are sick and needy. I exert myself for social purposes wherever I can. I cooperate with relief organizations and I always donate a share of my purses for organizations to support children who suffer from cancer. This is really important to me. I made this my own assignment since I’m 18. I want to help wherever I can.
Woman boxing is still on the rise in Germany. The fights of Regina Halmich reach a high marketing share on ZDF television. Do you feel this tendency in your career also?
I’m glad for Regina that she reaches this high marketing shares. I would be happy if my fights would be broadcast on TV also. I’m fighting since 1995 and I’m holding world titles since 1999. What I really appreciate is that many fan clubs where founded and they travel from Germany, Austria and Switzerland to watch my fights live in the arena.
Your fight on February 15 will be broadcast live on the internet on www.boxing.de. Do you surf the internet yourself sometimes?
Yes, of course. I love the internet. That’s wehere you get the best information every day. I’m glad my fight on February 15 is broadcast worldwide on www.boxing.de.
What’s your prediction for your upcoming fight?
I will try to get through with my technique versus the flurries of Ortiz. It’s not my style anyway to mix it up toe to toe. I prefer to box smart: Good foot work, quick jabs. And I study my opponent round by round. Try to land your punches and avoid the shots of your opponent! It has been always that way: Giving is more blissful than taking.
The first six fights of the event on February 15 will be broadcast live on www.boxing.de at 18:00 (CET). At 21:00 Eurosport will broadcast live in more than 50 countries.