06.04.05 – Upon German sports channel DSF releasing the viewing figures for their broadcast of last Saturday’s promotion from Velten, Germany – which featured Gotthard Hinteregger writing Austrian boxing history by unifying the IBF and WBO Intercontinental superwelterweight crowns – the Vienna man’s German manager Olaf Schroeder reacted uncommonly emotional. “Pure and simple: Austrian television sucks and big time!”, proclaimed the owner of Fight Production..
“Gotti has done what no other Austrian has ever done before him by unifying two belts of major organizations, and by doing it against all odds has created storylines that would be termed too unrealistic if you’d propose them for a movie. He IS what Austrian television execs always claimed would be needed to rekindle their interest in boxing – and what happens? Nothing! Unbelievable!”
DSF had announced – to their complete satisfaction, as they stated – that a high of more than 700.000 viewers were counted during the telecast of the SES Boxing promoted show on which Hinteregger gained revenge over Hungarian Jozsef Matolsci, who had spectacularily KO’d him six months earlier, by a 12-round points victory.
Further to Hinteregger making his debut on DSF, both fights with Matolcsi (the first one being held in England) were televised live on RTL Klub in Hungary (the countries’ private TV market leader) while Hinteregger’s international breakthrough – beating undefeated Italian Emanuele Grilli to win the IBF IC for the first time a year ago – was the main event on a European-wide live broadcast by Eurosport television.
“Think of it: Gotti is more known outside of his own country! What’s wrong with these guys from Austrian television? They have a golden nugget right in front of their eyes and can’t see it? If that’s the way the country treats their sporting stars who hold up their flag abroad – then good night Austria! I can only hope they wake up before it is too late,” ended Schroeder.