31.10.06 – Up-and-coming heavyweight Rene Dettweiler has been handed his first ever title shot after an arm injury forced Marco Huck to pull out of Saturday´s EU-championship fight against Pietro Aurino in Muelheim/Ruhr. Cruiserweight Huck, unbeaten in 16 fights (13 KOs), will now take on his Italian opponent on December 16. “That is a pity,” the “KO-King” said. “I was in great shape but unfortunately the injury keeps me from entering the ring on Saturday night.”
With Huck on the sidelines, Dettweiler will try to rise to the occasion and get the better of Great Britain´s Michael Sprott when they battle it out for the vacant EU heavyweight title. The 23-year-old youngster (1,93m/100kg) prides himself on a perfect record of 18 wins in as many fights (9 KOs). He is coached by Frankfurt/Oder-based Manfred Wolke, whom he joined in 2002.
“Rene boasts the experience of seven years as an amateur,” said Wolke. “That means he is fundamentally extremely sound.
He has blossomed well as a pro and has had no difficulties in adjusting to the new conditions. He has a huge potential, which he will live up to on Saturday.”
Sauerland sports director Hagen Doering is full of praise for Dettweiler. “He is young and has a promising future ahead,” stated Doering. “We want him to keep developing. This year he already fought successfully in front of 10,000 spectators in Italy.”
However, veteran Sprott has proven he will be no push-over. It was just last year that he edged Cengiz Koc for the EU-crown before falling to Paolo Vidoz in a European heavyweight title fight. In July 2006, Ruslan Chagaev successfully defended his WBA Interncontinental belt against Sprott, who can count on the experience of 38 fights (14 KOs).
It has been an exciting year for Dettweiler thus far. Back in March, he travelled to Mallorca to spar with Wladimir Klitschko. “That was a big honour and a great experience for me,” added Dettweiler. “I learned so much during the daily sparring rounds.”
Things got busy after his return to Germany. Three days after clinching his 17^th win in front of 14,000 fans in Mannheim on April 22, he celebrated his 23^rd birthday. One day later, his girlfriend Jenny-Marlen gave birth to their first son, Jeff.
Known as a smart-but-hard kind of fighter, Dettweiler is full of confidence ahead of the fight on Saturday. “I want to keep improving continuously,” he vowed. “That´s why I need a win against Sprott.”