By James Slater – Ukraine-born Alexander Frenkel, who fights out of and lives in Germany, scored the biggest win of his now 23-0(18) pro career a week ago today, as he smashed defending European cruiserweight champ Enzo Maccarinelli in the 7th-round.
Landing a sensational left hook on the Welshman’s jaw, Frenkel won in style. A good number of experts felt Maccarinelli, despite his lest than granite chin, would defeat 25-year-old Frenkel on “The Magnificent Seven” card in Birmingham, but the younger, fresher man proved such thinking to have been wrong.
After engaging in a touch of sightseeing in England, Frenkel returned home to Germany. Now a big player in, as he put it whilst speaking to me over the phone earlier today, “a very interesting cruiserweight division,” the unbeaten warrior is looking ahead to more big fights.
Here is what the always-accommodating Euro champ had to say in his constantly improving English:
James Slater: It’s a pleasure to be able to speak with you, Alexander. When did you get home with the European belt?
Alexander Frenkel: Hello, James Slater, it’s good to speak with you. I got home on Sunday, we landed in Berlin..
J.S: And you have the belt with you now?
A.F: No. I had to give the belt back to Enzo Maccarinelli first. There will be a new one made for me.
J.S: Well, it was a sensational win for you; the ending was awesome, with that crunching left hook you threw. Would you say the win was the best performance yet from you as a pro?
A.F: It’s difficult to say. I made a lot of mistakes I think. A few of his shots got through my defences, and every shot that gets through is a mistake on my part.
J.S: Did you think you were losing on points before the KO finished the fight for you?
A.F: On points, yes. I knew I would lose on points over there [England]. But I feel I was landing more harder shots [than he was]. It may not have looked like it, because of all his activity, he was very active in the fight, but I landed the harder shots. I also knew that slowly he would fade and that I would get stronger and stronger and better and better in each round.
J.S: You certainly got better in that 7th-round! Was that the best left hook you’ve ever landed?
A.F: In the amateurs, I scored a lot of knockouts – maybe twenty 1st-round KO’s. I had so many amateur knockouts that were just like this one, so I can’t really say if that was the hardest one. But it was one of the hardest, yes.
J.S: As you probably heard, the referee was severely criticised for allowing the fight to go on after the first knockdown you scored. Were you shocked when he let you back at Maccarinelli?
A.F: At the time, I didn’t know if the referee had seen that Enzo was that badly hurt; I wasn’t sure. But after watching the fight on tape, he should not have let him go. But maybe the referee saw something in his eyes that made him think he was okay? Maybe he thought that Enzo could fight back, as there was only 30-seconds left in the round.
J.S: Do you think Enzo should retire now?
A.F: (long pause) It’s difficult to say. He was very strong in the fight with me, maybe stronger than in his last fight. But it was a very hard knockout. If he carries on, he will have to make some changes I think. He will have to change things with his defence and with his concentration. It also depends on how well he can take a hard shot against the good fighters, if he is going to carry on.
J.S: Well, you have your own career to worry about, and it’s a very promising career indeed. Is it too early to say when you will be fighting again, and who against?
A.F: I don’t know who against, but I want to fight again as soon as possible. Maybe November.
J.S: Will you look to defend your European title, or will you look for a world title fight now?
A.F: I don’t know. If I got the chance to go for a world title, I would go for it – if my trainers okayed it. I’m very happy now, but I know I need to learn much more, and to get much stronger. Fights with the best fighters will make me stronger and better.
J.S: When I spoke to you before the Maccarinelli fight, you told me that you spar with big guys, big punchers, and that punchers don’t really bother you; they don’t hurt you. Did Maccarinelli ever hurt you?
A.F: Honestly, one time I did feel his power. He hit me on the head with a right hand and I felt his power; maybe for a second. But physically, my legs were [still] strong, my eyes – I could see everything, and my power was still there. I knew I was fine to carry on fighting.
J.S: You proved your chin and you showed your speed, accuracy and power. The cruiserweight division is exciting at the moment, and you’re part of the reason!
A.F: Yes, the cruiserweight division is very interesting right now. There are a lot of good fighters there and the future will also be very interesting.
J.S: We wish you good luck in further big fights, Alexander. Thanks for the interview. Hopefully we will see you back in November.
A.F: Yes, I hope so. Thank you.