Ring free for the next AGON Fight Night in an exclusive setting in Berlin! Next weekend, Etinosa Oliha will face Alexander Pavlov in an IBF eliminator.
This coming Saturday, September 14, AGON’s middleweight Etinosa Oliha, who was crowned IBO world champion last July, will meet Alexander Pavlov from Hamburg in an IBF eliminator. The 36-year-old Pavlov has only been defeated three times in 24 fights and is no stranger to the AGON team. He knocked out Thomas Piccirillo in the first round in Berlin in April.
The unstoppable Italian boxing sensation Etinosa Oliha looks back on 20 victories and is at the top of the middleweight division. He wants to consolidate his position with a clear victory over Alexander “Sparta” Pavlov and prove that he is rightly one of the best. For “El Chapo”, it’s all about one thing: an early world championship opportunity! What makes the Italian, who will fight his fifth professional fight in a row in Germany next Saturday, so special and how did his preparation for this important fight go? He answered all these questions in the interview.
Etinosa, when did your love of boxing begin and how did you get into it?
Etinosa Oliha: “I first came into contact with boxing at the age of 14, at an event in my home town of Asti. That’s when my passion for the sport began. I joined a boxing club and have been training ever since.”
How great is your passion for boxing and how have you organized your life around it?
“My passion has grown so much over the years that the sport determines my life in many areas and I subordinate everything to it. And I have to, because I have big goals. I pay close attention to my diet and recovery. Training as a professional boxer is tough, but I love it.”
Six years after you turned professional, you were able to secure the IBO world title. How did that make you feel?
“It was a fabulous feeling and the reward for my years of work. But I haven’t reached my goal yet, because I’m hungry for more titles and want to set the course for this on Saturday!”
You come from the Italian town of Asti. Do you have many fans in Italy who follow your career and support you?
“I have a lot of people who support me. They support me with everything possible to achieve my goals. I also have a lot of friends who support me during my preparations and when I’m competing abroad. They are always there for me and I appreciate that.”
How close is your relationship with your coach Davide Greguoldo and how long have you been training with him?
“My coach and I are very close and he understands all my feelings in and out of the ring. He really supports me a lot, not only on a technical level but also mentally. We’ve known each other since I started boxing and we’re a strong team.”
What makes your trainer different from most others?
“I think the difference between my trainer and the others is the feeling, the understanding. I think a boxer who wants to achieve high goals has to have a good understanding with his coach. Davide and I have all that and it’s very important for me. I trust my trainer’s instructions blindly because everything is optimized for my boxing style.”
You’ve been back on Mallorca training at the AGON Gym for a few weeks now. How do you like preparing with the others from the team on the Balearic island and what is special about it for you?
“The whole team is almost always on Mallorca for preparation. I feel very comfortable here on the island and we are a strong team. Every boxer has their own style and you can learn a lot. I think it’s a good thing to compete with the other boxers as they add to my experience to get better in the ring. The preparation went very well and I’m ready for Berlin!”
On Saturday, you will step into the ring against Alexander Pavlov from Hamburg and fight for a world championship opportunity. What are your plans for the fight and how will it turn out?
“My goals for this fight? To broaden my experience so that I can challenge stronger, even better boxers later on. I’m confident of winning this fight because my goal is to fight for the IBF World Middleweight Championship. Many boxing legends have held the title before me and it would be an honor to follow in their footsteps!”
DAZN will be streaming the AGON Fight Night live. Tickets for the exclusive boxing event at AGON Sportpark Triftal on September 14 in Berlin are only available by e-mail at timm@agon-sports.com and at the box office.
Text: Press release / AGON Sports