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Prize fighter

Konečný to battle for world championship belt

By František Bouc
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
November 7th, 2007 issue

KURT VINION/THE PRAGUE POST
Lukáš Konečný (32-2-0, 15 KO), successfully defended his WBO Intercontinental belt against Ante Bilić Oct. 10, 2006.
KURT VINION/THE PRAGUE POST
On Friday, Nov. 30, Czech boxing will enter a new era.
Lukáš Konečný, the country’s most successful professional boxer, will become the first Czech ever to fight for the title of world champion. That night, Konečný will take on Sergei Dzindziruk, the reigning champion of the World Boxing Organization’s (WBO) super welterweight category, in Karlsruhe, Germany.
“This is a landmark for Czech boxing,” said Svatopluk Žáček, coach of the national amateur boxing team. “Bringing up a world championship contender puts our country on the map of professional boxing.”
Konečný, who turned to professional boxing in 2001 after a successful career as an amateur, has weaved and dodged through 37 bouts in the professional ring so far. Of those, the 29-year-old fighter has won 35 bouts — 17 by knockout — and lost twice.
Meanwhile, Dzindziruk, a 31-year-old Ukrainian, remains unbeaten in the professional ring. He has won all of his 34 fights, 22 of them by knockout. He has held the WBO title since December 2005, when he beat Daniel Santos of Brazil.
Dzindziruk has successfully defended his title three times since then. Konečný will be the latest in what is becoming an ever-longer line of challengers after Dzindziruk’s belt.
“When I learned about this opportunity in August, chills ran down my spine,” Konečný said. “I was traveling to some trials with my team in Germany when my promoter told me I’d be fighting for the world championship belt.”
Konečný, who is typically confident and rarely admits that an opponent could be a favorite in a fight, said Dzindziruk “could be a problem.”
“He’s much taller than I am, and he’s got long arms. He’s in great physical condition and fights very hard,” Konečný said. “Some experts say he’s even better than the legendary U.S. fighter Oscar de la Hoya.”
Moments later, however, Konečný regains his pugnacious nature.
“He’s a favorite, but it doesn’t mean I can’t beat him,” he said. “I wouldn’t go into a bout that I can’t win.”
Konečný took up competitive boxing as a teenager, following in the footsteps of his father, Milan, who ended his professional boxing career last year.
“I took up boxing because it was a good challenge,” Konečný said in a previous interview. “I wanted to get into good shape and notch some achievements, become famous and earn money.”
The national team coach, Žáček, said Konečný’s strong point always was his determination to work hard.
“Lukáš didn’t have too much talent, but he always had a bulldog determination,” Žáček said. “He’s a real fighter.”
While employed by Germany’s SES team, Konečný is preparing for the fight mostly at his home in Ústí nad Labem, north Bohemia, or in Prague.
“Boxing accounts for our family’s living, so I’ve got no problem maintaining my training discipline even without being watched by my coach every day,” said Konečný, the father of three daughters.
Although he did not want to comment on prize money, Konečný said he expects to receive the largest purse of his career. Still, he expressed some worries that the organizers could underpay him.
“They are well aware of how significant the bout is for me and for my career, so they could try to keep me tight,” he said.
Konečný said the result of the bout against Dzindziruk will set his future price in the professional ring.
“It’s not just about the actual result, but also about the way I fight,” he said. “Should I lose in an equal bout, my price could increase. On the other hand, if I lose too easily, it could harm my future career.”
Despite the imminence of what could be the most important night in his professional career, Konečný remains upbeat.
“Winning the WBO belt would be a great thing,” he said. “It would be bigger than winning the Olympics.”

František Bouc can be reached at fbouc@praguepost.com


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