Having turned 40 years of age and after 39 professional fights in a career that started 10 years ago, and which included winning IBF and WBO Intercontinental titles, “The Cougar” is still sharpening his claws for more prey. “I feel young and fresh and I won’t quit before I get my last chance at a title,” says reigning Austrian superwelterweight champion Gotthard Hinteregger, 28-10-1 (15 KO’s)..
The Vienna veteran continues his impossible quest next Tuesday, June 12, on German promoter Spotlight’s Eurosport presentation from Maribor, Slovenia, when he faces Slovakian journeyman Miroslav Kubik – almost half his age at 21! – over just four rounds. “We have worked on some things in the gym and intentionally did not want to fight earlier this year,” explains trainer Johann Senfter, “but now we want to put it in practice and do high-engery boxing from bell to bell. That’s why we have asked for the unusual 4-round distance.”
Off the table, at least for the moment, seems a defence of his Austrian title against old rival Gojko Knezevic, who earlier this year made a lot of noise about taking revanche for his loss to Hinteregger last year. Manager Olaf Schroeder of Fight Production, who have Hinteregger under contract since 2003, confirms that he has not heard from the Knezevic camp since almost three months. “I have said it at that time, I have said it right after the first fight and I say it again: Knezevic is all mouth and no substance. He is scared like a chicken hunted by a fox. All his boasting of a rematch with ‘Gotti’ to me is complete bull…., he won’t get near ‘Gotti’ for nothing in the world.”
Thus Hinteregger trots on in pursue of his impossible dream – and if his pertinacity is anything to go by, he is sure to arrive at the end of the rainbow, no matter how long it takes him.