Luan Krasniqi wants to become world champ
as long as Max Schmeling is living
13.11.01 -On January 5 two undefeated German will fight
for the European heavyweight title. At Magdeburg's Bördelandhalle
German heavyweight champion Luan Krasniqi will face
his countryman Rene Monse in a contest for the EBU belt
vacated by Vitali Klitschko.
It will be the first time a German becomes European
heavyweight champion since Hamburg's Jürgen Blin
defeated Spaniard Jose Urtain on June 9, 1972.
At the same time it's the 50th European title fight
with a German participant.
The second main event of the evening in Magdeburg will
be the 15th world title defense of WBO lightweight champion
Artur Grigorian. His opponent will be announced within
the next two weeks.
"In the professionals this is the chance of my
life", the 33-year-old Monse, 12-0 (7 KOs), said
on the press conference in his hometown Magdeburg. Even
though Monse only fought twelve times as a pro he must
be considered quite experienced. Like Krasniqi he enjoyed
a long and successful career as amateur boxer and participated
in European and world championships.
In the Olympic games of Atlanta Monse and Krasniqi were
German team mates. Krasniqi fought at heavyweight, Monse
at super heavy.
"The European championship is a great challenge
for me", the 30-year-old Luan Krasniqi, 19-0 (11
KOs), stated. "But my ultimate dream is to bring
the world heavyweight title home to Germany as long
as Max Schmeling is living."
Max Schmeling is the only German who ever became heavyweight
world champion (1930 - 1932). On September 28 Schmeling
turned 96.
