"A little nervous"

Fresh blood and a challenge to Mike Tyson

Adam Almodares, Michael Derouiche, Sewo Burushian (from left)

(Bild: Boxclub Bounce)

No fear of Mike Tyson - that's what boxing hopeful Michael Derouiche, who makes his comeback in the ring on Saturday, has to say. Two talents will also be making their debut at Bounce Fight Night.

"I don't care which opponent comes. Let Mike Tyson come," says Michael Derouiche, not wanting to dwell on his opponent for Saturday's Bounce Fight Night. He is making an unexpected comeback after suffering from rhizarthrosis of the thumb saddle joint: "I stepped in because originally it wouldn't have worked out with the army. But now I'm not going to the state border after all."

From the army to the ring
Instead, he has to make his presence felt in the boxing ring against the Czech Antoni Karasek. For the first time since October: "I'm happy to be back, I haven't fought for a while because of the injury. Let's hope it doesn't break out again." His status as an army athlete was not extended beyond his military service: "As I was injured, I didn't have any successes, but if they come, I can be extended again." What's more, skiers and ski jumpers have the edge.

Michael Derouiche at his last Fight Night appearance

(Bild: Boxclub Bounce)

Not much has changed in his daily training routine in six months: After five weeks of basic training in Graz, the 21-year-old was allowed to train twice a day as usual at the Bounce boxing club. He is currently sparring with club colleague Mobin Kahraze. He also needs to lose two kilograms. "I'm fasting, I do Ramadan like every year. Then the weight goes away on its own." He also doesn't eat on the day of the fight itself: "It's only nine minutes, I can take it."

Two debutants
One of those breaking the fast is 16-year-old boxing hopeful Adam Almodares, who is the youngest person ever to box on Fight Night: "Not for religious reasons, but because I want to perform. Of all us Olympic boxers, I have the biggest weight problems anyway. For the Austrian championship I once had to make six kilos in one day and for another fight 13 kilos in a week. That was the worst thing I've ever done in my life. But I've been strict with the weight the last few weeks, mainly because of Ramadan. Sewo Burushian, the second newcomer, is still three kilograms short of the featherweight limit. Sauna and sweat suit will take care of that before the weigh-in on Friday.

"Fear" only of live TV
Like the "experienced" Derouiche, the two will also be up against the Czechs. "I've boxed against a world champion, so anyone can come. I'm not afraid of losing at all, but of boxing live on TV, where a lot of people, friends and family are watching. There is a certain amount of pressure that I have to show what I can do. My aim is to build up my name here in Austria even further and to show that Adam is one of the best Olympic boxers in Austria. I definitely have to make a statement," says Almodares, who values the opportunity at Fight Night.

Burushian, who will face Jiri Kezel, sees it the same way: "I don't really have to change my fighting style for him. I'm excited about the opportunity and I'm ready. I've never fought where there were so many fans. When I think about it, I get a bit nervous because it's something different to fight in front of a home crowd, so many people and on TV."

Training with European champion
After sparring within the club (also between Almodares and , training was a little quieter in the week before the debuts. The Greenhorns also got a new coach in Roman Shkarupa: "I've known Roman for a while, I've had his student Ivan Bezygly (two-time European champion) in sparring in preparation for a major tournament. Training with Roman feels completely different, but it's as expected: Soviet school, Ukrainian training. Hard, but you learn a lot of new things. There is a small communication gap, though, because he sometimes has to use the translator when he wants to explain something to us. Burushian likes it too: it's something different. He brings a breath of fresh air into the hall. We learn new things. He pays a lot of attention to technique. And we alternate between hard training sessions and more 'relaxed' technical sessions. You really want to train with him."

As competitive athletes, the two naturally dream of becoming professionals. But the intermediate step is Austrian citizenship. "Then I can (successfully) go to big tournaments for Austria and do as many fights as possible," says the Armenian Burushian. Almodaress, who is of Syrian origin, goes one step further: "When I'm a citizen, I want to fight at the European Championships in 20 2 5, because I'm guaranteed a medal against the 2007/08 generation."