Zachenhuber reaches for the world championship belt
Created: 01/19/2022, 13:00
By: Wolfgang Krzizok
Wants to strike on Saturday: Simon Zachenhuber (left) wants to become IBF Junior World Champion.
© (Vitesse-Kärcher)
Simon Zachenhuber can take a really big step in his career.
Reisen – The Reisen professional boxer is fighting for the Junior World Champion title of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) in Eggenstein near Karlsruhe on Saturday.
"We've been working towards this for four years," says the 23-year-old, adding: "I've been training like a pig in the last few weeks."
Simon Zachenhuber has fought 14 professional fights in his career - and won 14. His opponent on Saturday is 21-year-old Maurice Morio from Worms, who has been in the ring nine times as a professional and has won eight times. "We know each other," says the traveler. "He sparred with me a year and a half ago, so I know he's the same tough guy as me."
There are four important world federations, in addition to the WBA, WBC and WBO, there is the IBF, the federation where the German boxing legend Henry Maske once became world champion. "The junior title is vacant, so I got the chance now and I'm totally happy," says middleweight Zachenhuber. His opponent Morio is not a blank slate. He is the reigning International German Welterweight Champion (-69 kg) and is going up a weight class for the middleweight world championship fight (-72.5 kg). "So I see physical advantages on my side," said the traveler. "Physique is my strength and I want to play it to the full."
Zachenhuber has subordinated everything to his goal in the last few weeks. It's his first ten-round fight, so the preparation was tough. "What was good was that I last went over eight laps and had a really tough chunk in front of my fists," he says. In November, Zachenhuber defeated the Czech Tomas Besvoda on points and had to give it his all. "I'm extremely fit," reports the traveler. Anyone who knows his trainer Conny Mittermeier knows that he demands everything from his protégé in preparation.
"All in all, I've done around 90 rounds of hard sparring," says the 23-year-old. "From time to time we went more than ten rounds, with three different opponents who took turns." His conclusion: "It was really tough." He ran a lot, "and above all intervals". private life? none. "I trained hard on Christmas and New Year's Eve," says the traveler. "Actually, I wanted to celebrate New Year's Eve with a few friends, ten of us, as the Corona regulations would have allowed," he says. "We had rented a hut on the Kochelsee - and then there were only nine of us celebrating, I was absent." But Zachenhuber is happy to put up with all these hardships if the victory should work out.
The entire event was on the brink because of Corona. In addition to Simon Zachenhuber, who fights the main fight, there are other interesting fights on the program. The only downside: spectators are not allowed. "Unfortunately, it's just a stupid time right now," he regrets. So this time there are no “Zachenhuber Ultras”? "I heard that two cars are driving to Eggenstein and want to cheer me on in front of the hall," says the 23-year-old with a smile. "Maybe I'll hear them from outside." Those interested in boxing can follow the evening of the fight, which begins at 7.30 p.m., on BILD+ via the paid live stream at offers.bild.de.
For Simon Zachenhuber it is clear.
"Four years ago we said that a title fight like this is the first step," he states confidently.
"A win would be the ticket for me to move up the big rankings." And the traveler doesn't want to be stopped by Maurice Morio on this path.