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DEC 21) When Susianna Kentikian woke up on January 1, 2005, she could add
professional boxer to her business card. She signed a contract with
Spotlight Boxing at the tender young age of 17. This has changed her
life and that of her family.
To read more on her,
I
recently had the opportunity to talk to Susi, as she likes to be called,
about her first year in professional boxing, and what an exciting year
it has been for her. She had her first fight on January 14, 2005, and
has fought practically every month since then---apart from the summer
break.
The result is an impressive 9-0-0 (7 KO) record as the year comes to the
close. Susi fights in the flyweight division, and has proved that even
at 107 lbs she has a lot of punching power. When you add up the rounds
she has fought in her first 9 bouts it comes to only 25.
However she is aware, that the fighters she will be facing as her career
progresses, will be tougher, and the fights longer.
Three of her fights took place in her home town of Hamburg, while the
other six has given her the opportunity to visit other parts of Germany.
Her latest fight took her out of the country, to the winter sport resort
of Sölden in Austria, which gave her the opportunity to enjoy the clean,
crisp air and the beautiful mountain scenery, before her fight. This was
a revisit to Austria for Susi, as she spent most of her summer vacation
there in a Spotlight/Universum training camp. She went there with a team
of Universum boxers, to increase her boxing skills and to keep top fit.
It was a welcome break for her, to spend the summer away from the stuffy
city, even though it was far from a relaxing vacation. She admitted that
it was very hard working in the thin mountain air. The days started with
a strenuous 3 hour mountain walk and continued with boxing training in
the afternoons.
Susi’s daily routines consists mainly of school and boxing training. She
knows the importance of a good education. Despite her young age, she is
aware, that boxing is no lifetime job, and knows the importance of
acquiring other skills, which will enable her to earn a living after the
gloves are hung up. Her boxing career necessitates a large amount of
absence from school, and this does add extra stress at times, as she is
eager to well academically. Her final exams are coming up in May 2006,
and she is doing her utmost to achieve a good leaving certificate.
She also knows perfectly well, that boxing is no longer a hobby for her,
but her livelihood and future career. Her determination to make it in
the ring, became clear to me, when I talked to her a few days after last
Tuesday’s fight in Sölden. During the conversation, I asked her if she
was going to take some days off from the gym after winning the six round
bout. She told me that she spent most of the day after the fight
traveling; arriving back in Hamburg late Wednesday evening. She was back
in school Thursday morning and in the gym Thursday afternoon, preparing
for her next fight in January. There will be no time for a X-mas break
business as usual in the gym.
I
am sure, that an encounter with Kentikian in the Ring can be a very
unpleasant experience, but outside she is an extremely pleasant and down
to earth person. No wonder, that this combination has already attracted
a number of devoted fans. Susi’s appreciation of their support was
shown last month, when she invited her fan club to spend a Saturday
afternoon with her at the Universum Gym in Hamburg. There she explained
about training techniques and answered questions from the fans. The
event was a huge success, and plans have already been made to repeat the
event next year.
Professional women’s boxing has become very popular in Germany, mainly
thanks to Regina Halmich. The last couple of years has seen a number of
new German based boxers stepping out of the shadows. Boxers like Alesia
Graf, Ina Menzer, Natascha Ragosina, Julia Sahin just to name a few, are
waiting in the wings to take over the role of the German boxing queen,
after Regina Halmich's announced retirement in 2006. Susi Kentikian is a
huge talent, but still a new kid on the block. She has yet to attract
the attention of the German media, but I will not be surprised, if we
see her in the role of further boxing princess competing for the
queendom in 2006.
Susi's next
fight is scheduled for January 14, 2006, so she will complete her
first 10 fights within 12 months.
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