Oral in training

Mahir ‘The Lion’ Oral, 27-2-2 (10), is a middleweight with a future. He proved it, ironically, during his last loss. That loss was to then IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham, who struggled to beat Oral in a real thriller last June. Nevertheless, Oral showed true heart and grit before his corner pulled him out after ten rounds, and showed the whole boxing world that he is a force to be reckoned with. This Saturday Oral continues his campaign towards a title against a Colombian by the name of Juan Novoa. FightFranchise caught up with Mahir beforehand to have a chat and ask what he sees in the future.

1.) Your last performance again the Italian Fabio Liggieri was not brilliant if you don’t mind me saying. What was wrong that night and what must you do better this time?
Oral: “I have to apologize for my last fights. I am sorry that I didn’t show up in the shape I need to be in to show my fans the best possible Mahir Oral. I had some problems in the preparation for the last fight. I was not in the best physical condition and mentally I was distracted from the birth of my first child. That all lead to a performance which was not brilliant at all.”

2.) What can you tell us about your next opponent?
Oral: “Not that much actually. I know that on March 27th in Hamburg I will fight a guy called Juan Novoa from Colombia. I have only seen one of his fights on tape but I don’t care too much about him. If I focus on my own qualities and fight my own fight I know that I can beat almost everybody.”

3.) In January you had your last fight which is a very short break. Are you looking to be more active now, and how many fights do you think you need before you go for a second chance at a Title; against maybe even Sebastian Sylvester?
Oral: “I hope to get a second title shot very soon. After my fight against Abraham last June lots of people came to me and said that they believe I could beat anybody in the middleweight division – except Arthur who was the best and strongest middleweight fighter at that time. I think that I am better than the two German champions (Sylvester and Zbik) and I am ready to prove that anytime. But I heard that Sylvester is ducking me because I beat him up in sparring one year ago. All I can say is that I am up for the task anytime.”

4.) Please tell us your personal opinion on why Sylvester said no to a voluntary title defence against you. Is it maybe he fears losing his title to you after seeing your great fight last summer against Abraham?
Oral: “As I said before I know Sebastian from some sparring sessions we did before he fought Felix Sturm. At that time everybody who saw us said that I should fight Sturm because I really dominated him in the sparring. I am pretty sure that he still remembers that and has no interest in fighting me because he knows that I am a difficult and dangerous opponent.”

5.) Which man is in your eyes the man you must defeat to force the fight with Sylvester to happen?
Oral: “I totally leave this part of the business to my promoter Ahmet Öner. I know that he will give me the right fights to lead me back to a world title fight. He had promised me that I will get my shot at the title and he kept his word and organized the fight against Abraham. I totally trust in him to bring me back to another shot at a championship.”

6.) Give us three reasons why you are the upcoming man in the middleweight division.
Oral: “I am mentally strong, I can beat any fighter in the division and I am extremely good-looking!” (laughs)

7.) How far along are you in your preparations, and how are things looking?
Oral: “My preparation for this fight has definitely been better than the preparation for Liggieri in January. I know that this time I am fighting in front of my home audience in Hamburg which is an extra motivation for me. Still I know that I am not at one hundred percent. I had some problems with my shoulder which cost me some days of sparring. Also after a highlight like my fight against Abraham it is very hard to get back to that extremely high level. But I think that I am on the right way and I hope that I can prove that on March 27th.”

8.) What can we expect from Mahir Oral come fight night?
Oral: “The same things you can always expect from Mahir Oral: a technically good performance and absolute passion and willpower.”

9.) One last question Mahir. Who is your favourite in the Super 6 Tournament and why? Taylor is out and Green in. The right choice?
Oral: “I think Abraham will win the tournament but Andre Ward has a good chance as well. He surprised me – like most fans and experts – with his great performance against Kessler. As far as the replacement goes it was probably the right decision to take Taylor out of the tournament. Maybe he shouldn’t have been in it from the beginning. He is way past his prime.”

On March 27th ARENA will present its first show with new major German TV partner SAT.1 live from Sporthalle Hamburg when Steffen Kretschmann will meet Russian tough-guy Denis Bakhtov in a re-match. In the co-feature Cuban superstar Yuriorkis Gamboa returns to Hamburg to defend his WBA featherweight championship for the third time.

In addition to the two main events the show from Hamburg will feature last year’s world championship contenders Juan Carlos Gomez and Mahir Oral. There will be ten fights in total. The show starts at 7.00pm with. TV broadcast begins at 10.30pm. Tickets for this high-class event are on sale starting at 15,- Euro (plus fees and tax) on www.eventim.de/kretschmann. Exclusive VIP-packages cost 200,- Euro (plus fees and tax).

1. Sebastian Sylvester Defeats Mahir Oral Easily
2. Middleweight contender Mahir Oral follow-up interview