Gogi Knezevic will return to the boxing ring in Vienna in the fall. The boxing icon tells in "Heute" that he suffered from depression.

Boxer Knezevic: "I was in paradise and became unhappy."

"I was in paradise and became unhappy," boxing icon Gogi Knezevic tells "Heute".

"As a boxer, I lived like in prison for 20 years: train, sleep, eat, train, sleep! After my last fight in 2022, I moved directly to Cyprus. There I had a house by the sea, I lived in luxury for three years - had a little party and drank too much," says Austria's first WBC champion.

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Gogi Knezevic

Boxer

"I feel empty, most recently I struggled with depression. I missed that adrenaline when I get into the ring. I know that many competitive athletes feel the same way after retiring.  That's why I'm now making a comeback and boxing again."

At the age of 46, "Lionheart" will get back into the ring in Vienna in autumn. Three fights are fixed and can also be seen on ORF. After a build-up opponent, the middleweight wants to know. "In Austria, no one dreams anymore, but anything is possible. I'll show that and surprise everyone."

Gogi Knezevic

Boxer Knezevic regrets having said goodbye to boxing. "That was a mistake. Boxing saved my life when I was in prison as a boy. I know boxing will save my life a second time now."

Knezevic continued: "I'm on fire again. I offer every local boxer up to 76 kilos a fight against me. I'm ready."

Also Marcos Nader? "Yes, he appeals to me," Knezevic clarifies. The "Battle for Vienna" between Nader and Knezevic attracted thousands of fans to the Steffl Arena in 2019. "My resting heart rate is at 38. I have more experience than ever. I'll be strong at 46."



At the age of 24, he turned professional, won his first four fights and finally boxed against Gotthard Hinteregger for the Austrian light middleweight championship on June 25, 2006. Knežević led on points in the first three rounds, but forgot about his mouthguard in the fourth round, whereby after a straight by Hinteregger, one of his incisors drilled diagonally into the lower jaw and he could no longer use his mouthguard. Referee Ernst Salzgeber then ended the fight, Hinteregger was declared the winner by technical knockout.

However, after six consecutive victories, Knežević became the Serbian International Light Middleweight Champion on November 30, 2007 with a points victory over Ronny Mittag. On October 19, 2008, he also became International Austrian Champion in the light middleweight division with a points victory over János Petrovics.

On April 4, 2009, he boxed against the Frenchman Cédric Vitu for the vacant WBC Mediterranean championship title in the light middleweight division, but lost by knockout in round 11.On

June 26, 2010, he boxed against the German-Russian Viktor Dick for the intercontinental championship title of the WBFto become the mandatory challenger to the reigning WBF World Champion Kreshnik Qato from Albania with a victory. Knežević suffered swelling above his left cheekbone during the middle of the twelve rounds. Until the fourth round, the fight was relatively balanced according to the judges' scoresheets, but Knežević's resistance weakened in the following rounds, and he was deducted a point in the eighth round for repeatedly spitting out the mouthguard. In the further course of the fight, the physically stronger Dick scored points and the referee ended the fight after two more rounds in the tenth round, after Knežević's resistance had decreased considerably. Knežević's real opponent should have been Omar Siala, who was only ranked among the top 30 in Germany, but due to an injury was replaced at short notice by Viktor Dick, who was among the top 10 German middleweights at the time and had defeated Siala in his last fight.

On April 30, 2011, he boxed against János Varga at the Budocenter Vienna for the world title of the PBU and won by technical knockout in round 7. On November 18, 2011, he boxed again for the WBC Mediterranean title, but lost by TKO in round 8 to Gökalp Özekler.

On June 16, 2012, he also won the GBU World Championship title in Güssing by beating the American Bruce Rumbolz in the twelfth round. On March 22, 2013, he was supposed to box for the IBF International Championship title in the light middleweight division in Berlin's Universal Hall. However, his undefeated German opponent Besar Nimani had to cancel the fight due to a training injury.

On May 4, 2013, he won the WBF Intercontinental Middleweight Championship by unanimous decision victory over Hungarian József Matolcsi. He defended this for the first time on 7 December 2013 against the Georgian Robison Omsarashvili. In May 2014, he boxed in Fürstenwalde against Nick Klappert for the IBO Intercontinental Championship in the light middleweight division, but lost by knockout in the third round.

On June 27, 2015, he boxed in Ajax, Canada, for the WBA intercontinental championship title in the light middleweight division. However, he suffered an early defeat against the undefeated Canadian Brandon Cook.

On June 4, 2016, he won the WBC CISBB middleweight title at the "Vendetta Fight Night" by unanimous decision victory over Vladimír Říha. He is the first Austrian to win a title of this world federation.

On March 24, 2017, he boxed for the WBO European middleweight title in the Scottish capital Edinburgh and lost by TKO in the third round to Conrad Cummings. On October 20, 2018, he lost by TKO in the first round to amateur world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Mohammed Rabii.

On April 13, 2019, he lost by TKO in the eighth round to Marcos Nader. The fight was for the IBF International Middleweight Championship.

He fought his farewell fight at the age of 42 on April 2, 2022 live on ORF SPORT + at the Bounce Fight Night, winning by TKO in the first round against János Vas.

More information about Lionheart "Gogi Knezevic" at MFRadio.de
sources: Wikipedia / Gogi Knezevic
Author: MF-Redaktion