Masternak’s New Style of Boxing Means Greater Risk

Mateusz Masternak knows that his new style of fighting means a greater risk of taking dangerous punches. “If I boxed the way I used to, I wouldn’t achieve anything at the highest level,” says the former European cruiserweight champion.

On Saturday in Esbjerg, Denmark, Masternak comfortably defeated Stjepan Vugdelija on points in an eight-round bout. His opponent was tough, although at most he belonged to the solid European second tier. The following day, the Pole shared his thoughts about the fight with us. As announced, he opted for an offensive approach and close-range boxing from the opening bell.

“How would I sum up this fight? I gained valuable experience by fighting in a new style, with my opponent close to me and using new techniques. I rate the performance positively, although I had better and worse moments. After successful combinations in which I managed to hurt my opponent, instead of calmly continuing the work I had started, I focused on landing one big punch. It wasn’t effective,” Masternak admits.

Just a year ago, the Wrocław native boxed completely differently. He controlled the fight from a distance and avoided close contact. Now, great aggression and constant pressure are supposed to become permanent features of his bouts. That was also the case in his clash with Vugdelija.

“I usually based my boxing on reflexes and pulling away. I didn’t engage in close contact with my opponent so often. With the new style, his punches get through much more frequently, at least to my guard. You have to get used to that. Previously, I had more time to reach my opponent, move away and rest. Now there is constant pressure. I want to prepare even better for my next fight and impose an even faster pace,” declares “Master.”

A serious test for trainer Piotr Wilczewski’s charge will probably come at the turn of June and July. He is then expected to fight for a valuable trophy against a boxer whose skills are comparable to those of Grigorij Drozd, or perhaps even greater. It was against the Russian that he lost his European cruiserweight title last autumn. Will he be ready to face a heavy puncher?

“There are still a few things to improve technically, but I’m hungry for success and want to return to the top quickly. The new style is much riskier than the previous one. However, I know that if I boxed the way I used to, I wouldn’t achieve anything at the highest level. That way of fighting was too easy for opponents to figure out. We decided that it wasn’t my boxing.

“I’m not Sugar Ray Leonard, who had incredibly fast hands and feet, amazing reflexes, avoided every punch, danced through twelve rounds and kept winning. I have different attributes. I’m physically strong and punch hard. We want to make use of those strengths,” the boxer explains.

On Saturday, the not-quite-27-year-old Masternak recorded the 32nd victory of his professional career, which began in 2006. It was his second consecutive win following last year’s stoppage defeat by Drozd. In February, he knocked out Sandro Siproszwili in the fourth round.

Przemysław Osiak, przegladsportowy.pl