By Alexey Sukachev, August 8, 2006

Fighting at home as well as developing one’s career at corresponding homeland is not always the way of reaching top positions in ratings and mandatory spots for title challenges. There’s no need to go far enough from Russia to prove the point: super middleweight contender Denis Inkin can be a living example of how your achievements aside main boxing streets mean nothing serious for alphabet organizations as well as for top promoters. With the perfect 23-0 record and remarkable victories over such notables as Mger Mkrtchian, Ovill McKenzie, Branco Sobot and former long-time world champion Julio Cesar Vasquez (via devastating TKO) Inkin was almost unknown outside of Russia and no top tens for him about one year and a half ago.  

However, situation turned around considerably since Inkin had signed a deal with Universum Boxing Promotions, ruled by well-known German promoter Claus-Peter Kohl. Since relocating himself to Germany 28-years old Russian contender is 5-0 with 3 KOs (28-0, 21 KOs overall) and victories over Malik Dziarra, Peter Mashamaite and undefeated Konni Konrad. Inkin is ranked 3rd by WBO and 12th by both WBA and IBF and is ready to make a noise in 168 lbs. However, despite being busy with training sessions he was able to find some minutes to share his thoughts and hopes with Fightnews.com.

- Denis, the last time I had spoken to you was long ago. Since there you have changed your location and moved yourself to Germany. Was the adaptation successful or not?

- It lasted extremely hard for me. There were no family with me and it was a bitter mental affection as usual. As soon as they had come I began feeling myself much better. As for the training work there was almost no problem at all. The opposite can be told about 5-hour time difference between Germany and my hometown of Novosibirsk.

- Any problems with German language?

- Horrible problems to tell the truth. My coach (Magomed Shaburov) speaks Russian with me, our guys in gym – Russian, Ukrainian, Armenian and so on – also. So, there’s no way of how I can steadily practice my skills. However, I visit special linguistic courses – twice a week. It’s of course not enough to speak free in daily life. I have learned particular words, I can understand other’s sentences, but I’m too far to construct them by myself.

- You had been going to arrive in Germany in early spring of 2005. However, you fought twice more against African boxers – Maneno Oswald (23-10-1, TKO 3) and George Adipo Odour (13-2, KO 1). What was the reason for that delay?

- There were some problems, connected with the German side, not mine. I had prepared all the documents rather soon but was forced to wait a little bit more. You know what I’m talking about – delays, checking, rechecking and something more from that kind of stuff. So I was able to leave for Europe only in May, not March.

- You have fought five times under Universum Boxing Promotion. Which fight was the most remarkable?

- I remember them all pretty well. I can point out the first bout – against tough Gerardo Soria (11-6-0, TKO 4) especially, because it was my first fight ever not under Russian promotion. You know… New coach, new training regime, and new traditions – everything was unusual for me. That victory was the key for my future successful performances. It was that important. And my second battle versus Malik Dziarra (27-2-0, KO 4) was the best of five. The fight was pretty tough – however, I was able to find a way to stop my foe inside the distance.    

- One says Dziarra, unlike his non-Europe name, has Slavic blood in him.

- Definitely. He has come to Germany from Belarus. I have never asked Malik about his relatives but, as far as I know, his mother once was Belarusian-based German and his father has come from Africa to study in former USSR. Well, I do think he is German right now (laughs).

- You have taken an important test as undefeated Slovenian Konni Konrad (16-0, UD 8) challenged you last May. Was he that strong for you?

- Konrad is my stablemate and there was an intrigue about that. When I had just come to Germany I shared a room with him in hotel. Moreover, we have lived together, we have trained together. I can’t say he’s my closest friend but he’s my buddy. One day he joked about squaring against each other in future. Well. That future was pretty close (laughs).

To tell the truth, Konni is a little bit fresh and young. He possesses some perfect skills but not enough maturity to accomplish his plans versus such experienced opposition. However, he lives long in Germany and has even captured youth titles in past. So I can’t say he was a bum. Hell not, especially when you recall the fight being staged in Slovenia.         

- Was the victory that tough as it seemed through the judges’ scorecards (78-74, 78-76, 78-76 all in favor of Inkin) or not?

- Konrad is a regular fighter if you know what I mean. He is not very dangerous during the battle, but his defense is excellent – he looks like Felix Sturm in this component. Of course, not that Sturm as in Castillejo fight. There are no big holes in his self-protection so my hooks were often blocked or I missed a lot with them. But he wasn’t active enough in the ring – all his thoughts were about how to protect himself from my power shots. That’s the price for excessive defense. But he was cautious and it saved him from an early end.

- That was your second appearance in a row that lasted the whole distance. You have been roughly criticized after your more-tough-than-expected fight with fairly unknown Peter Mashamaite of SA (14-4-1, UD 8). One even said you were unconfident and disturbed in that contest.

- By the way, that guy was pretty well prepared. He has a beautiful right hand and he is very enduring. In the last 10th round of the bout he used his right hand the same way he used it in the very beginning of the fight. Amazing! That’s the first reason for my lackluster performance.

Here is the second. He is a southpaw. I can’t say that’s the problem, because I had prepared to take a southpaw prior the fight and I had fought them numerous times as an amateur. But I didn’t even think of how young and fresh he was. I was planning to end it all till the 6th round but it turned to be an awful contest. I had to use plan “A” instead of “B” and it resulted in the absence of knockout.

- How do you think now: was your relocation towards Germany a successful move for your career and mastership?

- Definitely. Everything is new here: coach, sparring partners, gym, and preparation. I have learned to work inside, to use an uppercut. And what is even more important I have learned how to work it all fight long without feeling any fatigue, with the same working rate.

- You are ranked 3rd by WBO and you are near the top tens by WBA and IBF. Were there any talks with Claus-Peter Kohl about possible title matches?

- Recently I have talked with the boss and he has said: “Yeah, soon!” I do think that I shall get my chance till the end of the year. I’m sure – a pair of tune-ups and I’ll be ready to take the best guys in the division. Otherwise, there’s always a variant that I’ll wait for year, establishing my reputation and clinching the top ranks of the ratings. However, I feel myself prepared for each champ here in 168 lbs.

- You had a temptation to make Kohl work faster at your management, hadn’t you?

- Well, I have that desire. I really want to do it as soon as it possible. I can’t wait for the day I’ll turn the rankings in super middleweight sensationally. But the more haste, the less speed. I talked to my current manager – Edouard Vassilyevich Kozhemiakin – and he said that our German partners do everything right. As it needs to be done.

- Let’s imagine you have an opportunity to challenge every champion in the division you want to challenge. Who will be your first target: WBC champion Markus Beyer, WBA titlist Mikkel Kessler or perhaps “The King of the hill” in face of unbeaten 168 lbs emperor Joe Calzaghe who possesses WBO, IBF and “The Ring” belts simultaneously?

- Whoa! What a choice! It’s a pity you aren’t my manager (laughs). Well, there’s no problem in that: let them fight me together – I’ll be more than glad with the fees earned (laughs again). Speaking seriously I have no special demands. I’m eagerly to collide with every champion – the faster it comes the better it will be.

- And do you have any private preferences?

- No, not at all. Though I’m sure my possible bout with Joe [Calzaghe] will be the most exciting as he is clearly the best here. As for Beyer he is not so brilliant, but he is very regular, disciplined and conditioned.

- Perhaps, there’s a champ who is the most comfortable for your style, maybe even tailor-made for you, isn’t it?

- Unfortunately I have seen no tapes of Kessler at all. I can’t say anything about Dane. Is he orthodox or southpaw?

- Orthodox.

- Wonderful! Lefties are a bit uncomfortable foe me. So Kessler will be good for me. Beyer is very awkward but he lacks physical strength and seems to be a bit fragile. And Calzaghe is the toughest opponent.

- Beyer is scheduled to take Kessler on the 14th of October in unification bout. Who will be the successor on your mind?

- Well… Ah… (pause).

- It scheduled to be staged in Copenhagen.

- Well… Kessler is the favorite, no doubt about it. But Beyer is known for his living ability and his luck. I was close to say the chances are 50/50, but Kessler seems to be slightly ahead. And know what? Just a good advice: all my predictions fail and results turn to be simply opposite.

- When will you make your next appearance in squared ring?

- My next fight is scheduled on September. The exact date is still to be announced.

- Whom will you fight?

- My opponent is also unknown to date.  

- How do you get along with German fans?

- They often meet me after my victories. That’s impressive. To tell the truth the majority of them are Poles, Czechs and other Slavic fans.

- When you were boxing in Russia, fans gave you a rare nickname “Gentleman”. Are there any new nicknames in Germany?

- After the last bout they [Inkin team] decided to call me “Technician” (smiles). Perhaps, I impressed them with my performance in Konrad fight. Sometimes my coach uses such nickname as “Intellectual”. I’m much honored to be called that way.

- Ending this conversation, what are your words for Russian fans?

- I want to thank each fan for his or her support. There would have been no victories without your cheers, flags, doodles, best wishes and so on. Thank you very much! I’ll try to satisfy you with my future performances.

- Thank you for spending your time with Fightnews!