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New Faces: Tyron Zeuge

Fighters Network
24
Apr
Photo by Karina Hessland/Bongarts-Getty

Photo by Karina Hessland/Bongarts-Getty

TYRON ZEUGE

Vital Statistics:
Age: 22
Hometown: Berlin, Germany
Weight class: Super middleweight
Height / reach: 5-foot-9¾ (177 cm)/ 71 inches (180 cm)
Amateur record: 123-17
Turned pro: 2012
Pro record: 16-0 (10 knockouts)
Trainer: Karsten Roewer
Manager: Wilfried Sauerland
Promoter: Sauerland Event

Best night of pro career: A year ago Zeuge took Gheorghe Sabau’s unbeaten record, stopping the Romanian in the penultimate round. Zeuge considers it his best pro outing.

“It was my all-round ability to dominate Sabau,” Zeuge told RingTV.com through Thomas Schlabe of Sauerland Event, “whom I knocked down every time he started to trade with me.”



Worst night of pro career: The Berlin-born fighter wasn’t happy with his most recent performance, when Stjepan Bozic retired at the conclusion of the fifth round.

“I did not pace myself correctly in Round 2,” he said. “And I did not stick to the tactics of my coach.”

Next fight: Zeuge steps up the level of competition against former world title challenger Nikola Sjekloca in Berlin this Saturday.

Sjekloca, 36, was a top amateur; he won bronze at the 2003 World Championships. In the unpaid ranks he met Lucian Bute (L RSCO 3), Andy Lee (L 20-28) and Gennady Golovkin (L 12-15).

A pro since 2006, he enters with a record of 28-3 (8 KOs). Sjekloca is durable with all three losses going the distance; versus Sakio Bika in a WBC title eliminator, WBO belt holder Arthur Abraham a year ago and most recently against fellow prospect Callum Smith.

Why he’s a prospect: The young boxer-puncher enjoyed a good amateur career; the highlight came in 2009 when he won the European Junior Championships.

The following year he represented his country at the World Junior Championships and lost to highly repected Damian Hooper before the medal round.

“It was a good experience because I could prove myself against the world’s best,” he said. “But I was just 18 years old and tactically not on the level to make the medal ranks.”

Zeuge attempted to make the German team for the Olympics but it wasn’t to be: “I lost a razor-thin decision to my team-mate Enrico Koelling, who joined me in the pro ranks – me and him as well as Juergen Braehmer train in the same gym under coach Karsten Roewer.”

Zeuge gained valuable experience sparring with fellow Sauerland Event fighters Abraham and Braehmer.

Since turning professional Zeuge has scored knockdowns against every opponent he’s faced except Nathan King. As well as impressive power, he considers his speed and ability to anticipate to be among his strengths.

Tyron Zeuge (R) fighting Armand Cullhaj in 2014. Photo by Boris Streubel/Bongarts-Getty Images.

Tyron Zeuge (R) fighting Armand Cullhaj in 2014. Photo by Boris Streubel/Bongarts-Getty Images.

“Tyron Zeuge is an unbelievable talent,” said Roewer. “He has the athletic ability as well as hand speed, footwork and – what makes him special – he can anticipate the action. Sometimes he has a lazy work ethic which we still need to work on but otherwise he’s got everything that makes a champion.”

Kalle Sauerland, of Sauerland Event, was also quick to offer praise.

“Tyron is possibly the biggest talent in German professional boxing since more than 10 years,” said Sauerland. “He has everything from speed and power to an amazing eye on when and where to land his shots. He can fight on the inside and the outside.

The fact that he is already headlining his own show in Berlin shows the belief that we have in him but also perhaps more importantly our television partner, who are also big fans and believe he can be follow in the footsteps of other German 168-pound champions (Markus) Beyer, (Sven) Ottke and of course at present, Arthur Abraham.”

Why he’s a suspect: While Zeuge doesn’t appear to have any noticeable weaknesses, at 5-foot-9¾ he is a little undersized for a super middleweight.

When asked if he feels there are a few areas he needs to improve on before competing at the highest level, he said, “Definitely tactics and to pace myself for a whole fight.”

Story lines: Zeuge had a normal childhood; like most youngsters he enjoyed being outside with friends. He took up boxing at a young age and hasn’t looked back.

“I started karate when I was three. But after a few years my coach said that I was better suited with boxing,” explained Zeuge. “So I moved on and started boxing when I was six years old.”

His boxing hero is Floyd Mayweather Jr.: “He has the best balance between offense and defense I have ever seen.”

Zeuge likes to stay active and enjoys taking part in several other sports.

“Hockey, soccer, judo, handball, basketball, etc.,” he said. “But I do not like watching sports – not even boxing.”

Fight-by-fight record (16-0, 10 KOs)

2012

Mar. 31 – Yauheni Bahdanouski – TKO 1

May 5 – Santo Drago – TKO 3

Aug. 25 – Carlos Caicedo – TKO 3

Nov. 3 – Matingu Kindele – UD 6

Dec. 15 – Vasile Dragomir – KO 1

2013

Feb. 2 – Srdjan Mihajlovic – TKO 1

Apr. 27 – Mike Guy – UD 8

June 8 – David Sarabia – UD 8

Aug. 24 – Nathan King – UD 8

Oct. 26 – Achilles Szabo – UD 8

Dec. 14 – Alessio Furlan – TKO 5

2014

Jan. 25 – George Beroshvili – UD 10

Apr. 5 – Gheorghe Sabau – TKO 9

June 7 – Armand Cullhaj – TKO 9

Aug. 16 – Baker Barakat – TKO 9

Dec. 6 – Stjepan Bozic – TKO 5

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Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at [email protected] and you can follow him at www.twitter.com/AnsonWainwright

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