Like many
other boxers based in Germany, Edmund Gerber wasn’t born there. However, unlike
those fighters, he moved to Germany when he was a child because his parents
believed there would be more opportunities for them and their family. So far,
the Kazakhstani-born heavyweight has made the most of those openings he’s been
offered, moving seamlessly to 19-0 (13) after an impressive amateur background.
At just 23, he has plenty of time on his side and at 6’3” and an imposing 235
pounds, he also looks the part. Gerber returns on the Marco Huck vs. Ola
Afolabi bill on 5 May in Erfurt, Germany where he faces perennial journeyman Maurice
Harris in his biggest test thus far.
Anson Wainwright -
You have arguably your biggest challenge so far when you meet Maurice Harris on
5 May in Erfurt, Germany. What are your thoughts on the fight?
Edmund Gerber - We will see what will happen come May 5th but yes, he is definitely my strongest opponent so far.
AW - Harris has shocked a few decent fighters
in his time, David Izon, Jimmy Thunder and Sergei Liahkovich, to name a few,
and comes with a reputation. What do you think of him as a fighter?
EG - He is a good boxer. I have sparred with him before,
so I am well aware of his good technique and I won’t underestimate him.
AW - Would it be fair to say you’ve received
more attention since you stopped the well regarded Rene Dettweiler?
EG - Winning against him was a great feeling but that
fight is so long ago now and in the past, therefore I don’t really care about
it anymore.
AW - You’re fighting in eight-rounders. Do
you believe that after this fight, all being well, you’ll be ready to move into
10-rounders? How far do you believe you are from fighting for various international
and European titles?
EG - I have to win the fight before I start thinking
about more rounds or even title shots. We will see how it goes on May 5th and make a decision about the future afterwards.
AW - Could you tell us about the key members
of your team and where you regularly train?
EG - Karsten Röwer is my coach and Wilfried Sauerland is
my manager. My promoter is Sauerland Event. My training camp is located in
Berlin-Marzahn.
AW – Who have you sparred with ahead of this
fight?
EG - I have sparred against a lot of different guys, one
from Turkey, one from Croatia and one from Russia. It is going really well.
AW - Can you tell us about your younger days
growing up in Kazakhstan? Were things tough for you and your family as they are
for many boxers? How did your coming to move to Germany happen?
EG - My childhood was quite normal, to be honest. It was
really good and problem free. My parents decided to move to Germany when I was
child because the opportunities for them were better. I probably wouldn’t be as
good of a boxer as I am now, had we stayed in Kazakhstan.
AW - What was your amateur career like? What
tournaments did you win? Did you fight any of the current professional
heavyweights? What was your final record?
EG - I won a few German championships as well as the
Cadet/Junior European championship. I can’t think of any current professionals
who I might have fought back then. I won 72 fights as an amateur.
AW - Could you tell us a little about your
life away from boxing and about yourself as a person? What do you enjoy doing?
Do you have any hobbies or interests?
EG - In my spare time, I enjoy hanging out with my
friends and family. We love going on holidays and enjoy being on the road.
Apart of that, my full focus is on boxing.
AW - What did you think of what happened in
Germany a few months ago when Vitali Klitschko fought Dereck Chisora?
EG - If I am honest, I wasn’t interested in the fight, so
I didn’t watch it.
AW - Who was your boxing hero growing up? What
fighters do you enjoy watching today?
EG - I always enjoyed watching videos of Mike
Tyson and I still do. He was great inside the ring. I don’t have any interest
in the current fighters and don’t watch them.
AW
- In closing, do you have a message for the heavyweight division?
EG - The only thing I can say is that I am doing really
well at the moment. We will see what the future holds for me.
