Denis Boytsov is so far undefeated in the ring, having won all 25 of his bouts (20 KO). He’s currently 5th in the WBA rankings and 6th in the WBO list.

Boytsov is to face Jason Gavern (18-5-3, 8 KOs) in the German city of Rostok on October 10, and it’ll be his first bout shown live on German national TV. But he doesn’t see anything special about it.

”It shows me that people love my style of boxing. But inside the ring I don´t see any cameras. I just see the fists of my opponent,” he said.

Ironically, October 10 is the day when most of the Germans and Russian will be glued to their TV screen, but they won’t be watching boxing – rather football, as the two countries clash in a decisive World Cup qualifier.

Boytsov has his headquarters in Hamburg, Germany, which he calls “the capital of heavyweight boxing”.

”The Klitschkos also live and train here, Ruslan Chagaev – and me,” he explained.

The Russian boxer also shares the same coach – Fritz Sdunek – with WBC heavyweight champion Vitaly Klitschko.

“To me he is like a father. I like to work with him very much. I learn a lot of him. The Klitschkos, Michalczewski, Grigorian, Erdei, Balzsay – he worked with big champions. For me he is the greatest coach on this planet,” Boytsov said.