There’s a saying that for those who come for the king, you higher not miss.
Florian Marku, 13-0-1 (8 KOs), has had a goal on his again since he burst on to the scene 5 years in the past. Britain’s welterweights regardless proceed to line up for their very own shot at “The Albanian King”.
“They underestimate me,” Marku instructed BoxingScene. “They assume I’m a pushover and that they will beat me simply. That’s their mistake till they discover out within the ring. By then, it’s too late.
On Sunday night Chris Kongo will get his alternative to topple Marku and the Londoner seems to be like offering the 31 yr previous along with his most tough take a look at so far.
Marku’s assured, abrasive persona appears to rub each future opponent up the flawed means, and he and Kongo have had daggers drawn since they bought up shut and private at a press convention final summer season.
A little bit of pre-fight battle is nothing new to Marku, who appears to thrive in chaos. He definitely doesn’t shrink back from a problem.
Accidents have slowed his momentum however – to his credit score – Marku hasn’t used his notoriety to purchase himself time and take keep-busy fights.
Marku turned skilled as a uncooked entertainer with an enormous fanbase however he has spent years knocking the sharp edges off his naturally aggressive fashion. His progress has been gradual however regular, and he has been matched sensibly.
Treading rigorously goes in opposition to Marku’s instincts. If he had been left to his personal gadgets, he would fortunately take big steps, and he has little time for fighters who select to tread water relatively than take dangers.
“They don’t imagine in themselves and so they don’t need to go larger within the rankings,” he mentioned. “They solely need to waste time. I’m not that man. Once I retire I need to have fulfilled my childhood dream of being a world champion. These are the fights that convey me nearer to that time. This one is thrilling.
“It doesn’t actually matter to me. If it’s a combat that the individuals and the followers need, I’m actually joyful to do it. With Chris, it’s a combat I feel the followers need and it’ll open different doorways in my profession. I feel it’s an excellent combat for the UK public and it’s an thrilling combat.”
Beating Kongo in conclusive trend would kick these doorways in. Marku definitely received’t be trying backwards if he wins on Sunday evening.
“That’s what individuals don’t perceive about me – I don’t do favours,” he mentioned. “I at all times go for the nice, massive fights. I don’t ever say ‘No’ to anyone. All the fights that they point out to me like Conor Benn, Josh Taylor, Josh Kelly and the opposite names they point out, I say ‘Sure’ to all of them. They ask me about Chris Kongo and I mentioned that if it brings me higher opposition then, sure, we will combat. Like I say, individuals underestimate me and so they assume that I’m straightforward.”
At his finest, Kongo, 14-2 (7 KOs), is a slick, proficient operator, however he’s stepping right into a high-pressure scenario and can do properly to field with out stress. The bitterness of his long-standing feud with Marku would make a defeat onerous to take personally, however Kongo can be conscious {that a} defeat would have severe repercussions for him professionally, too. He has been overwhelmed by Michael McKinson and final yr he got here up brief in a problem for Ekow Essuman’s British and Commonwealth titles. A 3rd defeat by a home rival could be onerous to rebound from.
Marku in the end believes that his and Kongo’s paths are crossing on the good time. He won’t ever lose his aspect of unpredictability however insists that he has realized to comprise his aggression till he recognises the second is true to unleash it.
“I feel I confirmed in my final combat [a first-round stoppage of Dylan Moran in September 2023] that I’ve improved quite a bit,” he mentioned. “You might see my persistence. I used to be ready; ready. I didn’t throw a punch for about one minute after which the one I did throw, it was recreation over. I feel I’ve modified a variety of issues in my boxing fashion. You’re gonna see all of them on the thirty first March.
“I feel he [Chris] is an efficient fighter however I feel I’ve been within the ring with comparable, good fighters. I feel Chris Jenkins was a extremely good fighter. I feel Maxim Prodan – the Ukrainian who I beat to win my first IBF title – was additionally a robust one. I feel each fighter is totally different. I don’t put together for Chris; I put together myself for whoever they carry me. I’ll be prepared.”
