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Michalczewski interview from 2005

'The countdown is running. Only four days until the boxing spectacle before 16000 fans in the Color Line Arena. In the second part of the big MOPO interview the tiger talks about his popularity, Klitschko, vodka and love.

MOPO: How do you explain your great popularity, which has risen enormously over the last two years?

Michalczewski: I think that's because I've always stayed. I was usually nice, sometimes an ass - but I never disguised, never played a role. This has paid off in the long run. I think Germany, especially Hamburg, loves me. Me, the Polish, it's crazy! It's not normal what's happening here with me.

MOPO: What happens to you?

Michalczewski: Sometimes I stand at the zebras tire and have red. There, drivers stop and waved me friendly. I'll get a lump in my throat. Or the police will stop me if I drive without a belt. Then they say: "Dariusz, please buckle!", And let me continue. This is, so to speak, my immunity.

MOPO: The tiger can not be without boxes. Can not boxing without the tiger?

Michalczewski: I think boxing needs me. Nowadays, there are too few guys like Rocky (Graciano Rocchigiani, d. Red) or me who have corners. There are not enough real champions. The new generation boxer is too smooth.

MOPO: What do you think is a champion?

Michalczewski: Being a world champion is one thing. You will be a champion through the knighthood of the audience, professionals and media. Champions have charisma, are personalities and have done in the ring special.

MOPO: Is your former stable colleague Vitali Klitschko, the WBC World Heavyweight Champion, a champion?

Michalczewski: Not yet. This still takes a bit. He has yet to prove himself. He is only known by his defeat against Lennox Lewis. If you lose your biggest fight, you are not a champion. Defeat remains defeat.

MOPO: Who is the bigger number: the tiger or the Klitschkos?

Michalczewski: If you put the Klitschkos on top of each other, the four meters are high and maybe bigger than me. Honestly: Wladimir has lost twice by knockout, Vitali has only been a world champion for a year. I was nine years world champion. This can not be compared.

MOPO: You won world titles at light-heavyweight and cruiserweight and there was even talk of you seriously contemplating fighting at heavyweight at one stage when you were chasing a fight with your elusive American rival Roy Jones Jr. This is something that perplexed me somewhat as you never looked like the biggest of light-heavyweights to me. How difficult was it for you to make 175 and could you have ever got down to 168?

Michalczewski: Yes it is indeed true that I was never the biggest light-heavyweight. In fact, if you look at my fights you will see that most of the time my opponents were bigger than me. Making super-middleweight for me wouldn't have been a problem as it was my natural weight. Truth be told, I only fought at light-heavyweight out of respect for Super Joe [Joe Calzaghe] and The Phantom [Sven Ottke]. Those guys were my idols''

MOPO: Like the Klitschkos, did you think about leaving the universe and promoting yourself?

Michalczewski: No, it was never an issue. Of course, there were always differences of opinion, but they are in the best families. I have never felt betrayed or exploited by Klaus-Peter Kohl. You have to negotiate too hard. Meanwhile, I know exactly what is being played.

MOPO: You said you were grown up recently. How does this manifest itself?

Michalczewski: I have grown more mature over the years, live more consciously and know that I am responsible. I think more about what I'm doing and what it's impacting.

MOPO: Has the wild tiger become a brave lap cat?

Michalczewski: Honest answer?

MOPO: Of course!

Michalczewski: I'm still a bully like I used to be. I am still wild and love horny parties. But I've learned that everything has its time. I enjoy in moderation. That was different before. There I sometimes celebrated three days in a row. I have times durchgesoffen two days at a time in the crack. When I came to Hamburg, I was still a boy, I ran into the city with eyes, ears and arms open. I was greedy for fun.

MOPO: And after alcohol ...

Michalczewski: I drink only red wine now. I have become a connoisseur. I used to drink vodka, but nobody should drink it. This is not a drink. That does not even taste. Everyone who drinks vodka distracts his face and shakes himself. That's crazy. Vodka makes drunk and aggressive. I insulted my own friends in the Suff. That is bad. Vodka is poison to me. Unfortunately, I only noticed at the age of 34 ...

MOPO: What part does your friend Patrizia have in mind that you have calmed down?

Michalczewski: A very big one. We've been together for five years, and she knows all about me. She is my best friend, my buddy. When I go around the houses with my friends, she is there. She also says: Stop the face! No one dares to do that. But I need someone to give me my forehead.

MOPO: You have recently been divorced by your wife Dorota. Do you want to marry again?

Michalczewski: We think about it. Also about children. But you have to think very carefully. We must have time for it. It should be romantic with an engagement, a beautiful wedding and a honeymoon. It is supposed to be the most beautiful day in our lives.

MOPO: How about Hamburg as a place of the wedding?

Michalczewski: I could imagine that. That would be great. Hamburg is kind of my city. Here I made my driving license and lost, I became world champion, I am divorced, I have been in the Puff for the first time, I know almost every pub - that connects. Maybe I'll be an honorary citizen.