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When Blick reached Egzon Maliqaj, 32, he was on his way home from work. “Now I’m going home for a while, then I’ll train again,” he says. A normal day for the Aargauer. Because Maliqaj works 100 percent as a mechanical engineer and also boxes in professional fights.
What others see as a main job, Maliqaj does on the side. But he wouldn’t have it any other way: “I like that I can work with my colleagues at the engineering office during the day and do something completely different than boxing in the evening.” He sacrifices his vacation to boxing. Because if he has to prepare intensively for a fight, he takes time off.
The title fight has begun
This happened in preparation for Saturday. He will next fight in Klingnau against 27-year-old Serbian Novak Radulovic (27 professional fights, 17 wins, 9 defeats and 1 draw) for the IBO International middleweight title (up to 72.5 kg).
For Maliqaj (15 professional fights, 13 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw) it is the second chance at an international title after the defeat last December in the WBO title fight. Even if this time it is a less prestigious title than in 2022, it is a big door opener for him: “A win will make me more attractive to box abroad.” His big goal for next year.
As a Kosovo Swiss against a Serb
Saturday’s fight brings with it some political explosiveness. Because Maliqaj has Kosovar roots, his opponent is from Serbia. «For me it doesn’t matter where the opponent comes from, as long as he respects me. “I just want to do my job,” he clarifies. Moreover, he fights under the Swiss flag anyway. But the 32-year-old also knows: “For some of my fans, a defeat against him would certainly be extremely painful.”
Homework instead of boxing ring
For the father of two, his family is more important than victory or defeat. However, due to his tough daily life with work and education, Maliqaj rarely sees his two sons (5 and 2) during the week. “I’m afraid I’m missing out on too much of my sons’ development,” he admits.
That is why it is clear to the boxer that he is now in the final phase of his career. “Once my son goes to school, I will cut back on spending so I can spend more time with him and help him with his homework.”
Until then, he wants to “get the most out of his boxing career again”. Started on Saturday.
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
