Swedish sensation Erik Skoglund (19-0, 10 KOs) follows a path he laid out as a boy. On April 12th he defends his EU Light Heavyweight Title at the Blue Water Dokken in Esbjerg, Denmark.
“It’s no fun at all. It’s just eating, training, sleeping. No family. No friends. It’s pretty tough, but it makes me better and sharper, so it’s definitely worth it.”
So says 22-year-old Erik Skoglund after a three week tough training camp in German Güstrow ahead of his fight with former Italian champion Danilo D’Agata (12-1-1, 3 KOs).
The eat, train and sleep mentality has almost always been a part of life for the ambitious Swede:
“When I was 12, I made a plan with my dad of how I could reach the top of the world in boxing. I have followed it ever since.”
“I stopped going to school at age 16 to focus fully on my training, so I didn’t have much time to enjoy life compared to other young people.”
Instead, Skoglund spent much of his youth focusing on a life with gloves on. Even in his spare time, he analysed his opponents and found errors in his own boxing.
Skoglund’s amateur career shows plenty of setbacks and bumps on the road to carry out his childhood plan. In less than four years he boxed 114 fights losing 35.
“I lost many fights as I early on I fought with the big guys. Some said it was stupid of me, but I say it was necessary in order to know how to fight when I really need it. My amateur career has given me a lot of experience,” says Skoglund.
As a professional it’s been victory after victory. Now Skoglund reveals the plan for the years ahead.
“My plan is to reach the top at 25 and then stay there until I’m 35. 10 years at the top, that should be enough, right?” says Skoglund with a smile.
At the Nordic Fight Night in Esbjerg Danilo D’Agata is a man who must be defeated if such prophecies should be fulfilled.
“He’s a good fighter, but there’s no doubt that I’m the favourite. It’s a title defense and it’s a must win fight. I’ll put him under pressure from the first bell and in the end I’ll be too strong for him.”
