Boxing
Heavyweight prospect Viktor Jurk has Agit Kabayel and Frazer Clarke in his sights
Bivol vs. Eifert on DAZN subscription - Saturday
Viktor Jurk has his sights set on facing some of the heavyweight division's established names after his viral first round knockout against Edwin Castillo.
The opening bell of the eight-round contest had only just rang when Jurk unleashed a left hand which left Castillo in a mess on the ring canvas.
On a run of six consecutive knockouts, Jurk is building a reputation for being an exciting talent in a heavyweight division which is blooming.
Jurk ready to test himself against British Olympic medallist
If Jurk is to continue his ascension and gain notoriety, he will at some point need to make the step up, and face the established names.
"For sure, I’m ready. Give me any one of them," Jurk responded when asked by DAZN News whether he was ready to make the jump to the next level.
"If I want to fight the best, why shouldn’t I fight the best?
"You can’t avoid people, there’s only one way, you have to go through the fire."
But where does that step up in opponents lie?
In Jurk's view, it's the UK where there is a very deep heavyweight division, but not against the likes of Moses Itauma and Daniel Dubois, who are the country's premier talents.
"The UK has proper, well-known heavyweights.
"I don’t talk about the top 10 because right now, I’m not in the position where I can call them out. It makes no sense.
"I have to make a step up to get to that point."
The level below is where Jurk believes he can find success. He has not been afraid to call out the likes of Johnny Fisher, and when speaking to DAZN News, he even mentioned Frazer Clarke, the Olympic bronze medallist.
When queried with why Clarke is on his radar, Jurk replied simply with "Why not?".
Considering Clarke has suffered two back-to-back defeats, it's no surprise Jurk is eyeing up an opponent who will be low on confidence and is facing serious questions about whether he can still perform at the highest level.
'I'm coming for Kabayel'
When it comes to Jurk's future, and whether he will be a world level fighter, it feels like there could be a showdown with fellow German Agit Kabayel in the not too distant future.
There is no doubt Kabayel is the Germany's number one heavyweight. He is the WBC's interim heavyweight champion, a proven ticket seller and is on the brink of facing unified world heavyweight titleholder Oleksandr Usyk.
When the conversation turned to Kabayel, Jurk struck a serious tone, and believes he can better the 33-year-old when it comes to being a success in boxing's blue ribbon weight division.
"I would like to fight him in a few years.
"It’s a lonely sport, it’s not a team sport. Everyone wants to become world champion.
"I want to become successful in my own way. I can do it better than him."
- Read next | 'We sell out a stadium' - Agit Kabayel names two possible locations for Oleksandr Usyk world title fight
Then came a menacing message from Jurk who is ready to do something which none of his fellow countrymen are willing to do when it comes to Kabayel.
"In Germany, no one calls him out, I don’t know why.
"I’m not calling him out, I’ll just say this, I’m coming."
Watch Fury vs. Hall exclusively on DAZN
'The Beauty' Tommy Fury fights the 'The Beast' Eddie Hall on a great Misfit's fight night on Saturday, June 13, exclusively live on DAZN. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with Zayas vs. Ennis (June 27), Joshua vs. Prenga (July 25) and Canelo vs. M'billi (Sept 12) PPVs, with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
