Mario Preskar
Encyclopedia
Mario Preskar is a Croatia
n professional heavyweight boxer. He trains at Leonardo Boxing Gym in Zagreb
with his trainer Leonard Pijetraj.
, Croatia. He began boxing at the age of 9 at the urging of his father Željko, a cab driver. Preskar became a seven-time Croatian national champion, his final amateur record was 45-5. These are some of his amateur trophies:
In his 19th professional fight against Maksym Pedyura on June 27, 2009, Preskar was ahead throughout most of the match, but was knocked down twice in the final round. After the gong, he collapsed and was immediately taken to hospital. The fight was declared a draw.
Preskar ascribed the incident to extreme exhaustion, due to high temperature and insufficient ventilation in the hall. In August 2009, he announced an indefinite break from boxing, citing lack of motivation.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n professional heavyweight boxer. He trains at Leonardo Boxing Gym in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
with his trainer Leonard Pijetraj.
Amateur career
Preskar was born in ZagrebZagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, Croatia. He began boxing at the age of 9 at the urging of his father Željko, a cab driver. Preskar became a seven-time Croatian national champion, his final amateur record was 45-5. These are some of his amateur trophies:
- 2002 Gold Medal (1st place) Brandenburg Cup; AIBA Tournament
- 2002 Gold Medal (1st place) Mostar; EABA Tournament
- 2001 Gold Medal (1st place) Balaton Cup; AIBA Tourn
- 2001 Silver Medal (2nd place) Brandenburg Cup; AIBA Tournament
- 2001 Gold Medal (1st place) Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina; EABA Tournament
- 2000 Silver Medal (2nd place) European Championship, Athens, Greece
- 1999 Bronze Medal (3rd place) European Championship, Baku, Azerbaijan
- 7 time Croatian National Champion
Professional career
Preskar started his professional career in 2003, at only 19, signing a contract with the world-famous boxing manager Don King. King and Preskar parted ways in September 2008, with King reportedly unwilling to accept new contract terms put forward by Preskar and Pijetraj, who demanded more frequent fights. Preskar founded new opportunities with K2 Promotions, run by the Klitschko brothers.In his 19th professional fight against Maksym Pedyura on June 27, 2009, Preskar was ahead throughout most of the match, but was knocked down twice in the final round. After the gong, he collapsed and was immediately taken to hospital. The fight was declared a draw.
Preskar ascribed the incident to extreme exhaustion, due to high temperature and insufficient ventilation in the hall. In August 2009, he announced an indefinite break from boxing, citing lack of motivation.