Goya Dmytryshchak
To date, he hasn’t lost a fight.
On the cusp of competing for his second world title, Altona boxer Prince Bunjaku, 36, says he only has a few more fights in him.
Next month, he is set to enter the ring with Geelong fighter Chris Bradford in a show that has sold out.
Bunjaku, of Albanian background, is known as Prince Ali or Prince.
He runs Altona Kickboxing at Millers Junction in Altona North.
Prince is moving from light heavyweight to heavyweight division to fight Bradford.
Two years ago, Prince won against Cyrus Washington to gain a world title.
“I beat Cyrus for his light heavyweight world title and he had 146 fights or something – I only had 14,“ Prince said.
“It was a good win.
“I’m 15 and 0 at the moment. And 10 knockouts.“
Prince said he was born into boxing.
His extended family includes Footscray resident and five-time world champion, Sunduz “Susie“ Ramadan.
“All my family are pretty much boxers,“ Prince said.
“All my uncles are boxers.
“Our family, we all just trained since we were little kids and fight.
“Even my little one – my little one’s six; he’s already had about five fights.
“As soon as we can walk, we’re just thrown in the deep end.“
Prince said he would like to reach 20 fights but it wasn’t easy due to the COVID pandemic.
“With no international fights, it’s very hard,“ he said.
“If the borders don’t open next year, it’s kind of the last chance for it.
“At 38, 39, I don’t want to really be fighting.
“I got the gym to worry about and I’ve got the up-and-coming fighters. I don’t want to take away from them, I want to give them as much attention as I can.“
In a word, ’discipline’ is what makes a good boxer, Prince said.
“Putting in the right amount of time before a fight,“ he said.
“You’ve got to get yourself prepared mentally, physically.
“I think the dieting is a big part of it. The weight. There’s so many aspects to it.
“And obviously, getting it done.
“It’s all good to fight, but if you’re not winning what’s the point.
“You need to be winning the fights.
“This is pretty much all I do, is all I know, is all I’ve been doing my whole life.“
Prince said he hadn’t studied Bradford’s fighting style ahead of their bout.
“I don’t really watch anyone fighting, I just do what I do,“ he said.
“I just train myself.
“My skills are really high-level so I just bank on everything that I know.
“If I’m on point on the day, then I guarantee a win.“
If Prince beats Bradford, he gains two titles.
“If I win this, I’ll be light heavyweight and heavyweight world champion, which no one in this country has done,“ he said.
“It’s very hard to jump weight divisions and I’m jumping 10 kilos.
“To fight at 82 and then to fight at 93 is a massive difference.
“Bradford’s huge next to me. Just the size of him on the night is going to be extreme as.“
Prince Bunjaku vs Chris Bradford is scheduled for August 7 at Grandstar Event Centre in Altona North.
