Will series champions Allianz Kukla Galaxy Tigers win their eleventh Bundesliga championship title on Saturday? “Wait and see,” says master maker and Galaxy boss Thomas Haasmann. “I don’t see us as favorites this time, even though we are defending champions. Wels and UJZ are on an equal footing with us. Especially when there is only one round with seven fights. The state of the day plays a very big role, too big a role for me. I would have liked a return round as usual, as has been standard in recent years.”
The 63-year-old Viennese tried everything again this year to get his top aces like Bernd Fasching, Magamed and Movli Borchashvilli in top shape before the Final Four in Gmunden. “You made a big impression internationally this year. I’m really happy with the guys. We trained very well for two weeks at Kühtai and in Wattens. Bernd is 100 percent fit again. In any case, we will sell ourselves as dearly as possible.”
Olympic bronze medalist and 2023 European champion Denis Vieru (MDA/-66) is expected to lead Galaxy as a legionnaire. “Denis is a real tiger, he always comes when we need him. He is a top man, but hasn’t fought since Paris.” Olympic starter Tornike Tsjkadoea (NED/-60) is expected as the second legionnaire.
In the semifinals (5:15 p.m.) there will be a duel with the two-time runner-up UJZ Mühlviertel. In 2022 there was a 7:7 in Gmunden (Galaxy won the title thanks to the better undervaluation), last year the Viennese narrowly won 8:6 thanks to heavyweight Movli Borchashvilli. The last duel, on June 22nd as part of the preliminary round, ended with an 11-3 victory for the defending champions. “But that doesn’t mean anything. This is not how they will present themselves on Saturday in Gmunden. It will be a duel of equals,” believes Haasmann. High voltage is guaranteed.
