Polish Heritage Night was held for the fifth time at the Prudential Center arena in Newark, NJ
On March 30, during a game in which the New Jersey Devils defeated the NY Rangers 2-1.
The special guest of the event was the Polish boxer Damian Knyba, also known as Polish Husarz.
We managed to ask Damian a few questions.
ND: Damian, you’re preparing for the Top Rank fight on April 8 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ against Curtis Harper. Please tell me how the preparations are progressing, what are you working on in particular now?
DK: I’ve been in the States for five weeks now, my preparation period is almost over, the last week before the fight is the week where I want to “get fresh” and focus. I was sparring for four weeks, I had very good partners, I had twelve units a week so I am very well prepared and I think I will show it in the fight.
ND: And where is it better to train in Poland or in the States?
DK: I have really good training conditions in Poland, but I miss sparring-partners, so in this respect, training in the States is better, because sparring is really very important.
ND: Could you tell us at what age and what made you interested in boxing? Who was your idol? Are you more like Mike Tyson or Lennox Lewis?
DK: I started training boxing at the age of twenty, before that I trained track and field, but really since I was a child I dreamed of becoming a boxer. While training in athletics, I realized that even if I became an Olympic champion, it wouldn’t give me as much joy as boxing, so I decided to take a chance and try it. Everything started to go well, I started to be successful.
My idol at the beginning was Mike Tyson, although I’m very far from him in terms of style, so maybe closer to Lewis, although it’s also a bit different style. But in the beginning Mike Tyson actually gave me a lot of motivation.
ND: And what does an average day of a Polish boxer look like?
DK: In the morning, like everyone else, I get up and make myself breakfast, then I watch boxing fights and prepare for training. Then I go to training. Here in the states it takes me almost an hour each way to commute. After boxing training, it’s time for lunch and a moment of rest, in the afternoon I train at the gym.
ND: So, on average, how many hours a day do you train intensively?
DK: I train about three to four hours a day.
ND: Damian, tell us where the nickname “Polish Hussar” comes from?
DK: I am very proud of my origin, being Polish gives me great motivation and I hope that I will be such a power in boxing as the Polish hussars were during the fights.
ND: Finally, I would like to ask if you have any advice or tips for young boxers who are wondering whether it is worth choosing this sport?
DK: They must definitely train hard and consistently and never give up, and boxing is a good choice.
ND: Thank you for the interview, we wish you good luck and we keep our fingers crossed for the fight on April 8th.
Joanna Macioszek talked to Damian Knyba
Photos: Jacek Dolata