His nickname is Tyson from the village of Kukorevo, Yambol district. Tyson’s real name is Daniel Asenov. The young Bulgarian boxer was born on May 17, 1997. His nickname was given by boxing coach Mladen Stalev, because his boxing style resembles the one of the great American boxing legend from Brooklyn Mike Tyson. Moreover, Mladen Stalev predicted that Daniel Asenov would make a great boxing career. Daniel Asenov’s first and only personal coach in this sport was the founder of Aprilets Boxing Club Dimitar Mutafov. In 2013, Daniel won the title in the 49 kilo category at the EUBC European Junior Continental Championships in Anapa (Russia) and one year later he lost that title after he was defeated by British boxer Muhammad Ali, thus finishing second in Europe.

In 2015, however, during the EUBC European Elite Boxing Championships in Samokov (Bulgaria), Daniel Asenov (Tyson) had his revenge against Muhammed Ali in the 52 kilo category contest and won another European title. Daniel was voted Bulgaria’s best young athlete for 2015 in a survey carried out by Viasport.bg. He also placed in the top ten ranking of Bulgaria’s best athletes of 2015. Moreover, Daniel Asenov and Bulgaria’s European Champion in canoe-kayak Stanilia Stamenova placed in Top 10 at the 43^rd survey of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency named Balkan Athlete of 2015. The national information agencies of the Balkan countries took part at that survey. Daniel Asenov told Radio Bulgaria that his elder brother Katin Asenov contributed a lot to his progress on the boxing ring. Katin also trains in Aprilets boxing club in the 56 kilogram category.

The young Bulgarian boxer achieved his excellent results on the boxing ring due to many efforts and deprivations. Daniel told us how he prepares for the forthcoming Strandja International Boxing Tournament which will be held between February 22 and 28:

“I start practicing early in the morning around 8.30. I do not have breakfast if I feel too sleepy. Otherwise I eat quickly a couple of eggs and start my morning exercise. At noon I do not have a lot of spare time for rest and I usually miss lunch, in order to recover quicker. At 2 pm I start my next training session and then I have a rest. I do not like to use steam sauna bath, because it makes me feel exhausted in periods when I have to reduce weight. I usually have chicken breast for dinner and go to bed early”, Daniel Asenov says.

Here is what young athlete Asenov told Radio Bulgaria about the things he doesn’t like in himself:

“As a whole, I underestimate myself a lot and always think that I do not practice enough. Meanwhile, I do my best during the trainings. I think I do not spend enough time practicing, but at the same time I am in excellent sports shape.”

Daniel is currently on a sports camp in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia after a long and tiresome camp in the mountain sports complex in Belmeken with the Bulgarian National Boxing Team. Recently the national squad was headed by Cuban coach Joel Eugenio Soler Arrate. Tyson tells Radio Bulgaria that he still experiences difficulties under the guidance of the new head coach, but he always tries to do his best and acquire new elements in boxing, yet he does not want to abandon the old boxing style which helped him become a European champion. Here is what coach Joel Eugenio Soler Arrate told Radio Bulgaria about the sports qualities of young boxer Daniel Asenov:

“Daniel’s quick reaction and good skills in defense, offence and counter-attack are his biggest advantages on the boxing ring. Currently we are trying to improve his feet performance and make him learn new tactics, so he can prepare well for the Olympics qualifiers. Daniel is among the Bulgarian boxers with the biggest chance to win a medal during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this year.”

When does Daniel intend to join professional boxing?

“I think it is still too early to think about professional boxing. Currently I am preparing myself for the Olympic qualification in Turkey. First of all I will do my best to qualify for the forthcoming Olympics. Let us see how I will perform there and then I will discuss with my coaches whether to become a professional boxer, or remain amateur for another Olympic cycle.”

We wish Daniel good luck at the Strandja boxing tournament and the Olympic qualification tournament!

English version: Kostadin Atanasov