Ten professional matches, ten victories, almost all of them by knockout. Gradus Kraus (24) from Oss is the boxing sensation of the Netherlands and ensured a packed press room on Friday because of his match on Saturday evening against the Englishman Theo Brooks. “The sport is growing enormously in the Netherlands, thanks to my little boy of 1.87 meters,” says father Albert Kraus.
Albert Kraus is not only Gradus’ father, but also his trainer and best friend. Naturally, he is proud of the enormous steps his son is taking. “More and more media want to follow him. There is so much interest, especially in the last few weeks before a match, everyone wants to be in the front row.”
According to the former world kickboxing champion, his son is hungry to become the best boxer in the world. “You would think that he is already at his top in terms of level, but he is far from satisfied. He has a goal in mind and he wants to achieve it at all costs.”
Gradus is so fanatical that his father regularly has to slow him down. “That was already the case as a child, he preferred to hang around our gym all day long. I wanted him to play outside, which caused angry looks. Gradus is still so fanatic, he enjoys the sport and always wants to train. I sometimes have to give him a ‘gym ban’,” says the Ossen resident, laughing.
Albert feels healthy tension before his son’s match against the undefeated Brooks. “But if the things we have trained work out, then it will be a short evening. It is especially important that Gradus has a good feeling about the match.”
“I think I’m the best boxer.”
Gradus Kraus recognizes his father’s words about his fanaticism. “Maybe I’m a little too eager to get better quickly. Of course I can improve, you never stop learning, even though I think I’m already the best boxer. Over the next ten to fifteen years I can improve in many areas, such as timing, speed and fitness.”
Wearing a neat blue suit around his shoulders, he neatly addresses the en masse press. And it’s not just about his fight, but also about his entrance dance with daughter Giana. “It’s a nice dance, my daughter did well right away. She is very talented. My dancing talent? I’m more concerned about the dance than the competition.”
