Boxer Marko Perković Secures Croatia's First Mediterranean Games Medal

Boxer Marko Perković has clinched Croatia's first medal at the Mediterranean Games, guaranteeing at least a bronze by advancing to the semifinals in the super heavyweight division. Perković, who shares his name with and is the godson of the popular Croatian singer Marko Perković Thompson, adopted the moniker 'Thompson' for his boxing career. His path to the medal was aided by a favorable draw in the super heavyweight category, which typically has fewer participants. This allowed him to bypass the quarterfinals and secure a medal spot directly. Perković's semifinal opponent is the formidable French boxer Aboudou Moindze, a bronze medalist from the previous Olympic Games and the European Championships eight years ago. Moindze also boasts two Mediterranean bronze medals from 2018 and 2022. Despite the challenging matchup, Perković expressed confidence, stating, "It doesn't matter, he's not indifferent either when he sees he's fighting a Croat." Perković previously earned recognition by winning the runner-up title at the European U23 championships, a feat that significantly impacted his career, particularly financially, providing better equipment and easier access to sponsors. He maintains an interest in both traditional boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA), aspiring to compete professionally in both disciplines. He trains in boxing with BK Sesvete and in MMA with Cro Cop Team, coached by Matej Batinić and Bruno Škudar.

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It doesn't matter, he's not indifferent either when he sees he's fighting a Croat.