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Knock Yourself Out with Boxing Pro Christian Schembri

Knock Yourself Out with Boxing Pro Christian Schembri

With the hospitality schedule unveiled yesterday, it's clear that boxing sessions will be a staple of the mornings for our players. Despite the early start times (8:00, 8:45, and 9:30), we anticipate that many participants will jump at the chance to get a solid workout, before hitting the poker felts.

For Martin 'Franke' von Zweigbergk, the hospitality events are the heart and soul of The Festival Series. It’s all about creating unforgettable experiences for our players. And what better way to kick off each day than with a sport that mirrors the intensity of poker? Like in a boxing ring, poker is a battle where you aim to outsmart and overpower your opponents, taking their chips as your trophy. That’s why boxing was chosen as a featured activity in this edition’s hospitality package.

We spoke briefly to the boxing coach of these boxercise lessons, and you can expect some steady workouts, to say the least! Make sure to sign up for these lessons at the welcome desk, through our hospitality hostess Alona.

Melvin, The Festival Series: Hi Christian. Recently, we announced our hospitality schedule for The Festival Series Malta. One of the activities that comes back 5x times throughout the week is called ‘Boxercise’, which you will lead. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Christian Schembri: Hi, I am Christian Schembri, better known by my family nickname and ring name, "Coqqos." I'm a professional boxer with 9 years of professional fighting experience, and I have also been coaching boxing for the same amount of time. I love the sport, and I'm really happy that I am able to teach it to others on a daily basis. On a personal note, I love coffee, reading, and clowning around with my three-year-old daughter, Mila.

Melvin, The Festival Series: We took note that you have given lessons to Franke as well in the past. How did that turn out? Is Franke a good student?

Christian Schembri: Yes, Franke did train with me a few times but couldn't keep it up due to his hectic work life. In the lessons he did attend, he completed everything asked of him. Although he complained a bit, he always stuck through!

Melvin, The Festival Series: Live poker is a very demanding activity, and it is important to keep your body sane throughout this period. What can people expect from the lessons? Do you have any tips/advice for the people who are going to attend the lessons?

Christian Schembri: The advice I would give them is to take care of themselves as much as possible because a healthy mind (essential for concentration in poker) cannot thrive in an unhealthy body. The more you exercise and eat and drink cleanly, the sharper your mind will be. So kickstart your day with a short, intense workout to energize you throughout the day. Eat healthily, drink water, and give yourself the best chance of winning the competition.

DateTime (CET)Registration
Tuesday, 10 September08:00 | 08:45 | 09:30Sign Up at Welcome Desk (Hospitality Hostess Alona)
Wednesday, 11 September08:00 | 08:45 | 09:30Sign Up at Welcome Desk (Hospitality Hostess Alona)
Thursday, 12 September08:00 | 08:45 | 09:30Sign Up at Welcome Desk (Hospitality Hostess Alona)
Friday, 13 September08:00 | 08:45 | 09:30Sign Up at Welcome Desk (Hospitality Hostess Alona)
Saturday, 14 September 08:00 | 08:45 | 09:30Sign Up at Welcome Desk (Hospitality Hostess Alona)

Melvin, The Festival Series: Did you ever play poker yourself? What do you think about the world of poker in general?

Christian Schembri: My grandpa was a heavy gambler when he was young, and he taught me some poker. We used to play almost every time I went to his house. I used to love playing it until I met kids who were a lot better than me and would beat me every time. Additionally, I think you have to be very strong mentally to thrive in the world of poker. You have to play for very long periods and gamble significant amounts of money regularly, which is very stressful, to say the least. So, any player who can perform well in a game that requires nerves of steel while dealing with elevated cortisol levels, to put it mildly, deserves a lot of respect.

Melvin, The Festival Series: In every sport or activity, there are examples in the history of that sport/activity that someone might look up to. For me it was for example Gustavo Kuerten and Marat Safin in tennis. Is there someone like that for you in boxing?

Christian Schembri: My early inspirations were Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali, but over the years, there have been too many to mention. I watch a lot of boxing and try to study different boxers, picking something from each style that will benefit me. However, my ultimate hero, both in boxing and in life, is my dad, because he has been such a great mentor, friend, and role model.

Follow us on Social Media

Are you curious how the boxercise sessions will go? Make sure to follow our social media channels where we will often share great content from these sparring sessions. If you do have opted in for the hospitality package, make sure to register yourself for these lessons, because it’s simply one of a kind to be able to follow lessons from a professional boxer like Christian Schembri!