- On the eve of the battle with Tabiso Mchunu, did you already know that he will be your last career?
- Of course not. He entered the ring with the expectation of meeting with Ilunga Makabu in the future. But after losing to Mchunu, I realized that there was nothing to catch. And this taking into account the fact that Tabiso did not show anything unusual. Do not get it wrong, he is a good fighter. But it was probably not he who won, but I lost.
- Was defeat the only reason for leaving sports?
-I had a big downtime, and I did not feel the excitement, fire, which I felt before. Professional sports, and especially boxing, are not toys. This is very dangerous, and I have many children. Who will take care of them if something happens to me? Therefore, I decided not to risk it.
- You said that you experienced problems during the training camp. Felt that there was already no that speed that before?
- And this too, but there were a number of factors. But the main thing is that I had to cope with my sparring partners, but I did not succeed, although the physical condition was at the level. I don’t want to say anything bad about them, great guys from Dagestan, but the boxing qualities, in particular, the reaction, I already had the wrong ones. Everything was not in my favor. There is such an expression: "Not that coat."
- The body could withstand the load?
- If earlier it was enough for me to sleep two hours after the morning training to start the second, now it took more time. Believe me, I can still run ten kilometers in 50 - 55 minutes. I needed the same amount at 30 years old. But running is one thing, and dodging and diving is another. Someone manages to box at both 40 and 50, but I'm a little different.
- Did you get knocked down during this camp?
- No. During my life I was only twice opened an account. For the first time this happened in the battle with Youri Kalenga, and the second time in the battle with Murat Gassiev. Perhaps these were the first calls that made it clear that you need to finish. I already announced my retirement from the sport, but then I sat on the couch for a while and I was pulled into the ring. It seemed that I could defeat both Mchun and Makaba.
- Why are the expectations so diverged from reality?
- Brains remember how to beat, dodge, but in the ring you can’t reproduce it. This is similar to what happened in the fight between Koklyaev and Emelianenko. Like Misha, I also thought that I could win. But when I ended up in a quadrangle, I realized that everything is not so simple.
- In your opinion, Koklyaev really thought that he could defeat Emelianenko?
- Misha himself said: "Once a year, and the stick shoots." This is heavy weight. Koklyaev had one chance: quickly and unexpectedly rush forward and the first wave to demolish Emelianenko. But instead, he began to box.
- There is no feeling that if you had begun to prepare a little earlier, would everything have turned out differently?
“Perhaps I just needed another opponent.” For a long time he did not perform, so it was possible to find someone easier to return boxing reflexes. But I'm not going to justify my defeat with this. Really lost. After each round I went to the corner and realized that I had lost it. I am already 40 years old, I am good at boxing.
- There were rumors that you could meet with Alexander Usik ...
- The antennae is now on another planet, if we talk about boxing. When this battle was still in dreams, we were both different. And now I would not want to be in the clouds. Alexander has already made a name for himself both in the ring and beyond. Listen to what he says. If there were more such people, they would live differently.
- Do you have a good opinion about Usyk?
- Yes, I met him several times, and once even phoned on New Year's Eve. He was then in the USA. We talked, congratulated each other, wished success in all endeavors.
- Secretary General of the Boxing Federation of Russia Umar Kremlev suggested that the battle with Mchunu will not be the last in your career. He made a mistake?
- When I announced the end of my career, my father said: "It's never too late to return." I laughed in response. Today I can say with confidence that I finished with boxing. Fighting for money is not for me. In this regard, I want to thank the people who accompanied the menu throughout my career - from Chekhov and Podolsk, promoters Vladimir Khryunov and Andrei Ryabinsky, as well as hockey player Sergei Fedorov.
- Could you say that during your career you have earned enough in boxing?
- Yes. This money contains six to eight people. I have a car, a house, I pay taxes. I do all this thanks to sports. But there are other ways to earn money.
- Do not plan to follow the example of many other domestic athletes and go to the State Duma?
- At the moment, I am a municipal deputy in Chekhov. But this is not for the sake of money. There is no salary, only duties to voters. I can say that I have already managed to do something for people, although this is not easy. Now I am only learning to work in this field, but I have an opinion on some issues. If you ever manage to take a post in the State Duma, then I would gladly share it. I think many would support it.
- Does it bother you that in the country many speak very negatively about athletes working in the State Duma?
- Who cares? The main thing is that a person be educated and understand everything. What is difficult to oblige the developer to build a school and kindergarten in addition to ten houses? Tell him: “Either do this, or don’t even start doing this.” But what's the point of talking about it? Have to do.
- Surely after leaving boxing you had enough free time. What are you filling it with?
“In fact, I don’t have that much.” In connection with quarantine, I get up a little later - at 10-11. Before that, the day began with the fact that I drove the child to school at eight o’clock, after which I went for charging. I have large dogs, they need to run so that there is no pain in the joints. For this I started them, so that there was an extra incentive to engage in. I love animals, I will never let them suffer.
- Even now, do not spend a day without charging?
“So used to running, that for me it's like breakfast.” If I don’t, I feel unwell.
- As a deputy, what problems did you encounter in the context of the coronavirus pandemic?
- Now machinations with masks have begun, people want to earn money on them. The president even ordered to fight this, but now there are kamikazes who continue to try to cash in. And I found friends in Nizhny Novgorod who sent me five thousand masks, an antiseptic, a sprayer - a whole bus. Hand it out to those in need.
- Alexander Povetkin lives with you in Chekhov, with whom you communicate very closely. How did he react to the news that you decided to hang gloves on a nail?
- Friendly patted on the shoulder. He asked what I was going to do next. He replied that he had finished. Povetkin said: "Your business." There can be no advisers on this issue; I must make a decision myself.
“He did not say when he planned to hang gloves on a nail?”
- No, they did not discuss it.
- In your opinion, what is the guarantee of Povetkin's sporting longevity?
- The right attitude to life. I know that he has not been drinking for 12 years. Of course, we are not talking about cigarettes and other things. For example, I personally can afford champagne or something stronger. But having four children nearby, it is not very beautiful. I have to think what example you are setting.
- What do you think, how many more years Povetkin will be able to perform at the same high level?
- It is hard to say. Povetkin is a grunt constantly exchanged. They love Alexander for the fact that he can arrange a real fight in the ring.
- The next opponent of Povetkin should be Dillian White. Why is the Briton dangerous?
“They predict a great career in heavyweight.” Povetkin is a good test. But the British think so, and we do otherwise. Alexander is able to deal with White. Yes, it will not be easy. A beautiful and competitive battle awaits us.
- Povetkin may get a chance to compete for the WBA world title with Anthony Joshua. Are you surprised by the outcome of his second fight with Andy Ruiz?
- Not really. I thought that Joshua would win, but did not expect that in such a manner. He hoped that the fight would turn out brighter. Someone says that he was scared and did everything not to fall. But Anthony chose this tactic - he wanted to win on points. Joshua lost 10 kg, became smaller, swayed. And Ruiz, on the contrary, scored.
- How do you feel about Joshua?
“I respect Anthony.” After the fight with Povetkin, he went to his locker room, shook his hand, and said: “Hey man, I watched your fights and looked up to you.” After that, he saw me and also greeted me. Then I saw in him a man with a capital letter.
- Much more discussed was a duel between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder. Did you expect it to be so one-sided?
- He did not hide the fact that he was a fan of Fury, but was afraid that he would lose. I always try to support those who are a little weaker. What to root for, because he is already a favorite. It seems to me that even after the first battle, Deontay realized that Tyson was not a gift. And in the course of the second match he realized that he would not win. The psychological moment was important here, and in this aspect Tyson is much stronger. A typical Englishman, and even with Irish roots. And the Irish are crazy people. In a good sense of the word.
- Where did such knowledge about the Irish come from?
- When I was training in Los Angeles, I met with Mickey Rourke. I was surprised that he mainly communicates with Russian speakers. I asked him why he loves to talk with guys from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan ...
- What did he answer?
- He said: “Because you are honest, open, trusting and proud. I myself am the same. I could have everything now, but I’m Irish and never knelt before anyone. ”
- After the Fury fight, many compared with Muhammad Ali. Do you think that parallels can really be drawn between them?
- No. Only if in terms of charisma. Ali could come to the opponent’s home on the eve of the fight and say, “Hey, tomorrow I'll make a chop out of you.” Imagine how you sleep after that. But I think that if Fury were in the place of that athlete, he would laugh and calmly go to rest.
- In your opinion, Ali is the greatest heavyweight boxer in history?
- of course helegend. I was not familiar with him, so I can’t say for sure what kind of person he is. But judging by his speeches, then worthy.
- Looking back at your long and bright career, what fight would you call the most important?
- It is hard to say. I would single out victories over Roy Jones Jr. and James Toney, as well as the battle with Guillermo Jones. But another thing is especially important.
- What?
- In the last seconds of the fight with Roy, he hit him, which many fans did not forgive me ( Jones Jr. was in a standing knockdown, but the referee did not stop the fight. - RT) . They wrote to me: "You are a villain as you could."
- Did something change after the duel with Guillermo?
- Yes, they said that I was a warrior. They wrote that they forgave me for that situation with Jones Jr.
“In the battle with Guillermo, you got that terrible hematoma.” How long did the recovery take?
- I recovered with a concussion, and already three months later I went to a training camp. When I was in the hospital, President Putin called. Vladimir Vladimirovich supported me, said: “Well done, we saw that you fought to the end. If you need something, we will help. ”
- What happened next?
- The next day, a man arrived and helped me with rehabilitation. First, he underwent rehabilitation at the Botkin Hospital, and then went abroad. It was nice that the conclusion of our and German doctors coincided almost completely.
- What is the main regret in the career of Denis Lebedev?
- Money a little earned. I would like more (laughs) . In fact, I do not regret anything. Unless it was necessary to leave amateur in professional boxing early. Still, those 300 with a little fighting prevented me. It was enough to spend 100-150.