- At the end of 2019, you said that you are completely and completely focused on performing in amateur boxing, but already in July 2020 you made your debut in professional boxing. Why did you change your plans?
- A free window appeared, which I used.
During this period I was able to hold two fights, and last week and the third.
It won't be superfluous for my future career to break the record a little.
But I would like to emphasize that at the moment, amateur boxing is a priority.
I have repeatedly said that I do not completely belong to myself.
I speak for our great power.
The goals and objectives for the near future are clear and understandable.
- Experts point out the huge difference between amateur and professional boxing and say that adaptation is often difficult ...
- I think this is more likely to apply to boxers who have fought more than ten professional fights and are trying to return to the amateur level again.
I have only three fights in my asset, I don’t think it will have any negative effect.
- Are there any differences in the training process?
- I would not say.
Workouts are not very different both in program and in volume.
We are worth the same number of rounds that there, that there.
In my opinion, a psychological moment should be noted here.
When you are preparing to fight as a professional, you understand that you have to spend about ten rounds in the ring, and not three, as in amateurs.
You need to be emotionally ready to go the entire distance.
- Did the idea to combine performances belong to you or did the coaching staff lead you to it?
- The decision turned out to be mutual, and the idea was born at the same time.
I was going to talk to the coaches and ask them to organize a professional fight, but they actually got ahead of me.
- On January 29, you defeated Shibusiso Zingange, extending the winning streak to three battles. Do you plan to fight again before the Olympics?
- No, before the Games I do not intend to fight as professionals anymore.
On February 6, in the Elbrus region, we will begin the first stage of preparation for the European Olympic qualifying tournament.
Then everything will go on increasing until the competition in London.
- At the moment, you are the only Russian boxer who has guaranteed his participation in the Olympics. Do you feel high blood pressure because of this?
- In no case.
I have no doubt that other Russians will be able to successfully qualify and win the right to compete at the Tokyo Olympics.
It just happened because of the pandemic that they managed to enter the ring only once, and I - two.
The Russian national team has always proved that it is one of the strongest in the world.
We will continue to do this.
- Now there are many rumors that the Olympics may be postponed again or canceled altogether. Is it unnerving?
- Yes, every day there are more and more rumors about the fate of the Games in Tokyo.
The media constantly exaggerate this topic, they whip it up on TV, and I often hear from friends.
But I try not to pay attention.
I will do everything that depends on me.
Time will tell the rest.
- In your opinion, the Olympics will still take place?
- Of course, all kinds of warnings cannot be ignored.
Health is more important.
But if all precautions are followed, then the Games will be able to be played without problems.
It is being discussed that competitions in certain sports can be arranged in different cities.
This should avoid the gathering of a large number of people in one place.
I think the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the organizers are determined to do everything possible for the Olympics to take place.
Let's not doubt their words.
- If the organizers admit that they cannot guarantee the safety of athletes and fans, will you still go to Tokyo?
- In this case, a trip to Japan will be a personal decision of everyone.
Of course, everyone should take care of their health.
For our part, we take all possible measures to avoid infection: every two hours we use oxolinic ointment, we use antiseptics.
All this is taking place under the close supervision of the medical headquarters.
- There are rumors that the Tokyo Games can be held with empty stands. How important will it be to you?
- If everything goes well, then these Games will be the first in my career.
I can't say how the absence of spectators will affect my impressions of the competition.
Of course, many relatives and friends want to fly to Japan and watch my performance with their own eyes.
They are already asking how to get there.
But so far there are no guarantees, so I cannot answer something specific.
- Many athletes have already managed to survive the coronavirus, including Russian boxers Alexander Povetkin and Artur Beterbiev ...
- I have not been ill yet, there were no symptoms.
I take care of my health, I regularly pass tests for antibodies, PCR.
-
Has anyone been ill with COVID-19 in the Russian national boxing team
?
- No, there were no such cases.
In my opinion, a lot comes from the head here.
If you think that you have contracted the coronavirus, the risk of infection increases.
I urge everyone not to think about the bad, to focus on the positive aspects, and everything will be fine.
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AL'BA (@alba_boxing)
- At the Tokyo Games, the Russian national team will play under a neutral flag. Will this be your first such experience?
- Yes.
At the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, Russian athletes were already forced to compete in neutral status.
But even if we are deprived of our anthem, we will sing Katyusha.
Everyone knows perfectly well whose song it is.
Therefore, they will understand which country athletes are on the podium.
- In the same professional sport, many athletes do not attach such importance to the flag.
UFC champion
Khabib Nurmagomedov entered the arena without a tricolor.
How important is this to you?
- This is pride in your country.
It is a great honor to witness our anthem playing on the world arenas.
And if it happens at the moment when you are awarded a medal ... It is difficult to describe in words.
I box not only for myself, my city, region, district.
I feel that there is a power behind me.
This is not professional boxing.
Here you represent a huge country.
- Like Nurmagomedov, you are from Dagestan.
- I was born in Dagestan, but at the age of six I moved to Nizhnevartovsk with my parents.
I grew up there, graduated from high school, college, now I study at the university.
I come to Dagestan to visit my relatives - my grandparents.
- In recent years, mixed martial arts, if not surpassed boxing in popularity, then at least caught up with it. Interested in MMA yourself?
- Not a fan of mixed martial arts, so I don't often watch fights.
I like boxing more.
When you are constantly in the gym, training, then you don't really want to watch fights.
Of course, I do not miss iconic fights, but no more.
- What major fights have you watched recently?
- The battle between Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje.
I got a lot of positive emotions from how beautifully he finished his career.
Also saw the recent fight of McGregor, in which he lost to Dustin Poirier.
I felt sorry for the Irishman.
I think the era of Conor is over.
He needs to think about his health.
Why keep missing shots?
- In Russia, many people have a very negative attitude towards McGregor. Apparently, you are not one of them?
- Only if we talk about the sports component.
McGregor is worthy of respect.
Few have managed to achieve the same heights.
- There were rumors that a boxing match between McGregor and Pacquiao would take place in 2021. You have named Manny as one of your favorite athletes. Would it be interesting to see this confrontation?
- Certainly.
But I think that in terms of boxing, McGregor is not on par with Pacquiao.
Even at the age of 40, Manny proved to everyone that he was rightfully one of the strongest boxers on the planet, won the world title.
- Recently, more and more battles have been held not only between representatives of different types of martial arts, but also with the participation of bloggers, show business stars. How do you feel about this?
- I don't approve.
Let everyone do their own thing.
When unprepared people find themselves in the ring, everything can end in tears.
- If some famous Russian blogger challenged you and offered you a solid fee, would you agree?
- Oh sure.
If it was a matter of joint training, sparring, as a result of which a person would receive not only pleasure from the process, but also a good experience, I would have responded.
It happens when people want to be paired with a professional boxer.
There is nothing wrong.
But I would not agree to a duel.
- In 2020, one of the most talked about events in boxing was the fight between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. Some supported the boxers' intention to enter the ring at such a mature age, while others did not. What are your impressions?
- Both were in good condition.
We approached this fight wisely and showed a beautiful, spectacular boxing.
Demonstrated those chips that were popular in their time, but in recent years have been a little forgotten.
- Was it pleasant for you to watch this fight?
- Of course, I was glad to see the old school again.
These are the great boxers of the past, from whom many have taken an example.
To see them in the ring again means to experience extremely positive emotions.
By their example, they showed that it is necessary to stay in shape.
- After that, many boxing veterans expressed their readiness to take part in the exhibition fight. Who would you like to see in the ring again?
- Konstantin Tszyu.
At one time, he had a very bright fight with Zab Judah.
I would be glad to see their confrontation again.
- And speaking of professionals, what fight would you most like to see in 2021?
- I would love to watch the duel of compatriots - Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
Both are champions, and their fight has long been discussed.
I think this should happen.
Apart from Pacquiao, which boxer has influenced you the most?
- I would not say that one of the boxers had a certain effect on me.
I never wanted to be like any of them.
First of all, he took an example from his father and his coaches.
They answered me: “Albert, everything is ahead.
The main thing is to work. "
This is my motivation.
- Many fighters admitted that they began to engage in mixed martial arts after watching films with Bruce Lee. In boxing, many were inspired by the image of Rocky Balboa. Are you not one of them?
- Not.
Frankly, as a child, there was very little free time to spend watching films.
Training, study, training - the day was scheduled in full.
There was not even time to follow the fights of professional boxers.
I just knew that they exist, their merits, regalia.
I wanted to find them myself over time.
- After the Tokyo Olympics, do you plan to pursue a career as an amateur or focus entirely on performing as a professional?
- As far as I know, now you can continue to fight in the Olympic ring until your track record includes 15 professional fights.
But I would not like to guess.
- Some heads of professional boxing organizations forbade their athletes to compete in amateurs and even threatened with sanctions for this. What are they afraid of?
- That amateurs can ruin the reputation of professional boxers.
In Olympic boxing, fights are held at a different pace.
It's like comparing checkers and chess.