“I don’t want it to not take place because of me”: Beterbiev - about the fight with Bivol, a strange doping test and life in Canada

— In early January, you knocked out Callum Smith and successfully defended your world title under

WBC,

WBO and

IBF. And you did it in just seven rounds - over the past four and a half years, you've only dealt with Joe Smith Jr. faster. Was this victory really that easy?

“You can’t always judge the difficulty of a fight by how long it lasted. Sometimes a fight that lasts only five rounds can be difficult. It's all about dynamics, intensity, the number of hits missed. For me these criteria are the most important.

Personally, I never set myself the goal of winning as quickly as possible. I always aim for 12 rounds, and if I manage to solve all the questions earlier, then that’s good. In the battle with Smith, he immediately went forward and began to act actively. Apparently this also played a role.

- Therefore, you cannot classify the previous fight as easy?

- Neither this one, nor any of the last ones. The belts were at stake, and they themselves were very tense, because serious guys were fighting with me. It seemed that Callum Smith went into the fight with the mindset of “make or break.” Their team put everything on the line.

— You recently said that in the battle with Smith you could have done many things better. For example?

— Sometimes, at the end of sparring, I make notes in a training journal. I’m writing which shot I missed. Yes, nothing bad came of it, there were no serious consequences, but it happened. Although I saw the very moment of its application, I was unable to block or escape from it - either because of laziness, or because of something else. And it was similar in the confrontation with Smith. There were several errors that could have been avoided. 

— Before the fight, many called Smith almost the most serious opponent in your career. Did expectations and reality coincide?

“I don’t want to belittle his merits.” But this man rose to light heavyweight from second middleweight, won two victories and immediately got a chance to compete for three trophies. I don't think this is very fair. Although this is a very good chance for him. In fact, you just moved to a new category and in the shortest possible time you have the opportunity to take everything.

In my opinion, I have previously crossed paths with more serious opponents than Smith. And largely because he spent most of his career in another division and rose only recently. Even though he looked even bigger in the ring. Although it was me who was always considered too big for 79.3 kg.

— Who would you call a more serious opponent than Callum Smith?

— I think Alexander Gvozdyk, if not stronger, is certainly no worse than Callum. The same Joe Smith Jr. is a very strong guy. You can also remember Callum Johnson. Moreover, some of them were undefeated at the time of their meeting with me, which cannot be said about the Briton. After all, he had previously lost to Saul Alvarez.

I think this proves once again that the difference of several kilograms should not be underestimated. If you succeeded in one category, then in another everything may not be so rosy. You can’t come from a less heavy division and easily deal with guys who have been competing in another division for a long time.

— On the eve of the fight, one of the most discussed topics was your “atypical” doping test. How distracting was this for you?

“I heard about this during the preparation for the battle. Honestly, it was very unpleasant. That day I had a sparring session. I trained in the morning and immediately after that the coach broke the news. Moreover, he initially called the result of the doping test not atypical, but positive. I don’t know whether he conveyed the information incorrectly, or whether I heard poorly. In reality, everything was different.

In any case, I was very upset by such news. After all, I had never used illegal substances and understood this perfectly well. I was tested several times both during the years of performing as a member of the Russian national team and after turning professional - there were no questions.

— It seemed to the young Russian boxer Vsevolod Shumkov that Smith was burned out before meeting you and had the wrong plan for the fight. He supposedly hoped that at a high pace you would get tired and would not be able to compete with him, but the opposite happened.

“I think the plan worked, but in the other direction.” After all, Smith himself was exhausted by the seventh round. During my career I have seen many athletes who run like horses during training. They don't get tired at all. But when you work with them in pairs, they simply cannot hold their hands for three segments. Although the breathing there is excellent, you should have enough strength for the entire distance. In any case, I don’t consider this to be the key factor in my success. Callum's team did everything they could to win, but we were ready.

— Was there a case in your career when you did not distribute your forces in the best way during a duel?

— In my opinion, not yet (laughs). I think if you're going to fight 12 rounds, you have to be ready to fight all 15. Personally, that's what we do. I have to have a reserve if I have a title fight. Therefore, everything is not limited to standard sparring for 36 minutes.

— Do you regret that 15-round fights are not held in professional boxing now?

“I think it benefited the athletes.” They began to save more on their health. Although the entertainment may have dropped a little.

— Surely Smith and his team developed a plan taking into account your age. You joked in one of your interviews that you turned not 39, but 29. Do you really feel that young?

“I’m always a little sad when I’m reminded of my age.” But I don’t feel like I’m 39. I don’t know why. Perhaps I’m so used to this rhythm of life and constant stress that I simply don’t think about this number. After all, I visit the gym every day. According to my physical training mentor, it is necessary to exercise throughout the year so that the threshold for fatigue rises. By the way, I personally like training much more than going into the ring.

— Olympic champion in gymnastics Arthur Dalaloyan admitted that for him constant training is a way of life, and without them he feels uncomfortable. Is it the same for you?

— As one of my mentors, the famous former boxer John Scully, told me, on the eve of a fight, some athletes involuntarily begin to remember how they missed training during the training camp, skipped, and did not go out for warm-ups. And this really torments them and makes them very worried. At least this can’t happen to me - I’m sure of that. Yes, perhaps constant exercise also makes me feel more confident, but I haven’t thought about it.

— Before the fight, the head of Top Rank Bob Arum said that in boxing it is not age that matters, but the number of fights in a career. And based on this, you are far from a veteran. Do you agree?

— Of course, he’s my promoter

(laughs)

. But seriously, the other day I was rewatching my fight with Tavoris Cloud. Then he was a client of the legendary Don King, known for working with Mike Tyson and many other stars. And at that moment I envied myself. After all, Bob is from the same cohort of greats. Yes, he is 92 years old now, but he is very knowledgeable about boxing. I would simply be pleased by the thought that Arum knows me. And he also says such things.

In my opinion, in terms of age, Bob said everything absolutely right. But I would also add that it is not age that matters, but missed shots. It is they who shorten the athlete’s life, and not the minutes spent in the ring.

— The fight with Smith was the 20th in your career. Do you set yourself any goals in this regard?

- No, I never had the desire to carry out 30 fights at any cost. I try not to dwell on it. I just work for my own pleasure. At the moment, boxing is my job, which gives me extremely positive emotions. At least for now.

— After the fight, do you evaluate your performance in any way?

— Of course, together with Mark Ramsey, we analyze each round, looking at how well the plan was carried out, in which aspects it was good, in which it was not so good. I really enjoy doing this analysis. Allows you to progress and learn from your mistakes.

— Has it ever happened that Ramsey said: “This time I worked with a C”?

— Almost all my fights are C grades. I’ve never boxed for a four before. In this regard, I have a very strict coach. Always gives me “satisfactory.” I haven’t worked on more yet

(laughs)

.

— You actually once said that you don’t feel like a good boxer. What do you need to do to become one?

- Don't know. For now I continue to work and hope to achieve this in the future.

— The other day, the well-known insider Dan Rafael published information that your fight with Dmitry Bivol will take place on June 1 in Riyadh. And then similar information was voiced by the chairman of the General Directorate of Entertainment of Saudi Arabia, Turki Al ash-Sheikh. Can you confirm this?

- I don’t want to be unfounded. Yes, conversations are ongoing, and the announced date is approximately right for me. Although it would be more convenient if the fight took place a little later. After all, Ramadan will end at the beginning of April, and in this case I will have less than two months to prepare. But this is not fundamental. As for the contract, it has not yet been signed, so I cannot say anything specific. I can finally confirm all this only after the documents are completed.

“As you said, less than two months to prepare for the battle after Ramadan is not enough for you.” How much would be optimal?

- I think about three months. But if this is the only option, then nothing, we can handle it. I don’t want it to not happen because of me. I was always ready for a fight with Bivol and really wanted to fight him. So let's be patient.

— Many MMA fighters admitted that it is not easy to stay in shape during Ramadan. How much does your training process change?

— It all depends on how you feel. There is no need to work so many hours, no matter what. After all, everything should be good. So, on one day I can do one workout, on another – two. For example, when I was a member of the Olympic Reserve School No. 1 in Moscow, I studied twice a day during Ramadan.

— Therefore, in the holiest month of the year it is possible to train as usual?

- Yes. I don’t want to speak for everyone - maybe some guys are working hard during this period, who knows? Personally, I don’t have super-intensive training during this period. Everything is done so as not to overload and not harm yourself.

— Is there a time of year in which it is especially convenient for you to fight?

- No, I have no preference in this regard.

— You and Callum Smith got together right after the holidays.

— I don’t celebrate New Year. Work always comes first. Therefore, I personally did not have any difficulties because of this, except for small problems with sparring partners. Some of them had to be sent home a little earlier - to celebrate Christmas. But several guys stayed with me.

— Returning to the fight with Bivol. Over the past few years, Arum has repeatedly doubted that you need a fight with Dmitry. He called him not the brightest boxer, and was not confident in his ability to attract an audience. How did you react to these words?

— To be honest, I don’t really delve into all this. In any case, Arum organized two unification fights for me - first with Gvozdyk, and then with Smith. He knows better in such matters.

— Do you think your fight with Bivol would attract a large audience in the USA or Canada?

- I think no. We are both from Russia. Why do the USA and Canada need our fight? But it's hard for me to say for sure. These are just my guesses.

— Therefore, it would not have been possible to gather a full house at Madison Square Garden?

- I think not.

— During your professional career, you fought only twice outside of North America - in Moscow Megasport and at London's Wembley Arena. In terms of atmosphere, how different was it from the fights in the USA and Canada?

— When you box at home, the feeling is simply fantastic. In anticipation of the fight with Adam Dines, I had no experience of performing in front of my home fans in a professional ring. And his lack was felt. It seems to me that at that time the presence of native stands was even a minus. After all, you worry much more when your relatives and friends are present in the arena.

— In many interviews, you emphasized that obtaining sports citizenship did not change you in any way, and you didn’t really have time to adapt to life in Canada. Is this still the case?

— Because of my boxing career, I was forced to constantly roam. For some time he lived in Kaspiysk, then moved to Moscow, then the Chelyabinsk region, Magnitogorsk. And only then went to Montreal. The promoter invited me to Canada and I agreed. In my opinion, the only thing that connects me with this country now is boxing.

Many people ask me what it's like to live there. And I can’t even really answer, because I’m just training, preparing for fights. And I can only speak more or less in detail about Montreal, because I have practically never been to other Canadian cities.

— Moscow is considered a city where life moves at a frantic pace, while St. Petersburg is almost its opposite. How would you describe Montreal?

— In this regard, Montreal is closer to St. Petersburg. Calm, quiet city, the pace of life is low. There are practically no big traffic jams here, except when people return from work. However, the quality of the roads is not the highest. But otherwise everything is fine.

However, I personally remember something else. My morning workout traditionally starts at seven o'clock. And every day a company of men comes into the hall, let’s say, a little older than me - 80 - 90 years old. This fact in itself is already impressive. Therefore, when I’m not in the mood to study, I just look at them, admire them and get motivated. Once I asked one of them how long he had been visiting this complex. He answered: “The way it was opened in the 1960s, that’s how I go.” It’s great that at this age people continue to devote time to their health and take care of it.

— Is it difficult to imagine such a development in Russia?

—

At least I haven't encountered it.

— Many famous athletes live in Canada. Do you communicate with any of them?

— Practically no, it’s extremely rare that you manage to meet someone. Only if we cross paths in the hall. There simply isn’t enough time due to constant training.

— As far as we know, you know UFC legend Georges St-Pierre; you recently flew with him to the UAE. Do you communicate often between fights?

- No. Georges is an MMA fighter, so he mostly spends his time in another gym, which is why we rarely see each other. Sometimes we meet, we can have dinner together. But this doesn't happen often. Saint-Pierre may have hung up his gloves, but he remains a very busy man. Now he is actively developing his acting career.

— Would you like to follow his path and act in films?

- Why not? “I am an angry and terrible gray wolf. I know a lot about piglets.” I think I could portray something like that

(laughs)

.

— At one time, there were rumors about a possible fight between Saint-Pierre and Khabib Nurmagomedov. Who do you think would come out on top?

— To answer this question, I need to be at least a little interested in MMA. But that's not true. I think the strongest would win

(laughs)

.

— You say that you are not interested

in MMA, but recently you announced your readiness to fight according to these rules...

“Then I slept well, had a delicious lunch - and at that moment I was caught with such a question.” Of course, I wouldn’t go into MMA voluntarily. Why should I go there? The other day I met some guys at the airport who were flying from Grozny. All former boxers, and now switched to fist fights. I'd rather stay in my form.