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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Mykhailo ZAVYALOV: "We know how to train boxers but not how to promote them" 

26 January, 1999 - 00:00

No matter what they say, in our everyday life we more and more often hear
the word professional next to various sports. Boxing has ceased to surprise
at this level (which ten years ago was inaccessible, or, more precisely,
forbidden for us.) To learn more about it The Day met with the President
of the National Professional Boxing League of Ukraine, Meritorious Coach
of Ukraine and the USSR Mykhailo Zavyalov.

"Ordinary boxing fan knows about the Klychko brothers' success. But
it turns out that there are champions of Europe and the World in other
professional boxing categories living in Ukraine. Why don't we know about
them?"

"Of course, the heavyweight and super heavyweight categories are the
most prestigious in our sport. The whole world knows Muhammad Ali, Foreman,
Tyson, Lewis, and only experts know about the so-called baby champions.
So the appearance in Ukraine of the two brilliant boxers, able to challenge
foreign masters, could not be unnoticed. We need to pay tribute to Klychko
promoter Klaus Peter Kohl, who has given them very successful exposure.
Our domestic promoters lack adequate experience for this yet."

"Meanwhile Ukrainian boxers are well known in the West."

"We have already received a number of offers from England, Italy, Germany,
and France for bouts with our boxers. They have managed to make themselves
a name in the relatively short period they spent in professional boxing.
Serhiy Divakov knocked out multiple continental champion Oliver Spencer
of Britain; Viktor Fesechko became the Champion of Africa; Kostiantyn Okhrei
of Kramatorsk has had several successful fights in the international ring;
Oleksandr Hurov became the Champion of Europe twice."

"As far as I know, you have an offer in your pocket to fight for
the title of Balkan Countries Champion."

"Spas Spassov of Bulgaria, who presently possesses this title, wants
to meet with super heavyweight Yuri Yelistratov of Ukraine. You will agree
that this idea is attractive. I turned for assistance to People's Deputy
Ukraine Stanislav Sofronov, a boxing master and winner of numerous USSR
and international tournaments. The point is that in cooperation with ex-world
champion and now rector of Dnipropetrovsk Academy of Sports and Physical
Culture Viktor Savchenko, in 1994 he organized in Dnipropetrovsk the fight
where Andriy Syniepupov became world champion in professional boxing for
the first time. The idea to conduct a fight between Spassov and Yelistratov
in Dnipropetrovsk, the city of sports, where people work hard and know
how to have fun, emerged this way. Mayor Vasyl Shvets immediately supported
us."

"Could you say a few words about the Balkan championship contenders?"

"The Bulgarian is a very powerful athlete. He has a knockout right.
To his credit he has brilliant victories over strong boxers from Yugoslavia,
Romania, and Greece. Yuri was a member of USSR national team and fought
the American team. He prefers thick offensive actions. By the way, to his
credit he has a victory over Vitaly Klychko. What other recommendations
do we need?"

"Of course, the place where the fight will be conducted is known."

"Let me correct you. There will be several fights. In addition to the
final bout, there are also rating fights on the program. Viktor Fesechko
of Kirovohrad and Rakhim Minhalieyev of Kyiv will be in the ring; Vitaly
Kopytko will defend his title of CIS champion. Vadim Avdeyenko of Russia
and twice champion of Europe Oleksandr Hurov of Mariupol."

"So there will be no time to get bored?"

"The hosts are preparing a brilliant show. "

"What else will the new season hold in store for professional boxing
fans?"

"We plan that in March-April Kopytko will fight for the World Championship
in Ivano-Frankivsk. There is also an idea to organize an absolute championship
of Ukraine, in which the strongest professional boxers in the heavyweight
and super heavyweight categories would take part. The time is long ripe
for accustoming boxing fans to become aware that there are super class
athletes in our country."

"How many of them do we have, if this is not a secret?"

"About thirty. And each could become a champion."

 

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