Beterbiev vs Kovalev

I'm afraid my vast network begins and ends with me. I'd love to see that fight though. Fingers crossed it pops up some day.

 

Artur Beterbiev

RUSSIA (RUS)

Date of birth : 21/01/1985

Place of birth : Khasavyurt, Dagestan
Height : 184cm
Club : MGFSO
Coach : Abakar Beterbiyev; Mihail Romanchuk
Began boxing : 1999

2012 – Chemistry Cup (Halle, GER) 1st place – 91KG Won against Wang Xuanxuan (CHN) AB 3rd round in the final; Won against Julio Castillo (ECU) 14:5 in the semi-final; Won against Elber Passos (BRA) RSC 3rd round in the quarter-final; Won against Johann Witt (GER) 14:9 in the first preliminary round
2012 – International Team Tournament (Almaty, KAZ) 1st place – 91KG Won against Aleksey Sevostyanov (KAZ) AB 2nd round; Won against Suliman Abdourachidov (FRA) WO; Won against Manpreet Singh (IND) RSC 3rd round
2011 – AIBA World Championships (Baku, AZE) 5th place – 91KG Lost to Oleksandr Usyk (UKR) 17:13 in the quarter-final; Won against Djakhon Kurbanov (TJK) AB 2nd round in the second preliminary round; Won against Mario Heredia (MEX) AB 1st round in the first preliminary round
2011 – Umakhanov Memorial Tournament (Makhachkala, RUS) 1st place – 91KG Won against Jose Angel Larduet (CUB) WO in the final; Won against Abdulkadir Abdullayev (AZE) 11:3 in the semi-final; Won against Reza Moradkhani (IRN) RSCI 1st round in the quarter-final
2011 – Russian National Championships 1st place – 91KG Won against Abdulkhamid Nurmagomedov (RUS) 15:4 in the final; Won against Arbi Madayev (RUS) WO in the semi-final; Won against Spartak Bakhtiyarov (RUS) AB 2nd round in the quarter-final
2011 – Great Silk Way Tournament (Baku, AZE) 1st place – 91KG Won against Teymur Mammadov (AZE) WO in the final; Won against Vasiliy Levit (KAZ) 3:0 in the semi-final; Won against Sarkhan Jabbarov (AZE) KO 1st round in the quarter-final
2010 – Russian National Championships 2nd place – 91KG Lost to Pavel Nikitayev (RUS) 12:3 in the final; Won against Abdulkhamid Nurmagomedov (RUS) AB 2nd round in the semifinal; Won against Pavel Shulskiy (RUS) WO in the quarterfinal
2010 – European Championships (Moscow, RUS) 1st place – 81KG Won against Abdelkader Bouhenia (FRA) RSC 1st round in the final; Won against Artur Khachatryan (ARM) RSC 2nd round in the semi-final; Won against Bosko Draskovic (MNE) RSC 2nd round in the quarter-final; Won against Hrvoje Sep (CRO) 15:4 in the first preliminary round
2010 – Umakhanov Memorial Tournament (Makhachkala, RUS) 1st place – 81KG Won against Samir Magomedov (RUS) RSC 1st round in the final; Won against Nikolajs Grisunins (LAT) 9:6 in the semi-final
2010 – Strandja Memorial Tournament (Yambol, BUL) 1st place – 81KG Won against Elshod Rasulov (UZB) 4:0 in the final; Won against Abdelkader Bouhenia (FRA) AB 3rd round in the semi-final; Won against Onder Ozgul (TUR) RSC 3rd round in the quarter-final
2009 – AIBA World Championships (Milan, ITA) 1st place – 81KG Won against Elshod Rasulov (UZB) 13:10 in the final; Won against Jose Angel Larduet (CUB) 10:6 in the semi-final; Won against Dinesh Kumar (IND) RSC 2nd round in the quarter-final; Won against Babacar Kamara (SWE) 11:1 in the second preliminary round; Won against Jamal Ali Layej (IRQ) RSCH 2nd round in the first preliminary round
2009 – Russian Selection Tournament 1st place – 81KG Won against Nikita Ivanov (RUS) 12:7 in the final; Won against Eduard Yakushev (RUS) 12:4 in the semifinal
2009 – Ahmet Cömert Tournament (Istanbul, TUR) 1st place – 81KG Won against Elshod Rasulov (UZB) 4:2 in the final; Won against Abdelhafid Benchebla (ALG) 8:4 in the semifinal; Won against Haydar Ali Guney (TUR) AB 2nd round in the quarterfinal
2009 – Bocskai Memorial Tournament (Debrecen, HUN) 2nd place – 81KG Lost to Imre Szello (HUN) 12+:12 in the final; Won against Ramazan Magomedov (BLR) WO in the semifinal; Won against Jose Angel Larduet (CUB) 15:8 in the quarterfinal; Won against Mitja Disic (SLO) RSC 1st round in the first preliminary round
2008 – AIBA World Cup (Moscow, RUS) 1st place – 81KG Won against Abbos Atoyev (UZB) 17:7 in the final; Won against Dinesh Kumar (IND) AB 2nd round in the semifinal; Won against Vladimir Cheles (MDA) 5:1 in the quarterfinal
2008 – XXIXth Summer Olympic Games (Beijing, CHN) 9th place – Lost to Zhang Xiaoping (CHN) 8:2 in the second round; Won against Kennedy Katende (SWE) 15:3 in the first preliminary round
2008 – Gee Tournament (Helsinki, FIN) 1st place – Won against Imre Szello (HUN) WO in the final; Won against Abbos Atayev (UZB) DQ 4th round in the semi-final
2008 – Feliks Stamm Tournament (Warsaw, POL) 1st place – Won against Marek Springl (CZE) RSC 1st round in the final; Won against Abdelhafid Benchebla (ALG) RSC 4th round in the semifinal; Won against Daugirdas Semiotas (LTU) WO in the quarterfinal
2008 – RUS-USA Dual Match2 – Won against Siju Shabazz (USA) RSC 3rd round
2008 – RUS-USA Dual Match1 – Won against Christopher Downs (USA) 12:9
2007 – AIBA World Championships (Chicago, USA) 2nd place – Lost to Abbos Atoyev (UZB) 20:17 in the final; Won against Daugirdas Semiotas (LTU) WO in the semifinal; Won against Imre Szello (HUN) 25:9 in the quarterfinal; Won against David Tsiklauri (GEO) 23:9 in the second round; Won against Washington Luis Silva (BRA) RSCH 3rd round in the first preliminary round
2007 – Amber Gloves Team Tournament (Kaliningrad, RUS) 1st place – Won against Utkirbek Saipov (UZB) AB 3rd round; Won against Oleksandr Usyk (UKR) 12:10; Won against Javid Taghiyev (AZE) AB 2nd round
2007 – Russia Senior National Champs 1st place – Won against Yevgeniy Makarenko (RUS) 26:15 in the final; Won against Yegor Mekhontsev (RUS) 24:18 in the semifinal
2007 – Strandja Tournament (Plovdiv, BUL) 1st place – Won against Javid Taghiyev (AZE) WO in the final; Won against Daniel Kooij (NED) AB 3rd round in the semifinal; Won against Lei Yuping (CHN) RSCO 2nd round in the quarterfinal
2006 – Team World Cup (Baki, AZE) 2nd place – Won against Yunier Dorticos (CUB) RSCI 1st round; Won against Thabiso Mchunu (RSA) RSCO 3rd round; Won against Ismail Syllakh (UKR) KO 2nd round; Won against Lei Yuping (CHN) 26:13
2006 – European Championships (Plovdiv, BUL) 1st place – Won against Ismail Syllakh (UKR) 34:23 in the final; Won against Kenneth Egan (IRL) RSCO 2nd round in the semifinal; Won against Artak Malumyan (ARM) RSCH 2nd round in the quarterfinal; Won against Tervel Pulev (BUL) 38:22 in the first round
2006 – Grand Prix Usti nad Labem (Usti nad Labem, CZE) 1st place – Won against Yerdos Dzhanabergenov (KAZ) 18:5 in the final; Won against Tomas Kovacs (SVK) AB 2nd round in the semifinal
2006 – Russia Senior National Champs 2nd place – Lost to Yevgeniy Makarenko (RUS) DQ 4th round in the final; Won against Yegor Mekhontsev (RUS) 42:29 in the semifinal
2005 – Multinations Tournament (Ballybunion, IRL) 1st place – Won against Darren O’Neill (IRL) 29:19 in the final
2005 – Russia Senior National Champs 3rd place – Lost to Mihail Gala (RUS) 39:27 in the semifinal
2005 – Copa Independencia (Santo Domingo, DOM) 1st place
2001 – Cadet World Champs (Baki, AZE) 3rd place

 

After the brilliant victories by knockout over former champions Gabriel Campillo and Tavoris Cloud and his recent signing with the manager Al Haymon, the bulldozer of the heavyweight division, Artur Beterbiev (8-0, 8 KO's) is back for one more fight low profile against American Alexander Johnson (16-2, 7 KO's) on Premier League Boxing card broadcast on Spike TV on June 12. In preparation for this fight, I had the pleasure of discussing with the Russian Chechen boxer after training at the club Sherbatov MMA.

Artur Hello, could you tell me the differences between your sporting career in Russia and here in Canada?

The first difference is that in Russia it was amateur boxing and here I am professional. Then, the new country and the language barrier are of course another change for me. Despite these differences, I train the same way, every day. Professional boxing asks me to make small adjustments because it is more difficult, but overall my work remains the same.

Artur Beterbiev Among the amateurs, you had a relatively close professional style, what changes did you have to bring to your style?

I had to make small adjustments. I think I have yet many things to change and correct. I consider that I am still far from perfection. I try very hard to make these corrections.

Could you give me news about your participation in the 2016 Olympics?

Let's say that this project was not entirely mine. I participated in the Olympics twice and I'm satisfied with what I've accomplished. If I had the chance to represent Canada, I would do it with pleasure, but I have not yet citizenship and a Canadian passport, so this may be complicated.

What have you learned with Marc Ramsay at your side as a coach?

Marc is a good, young coach. Despite the language barrier between us, Marc is always listening and wondering what is best for me, which is a big plus for me. In my career, I have seen many coaches and I think that's great that a coach asks his boxer what he likes and what he does not like. I do not see it as Boxer whim, but a means to achieve better quality of work. Marc made efforts and I also do, and I think the result is good.

How is your training camp going, there he has differences with your previous camps?

There are no real differences is the training and regular sparring. No boxer that I look up and I see as an easy opponent. However, for each opponent has a different motivation, in his experience and what he has achieved, but I respect all of my opponents.

How does a training day for you?

I train once in the morning and then in the late afternoon. It varies, sometimes I run in the morning or I'm doing boxing training. I always vary my workouts.

You have suddenly changed their opponent, you went Ngumbu Doudou, a right-hander, Alexander Johnson, a southpaw. What impact does this have on has your preparation?

It is a little bit had to adapt, but it did not ask me too much adaptation.

I saw that you did a sparring with Ismayl Sillakh, with whom you cross the gloves among fans. How did this session?

Well, I do not consider that it was especially hard sparring. We did some rounds together, and we did opponents of rotations.

It is soon to you the month of Ramadan, and as any practicing Muslim you must abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. Do you practice anyway?

No, I watch the young and I do not train during this period.

You signed with the manager Al Haymon after long negotiations. What this has changed in your career?

I do not know what has really changed, I see this as a step. You make boxing, you show the work you accomplished, the results thereof and the offers you receive. I think that's normal. We work together with Al Haymon and Yvon Michel and I believe that we will show good results.

We recently learned that you were not with your Beterbiev Artur and Anna Reva Manager Anna Reva, could you comment on the situation to us?

I can not comment because legal proceedings are ongoing.

Among the amateurs, you are the wolf nicknamed because of thy beard. Do you have an official nickname among professionals?

Not really, they are calling me as they want, as long as it's good! (Laughs)

Who was your toughest opponent in the amateur or as a pro?

I think I will not have a difficult opponent (laughs). I do not consider my course defeats among fans where my opponents have gifts of judges.

Otherwise, when I fought amateur world championship in Milan in 2009, I remember my fight in the semifinals against a Cuban boxer, it was a war from beginning to end where no one retreated, it was a fight serious and difficult. My fight in the final against Uzbekistan was also a tough fight.

Do you watch a lot of boxing matches on TV?

No, I do not watch boxing.

And are you looking at fighting your opponents?

Only when I'm preparing for a fight. Marc made his coaching work and boxer me to make small adjustments according to the opponent, but in the ring it's happening.

Thank you for your time Artur

Thank you!

 

lol :good

 

“Since childhood, I have been into wrestling and boxing. One time, I was kicked out of the wrestling team training, so I never went back. Being on the boxing team, I was probably kicked out of the training like ten times, but every time I was coming back keeping on training and improving. Perhaps, it was my fate to be a boxer, to continue to go further and keep on winning and getting better” – said undefeated light heavyweight Artur Beterbiev (8-0, 8 KOs) in a Viktoryia Bulakhava (Russian Chicago Magazine) interview. On Friday, June 12, at UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Beterbiev (8-0, 8 KO) will fight Alexander Johnson (16-2, 7 KOs) Premier Boxing Champions on Spike TV, live 9PM ET/PT.

Arthur-Beterbiev-325Artur, just a week before the fight, your opponent has changed – what was your reaction?

Everything that happens in life happens for a reason. For eight weeks I was preparing to fight an orthodox boxer – Ngumbu, but in the end, I’m facing southpaw Johnson. I could not do any major changes to my training regime in the last week, so I’ll stick with what I have and know. It’s not the first and not the last time I am facing a southpaw, so I’m not going to make a big deal out if it. I think I have been in this game for quite a while, so I know what I can do and I know how to do it. And on June 12th, that’s exactly what I’m going to do – come out to the ring and do my best, do my job the best possible way. And I am ready for the challenge!

Don’t you change your own stance during the fight?

It would be nice for me to learn how to box in general [laughing].

Are there any fighters you always admired?

Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson are my two all-time favorites. Both of them are great athletes, even though they are completely different fighters. One used to have a very cool technique, was quite a patient boxer; the other one had great conditioning and unbelievable power, and was an amazing puncher.

Nickname: White Puncher, Wolf, Weight Division: light heavyweight (175 lbs)

In the amateurs, I had nicknames. I never bothered to make one for myself. Even those two I didn’t invent. My fans started calling me that. I have my own name: Beterbiev. That’s enough for me. I don’t have to lose a lot of pounds to make weight. I eat quite right, lead a healthy lifestyle. Between fights, my weight oscillates between 186-189 lbs.

Date of Birth: January 21, 1985, Place of birth: Khasavyurt, Russia

I was born in the region of North Caucasus. People of those districts – Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan – are mainly into wrestling or boxing. At an early age, I started practicing both of those sports.

How did you come into the sport?

I simply followed the footsteps of my older brothers. They were pretty much into boxing. For a long time, my older brother – Abubakar Beterbiev – was my coach. He is older than me by 17 years. Since childhood, I have been into wrestling and boxing. One time, I was kicked out of the wrestling team practice, so I never went back. Being on the boxing team, I was probably kicked out of the team practice like ten times, but every time I was coming back keeping on training and improving. Perhaps, it was my fate to be a boxer, to continue to go further and keep on winning and getting better.

How did you decide to leave amateur boxing and become a professional?

I just simply decided to go pro. I went to two Olympics. I wasn’t up for a challenge of the third games. Enough was enough for me. I always dreamed about winning a gold medal, but it never happened. I believe, then that is my destiny. Therefore, after the end of the London Olympics, I did not want to stay in the amateurs anymore. I didn’t face any challenges transitioning from an amateur to a professional boxer. The process went quite naturally for me. I had to work very hard and still do every day knowing that I am getting better and better. The rule of life is simple: whatever you are trying to accomplish, you have to try to be the best you can. I’m no exception. But I strongly believe, what really happens in person’s life and career, what his fate is; only God knows that.

Is it true that you are planning to represent Canada at the Olympic Games in Brazil?

It was not my idea. Other people spread that rumor. I represented Russia twice so, to be honest, I could really represent Canada for once in a lifetime. In my opinion, it would not have been such a big deal if I did so. But I think that is unlikely to happen. There are too many “BUTs” that can prevent that from happening.

Assuming that everything would go smoothly – would you say yes?

Of course! No doubt about it.

Your debut as a pro took place on June 8th, 2013 in Canada…

I had offers from Germany, the United States, but Canada got my attention. I came here, trained for two months with Coach Ramsey. We have been working with Mark for two years. I am also working with Andrzej Kulesza, who is my conditioning coach. I liked the whole team, so I decided to stay here and signed a contract with my promoter. You know, we think that we can change our fate, but it’s already written and done. I never thought I would live and work in Canada, but that’s happened and here I am… I am still not perfect neither at English or French, but with the basics I don’t have any problems. My wife and three children (the eldest, 4 years old Ahmad, my middle daughter – 2 years old Amira and youngest, Sofie, who was born in Canada and will be a year old on July 2nd) are with me – what else does a man need?

 

:dealAnd if Beterbiev gets reckless Kovalev by KO.