History of Eastern European boxing

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by reznick, Nov 11, 2016.


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  1. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    With the recent wave of incredible eastern European fighters, we have to ask ourselves where these guys have been throughout the history of the sport.

    I've heard that Russian fighters weren't allowed to leave their country to fight for decades. I've heard many things. Can anyone shed light, or provide some good analysis on the history of fighters from this part of the world?
     
    reznick, Nov 11, 2016
    reznick, Nov 11, 2016
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  2. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Under the Soviet system there were no professional athletes. But the communist state paid their athletes to train full-time, and provided the best facilities and resources for reasons of national prestige/propaganda.
    I think from the 1950s and '60s onwards the USSR was producing some very good amateur boxers, winning Olympic medals.

    USSR included Russia, Ukraine, Belorus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, the Baltic states, and other places.
    Also, the eastern European countries such as Poland, Hungary, Romania, etc. and ones such as Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia (now both split), East Germany (now part of plain old Germany) etc. ...... they all just copied what the USSR did, regarding everything, including sports.

    That's about all I know.

    For a deeper understanding I recommend watching Rocky IV.
     
    Unforgiven, Nov 11, 2016
    Unforgiven, Nov 11, 2016
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  3. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    Ageev and Popenchenko would have done well in any era in my opinion
     
    robert ungurean, Nov 11, 2016
    robert ungurean, Nov 11, 2016
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  4. MURK20

    MURK20 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I think that there are many untapped areas for talent around the world. Imaging if West Africans or Polynesians had access to better facilities and proper training.
     
    MURK20, Nov 11, 2016
    MURK20, Nov 11, 2016
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  5. Gannicus

    Gannicus 2014 Poster of the Year Full Member

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    Popenchenko was apparently one of the most complete fighters ever - it does look it on the clips. He had great footwork and enhanced it because of Ballet. Vasyl Lomachenko did the same and he has the best footwork I've ever seen.
     
    Gannicus, Nov 11, 2016
    Gannicus, Nov 11, 2016
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  6. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    reznick, Nov 11, 2016
    reznick, Nov 11, 2016
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  7. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    Old Ali went to Russia to do exhibitions with 3 Russian boxers.
    They look really good.

    This content is protected
     
    reznick, Nov 11, 2016
    reznick, Nov 11, 2016
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  8. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    I started looking into this because some guy at my gym who's kinda annoying was telling me how Ali was probably not the best boxer at his time, and rather that some Russians were.

    He explained how they couldn't fight outside the country. After looking into it a bit, he severely over-exaggerated his points but there is some truth to it.
     
    reznick, Nov 11, 2016
    reznick, Nov 11, 2016
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  9. Wass1985

    Wass1985 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Most of those other countries copied the USSR because they had no other choice tbh....
     
    Wass1985, Nov 11, 2016
    Wass1985, Nov 11, 2016
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  10. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    Great post. Thank you for the info.

    Their facilities look great. And very solid talent.
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    I also hear there is a much more formal "School of Boxing," in Russia, where they created a system for training large groups of people at the same time.
     
    reznick, Nov 11, 2016
    reznick, Nov 11, 2016
    #10
  11. Mortal

    Mortal Member Full Member

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    Old Soviet Union boxing coaches made Cuban amature boxing great.
     
    Mortal, Nov 11, 2016
    Mortal, Nov 11, 2016
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  12. Mortal

    Mortal Member Full Member

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    They taught that system to the Cubans.
     
    Mortal, Nov 11, 2016
    Mortal, Nov 11, 2016
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  13. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    "I must break you"lol
     
    mcvey, Nov 11, 2016
    mcvey, Nov 11, 2016
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  14. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    I heard there are similarities to the issues facing Cuban boxers. We all know Rigendeaux had to tip toe over to the states. I wonder how the new Cuba-US relations will effect this. Hopefully it will break down barriers.
     
    reznick, Nov 11, 2016
    reznick, Nov 11, 2016
    #14
  15. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    There might also be an issue with German boxers before World War II not getting into the mix.

    Schmeling was only the tip of the iceberg!
     
    janitor, Nov 11, 2016
    janitor, Nov 11, 2016
    #15
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