Famous boxers of the USSR. All about boxing

Vladimir Klitschko takes the lead, Robert Stieglitz pushes back Alexander Povetkin, and Gennady Golovkin breaks into the top 5 - Alexey Sukachev completes the list of the best active fighters in the post-Soviet space.

We only consider two things: titles won and world champions defeated (current and otherwise).

We do not take into account all titles, and only the most important ones - WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO - are included in the full price (1 point). The IBO minor belt, temporary titles for the main versions and continental regalia - EBU, NABF, OPBF, USBA - are half price.

We give one point for each defeated world champion in a title fight, and half a point in a rating fight. One title = one champion: a two-weight world champion earns the same number of points (two) as two one-time champions.

If there is a tie, we give the one with the higher average score the higher score.

We only consider current boxers.

10. (Russia)

Weight: first welterweight

Achievement list: 19-0, 9 KOs

Years of performance: 2007-…

Glasses: 9.25 / 0.49 (Nate Campbell – 1.5, Kaiser Mabuza – 0.75, Joan Guzman – 3.5, Souleymane M’Baye – 3.5)

Titles: IBO (2012-…, 2 defences) and WBA (2012-…, 1 defence)

It happens that a person’s life, which previously slowly flowed from nowhere to nowhere, stuck in some kind of everyday vulgarity, insignificant trifles and the lack of much-needed recognition, suddenly begins to pick up speed and rush forward like a freight train.

Something similar happened to Khabib Allahverdiyev, who dissolved into oblivion some two years ago. But his little chance - when it presented itself - Khabib took full advantage of it, first defeating Nate Campbell, then - after going under the wing of Vladimir Khryunov - successively crushing Ignacio Mendoza and Kaiser Mabuza, and, finally, defeating Joan Guzman and becoming world champion. In just a year.

For the then beaten M'Baye, Khabib received the same number of points as for the Dominican master, but do not be deceived: the dull two-time rogue from France is no match for Guzman, who had not been defeated before since the Olympic Atlanta - for 16 years.

9. (Kazakhstan)

Weight: light heavy

Achievement list: 13-1, 8 KOs

Years of performance: 2007-…

Glasses: 11.25 / 0.80 (Montell Griffin – 0.5, Byron Mitchell – 0.75, Gabriel Campillo – 2; Vyacheslav Uzelkov – 1; William Joppy – 4.5, Danny Santiago – 1.5, Enrique Ornelas – 1)

Titles: WBA/IBA (2010-…, 4 defences)

An intelligent person would say that professional boxing is only a third of a sport, and its other two most important components are show business and just show (or, if you like, just “biz”). A genius would simply point his finger at the Shumenov and Chimkent family.

But let’s not be hypocrites, snorting with disgust when analyzing Behbut’s career. The Kazakh master certainly has championship potential. It’s just that the financial potential, and not the sporting one, came to the fore for all of us when the name “Sumenov” was mentioned.

No, the point, of course, is not that Beibut and his team are “charging” someone. Simply, taking advantage of almost unlimited material possibilities, KZ Event Productions skillfully select safe but famous opponents. Montell Griffin, Byron Mitchell and William Joppy, old, sick and retired ex-champions, are skillfully complemented by ranked but harmless opponents a la Tamás Kovacs, Enrique Ornelas or Danny Santiago. You can't stop living beautifully!

8. (Ukraine)

Weight: average

Achievement list: 37-2-1, 24 KOs

Years of performance: 1999-2013 (?)

Glasses: 13.50 / 0.34 (Mamadou Thiam – 0.75, Hussein Bayram – 0.75, Jimmy Cola – 0.5, Daniel Santos – 4, Sebastian Andres Lujan – 1, Alisultan Nadirbegov – 1, Carlos Nascimento – 1.5, Lukas Konieczny – 1.5, Joel Julio – 1, Daniel Dawson – 1.5)

Titles: WBO Light middleweight (2005-2012, 6 defenses)

In a unique way, the career of Sergei Dzinziruk, which we, by the way, still consider unfinished until the end of the one-year “quarantine” period, combines the worst elements of German promotion performed by Klaus-Peter Kohl and fooling around “from King”. Although King would not have hindered Sergei’s career at all in his time.

Everything was going well until Sergei became the world champion, immediately making a very serious bid - winning brilliantly then two-time world champion Santos. It was then that we had to decide whether to lead Dzinziruk in the style of Arthur Grigoryan or Sven Ottke, organizing fights every 3-4 months against hopeless opponents, or to take a risk and send the Ukrainian overseas. The result was a catdog: Sergei fought rarely and against completely unclear (Carlos Nascimento and Alisultan Nadirbegov) or very inconvenient (Lucas Konecny) opponents.

When Dzinziruk finally moved to the United States, it was too late: his peak had long passed. And for eighth place in the ranking, one of the best post-Soviet boxers should “thank” Kolya. Without him (and to a much lesser extent without Gary Shaw) he might have been in the top five.

7. (Russia)

Weight: heavy

Achievement list: 26-1, 18 KOs

Years of performance: 2005-…

Glasses: 13.50 / 0.5 (Imamu Mayfield – 0.75, Chris Bird – 1.25, Ruslan Chagaev – 2, Cedric Boswell – 1.5, Marco Huck – 2, Hasim Rahman – 4.5, Andrzej Wawrzyk – 1.5)

Titles: WBA (2011-2013, 4 defences)

At the risk of causing a storm of indignation (from all possible sides), we place Alexander Povetkin in 7th place, ahead of Sergei Dzinziruk, but almost in the same company with another controversial character - Beibut Shumenov.

The first thing that catches your eye when looking at Povetkin’s track record is that he earned a third of his points for The smoking ruins of Hasim Rahman , for which you can’t even give one and a half points. There is nothing to be done: the rules are the rules - at one time Hasim Rahman defeated Lennox Lewis and became the champion, receiving the belt from Vitali Klitschko’s master’s shoulder (so, yes, it was the Ukrainian who awarded Alexander one point). Double points for Ruslan Chagaev and Marco Huck are also understandable - both are former or current world champions.

But here’s what you should pay attention to and think about: if you “knock off” Alexandra by half the points that he scored in defending the semi-legitimate WBA belt (with a living super champion according to the same version), then he will have only 7.75 points on his account, and he won't even make it into the top ten.

6. (Germany/Russia)

Weight: super middle

Achievement list: 46-3, 26 KOs

Years of performance: 2001-…

Glasses: 15.75 / 0.32 (Alejandro Berrio – 0.75, Karoly Balzay – 2.5, Ruben Eduardo Acosta – 1.5, Eduard Gutknecht – 1, Enrique Ornelas – 1, Khoren Gevor – 1, Henry Weber – 1, Nader Hamdan – 1, Arthur Abraham – 3.5, Yuzo Kyota – 1.5, Isaac Ekpo – 1)

Titles: WBO (2009-2012, 6 defenses and 2013-…, 2 defenses)

The first and main question: is it ours or not? And in general, is it possible to associate a person with Russia who has never fought there, with a foreign name and surname, who performs under the leadership of a German club and for German fans. Our answer is “yes”, because culturally, linguistically and in the traditions of his boxing, a native of Yeisk, Sergei Stiglitz, is a representative of the former Union, no matter what anyone says.

And we can be proud of Stieglitz, who, from his not very bright talent, was able to build an excellent career at a time when no one expected this from him. After all, Robert is now considered the best German boxer and a strong European champion. Before the fight with Karoly Balzay (and after heavy defeats from the far from stellar Andrade and Berrio), no one believed in his star - except for Stieglitz himself, of course.

What's funny is that the far from stupid representatives of Sauerland Event managed to repeat this mistake years later and after Robert's very solid championship, agreeing to the offer on a rematch with Arthur Abraham. As a result, six more championship points in the treasury (including defenses against Kyota and Ekpo) and a place in the middle of the top 10.

5. (Kazakhstan)

Weight: average

Achievement list: 28-0, 25 KOs

Years of performance: 2006-…

Glasses: 18.75 / 0.67 (Milton Nunez - 0.75, Nilsson Julio Tapia - 1.5, Kassim Ouma - 2.5, Lajuan Simon - 2, Makoto Fushigami - 2, Grzegorz Proksa - 2, Gabriel Rosado - 2, Nobuhiro Ishida - 2, Matthew McLean - 2, Curtis Stevens – 2)

Titles: WBA (2010-…, 9 defences), IBO (2011-…, 6 defences)

Brilliant career HBO's new favorite seems absolutely flawless. Only victories. Five and a half years of continuous knockouts, two championship titles, dominance in every fight). And so on - all the way to Karaganda. The son of a Russian miner and a Korean woman is confidently following in the footsteps of another nuclear Russian-Korean mix, which blew up a lighter weight class about 15 years before Golovkin.

The devil, as usual, is hidden in the details. Gennady has not earned even 3 points in any of his fights, which means that he has only one ex-world champion to his credit - Kassim Ouma. Broken two and a half years ago. Note that both Ouma and Ishida and Rosado come from lighter weight classes. In general, standard reproaches of “phobes”. But we, not being such, and recognizing the talent of the magnificent Kazakh fighter, leave him honestly earned points. But significant victories will still come. Our prediction is a knockout of Sergio Martinez in 2014 and 4th place in our ranking.

4. (Germany/Armenia)

Weight: super middle

Achievement list: 38-4, 28 KOs

Years of performance: 2003-…

Glasses: 21.25 / 0.51 (Kingsley Ikeke - 1.5, Shannan Taylor - 1, Kofi Jantua - 1, Edison Miranda - 1, Sebastian Demers - 1.5, Khoren Gevor - 1.5, Wayne Alcock - 1.5, Alvin Ayala - 1.5, Raul Marquez - 1.5, Lajuan Simon - 1, Mahir Oral - 1.5, Jermaine Taylor - 2.25, Robert Stieglitz - 3, Mehdi Bouadla - 1.5)

Titles: IBF Middleweight (2005-2009, 10 defenses) and WBO Super Middleweight (2012-2013, 1 defense)

Wow! The first half of the career of the most unusual world champion crafted by the hands of old Uli Wegner was completely described by only one interjection - “Wow!” Or even “Woah!” if you like. It was during this six-year period that all of Abraham’s exploits fit in: an iron tread before the championship fight, titanium (not spiritual!) braces after epic battle with the Colombian dragon Miranda, carrying out the bodies of his fellow tribesman Khoren Gevor and former champion Jermaine Taylor. After the latter and at the height of his power, it was Abraham (and not Ward, or Kessler, or Froch) who was listed as the main Super Six favorite and a candidate for the top 10 (or even top 5) of P4P.

... How long ago those times seemed to be. But in fact - some four years ago. A lot has changed since then, a lot has gone. It’s true that there was a renaissance last year, but it all ended with a broken eye in a duel with Stieglitz and sluggish, pre-retirement fights against the worthless Shikhepo and De Carolis. Arthur will never rise any higher. Below please. Gennady Golovkin will overtake him in a year, but Abraham will remain in the top 5 for another 3-4 years, perhaps until the end of his career. But in 2009 we were thinking about more.

3. (Ukraine)

Weight: heavy

Achievement list: 45-2, 41 KOs

Years of performance: 1996-2004, 2008-…

Glasses: 32.00 / 0.68 (Mario Schiesser - 0.75, Francesco Spinelli - 0.75, Ismael Yula - 0.75, Herbie Hyde - 3.5, Ed Mahon - 1.5, Obed Sullivan - 1.5, Timo Hoffman - 0.5, Orlin Norris - 0.75, Corrie Sanders - 2.5, Danny Williams – 1.5, Samuel Peter – 2.5, Juan Carlos Gomez – 2.5, Chris Arreola – 1.5, Kevin Johnson – 1, Albert Sosnowski – 1, Shannon Briggs – 2, Odlanier Solis – 1.5, Tomas Adamek – 3.5, Dereck Chisora – 1, Manuel Charr – 1.5)

Titles: WBO (1999-2000, 2 defenses) and WBC (2004-2005, 1 defense and 2008-..., 9 defenses)

Vitali Klitschko’s career is heading toward decline, but recent news from Kyiv about the current president’s attempts to stop the victorious (is it victorious?) march of the leader of the UDAR party makes us think about the future of the WBC champion on this side of the ring ropes.

Whatever our thoughts, one thing is obvious: Vitali Klitschko’s 3rd place in our ranking is secured, he himself has been mummified to the state of, if not Vladimir Ilyich, then certainly Leonid Ilyich. No one will be able to beat Vitali until the end of his career, unless Golovkin kills the entire elite of middleweights and super middleweights in a couple of years, which is unlikely. Or if Triple G doesn't beat Floyd Mayweather for every possible championship and add Sergio Martinez's scalp to the mix. On the other hand, you can’t expect super-feats from Vitaly, who is rapidly rusting like a Tin Woodman without an oil can – maybe except for the fight (and victory!) over David Haye. And the gap from Vic Darchinyan is too big.

An interesting fact: if Vitaly had had his first championship fight against St. Petersburg (at the age of 37), then even then his victories would have been enough to take a place in the top 5 of our ranking.

2. (Armenia/Australia)

Weight: first featherweight

Achievement list: 39-6-1, 28 KOs

Years of performance: 2000-…

Glasses: 47.75 / 1.04 (Wandy Singwancha – 2.5, Irene Pacheco – 3.5, Mzukisi Sikali – 2, Jair Jimenez – 2, Diosdado Gabi – 2, Luis Maldonado – 2, Glen Donaire – 2, Jose Victor Burgos – 3 Federico Catubay – 0.75, Dmitry Kirillov – 2.5, Cristian Mijares – 6.5, Jorge Arce – 10.5, Tomas Rojas – 3.5, Rodrigo Guerrero – 3, Eric Barcelona – 0.5, Yonny Perez – 0.5, Evans Mbamba – 0.5, Luis Orlando del Valle – 0.5)

Titles: IBF Flyweight (2004-2007, 6 defences), IBO Flyweight (2005-2007, 5 defences), IBO Super Flyweight (2007-2008, 0 defences), IBF Super Flyweight (2008-2009, 2 defences), WBC Super Flyweight ( 2008-2010, 2 defences), WBA Super Flyweight (2008-2010, 2 defences), IBO Bantamweight (2010, 0 defences, 2011, 1 defence)

Years will pass, and Vic Darchinyan will take his place with the best boxers in history - in Canastota. In the ranking of the best boxers in the post-Soviet space, his second place is unshakable and will remain so for a long time - well, at least until the heyday of Vasily Lomachenko (if that happens), and maybe even after that.

Another thing is that the idea of leaving the first bantamweight division, which was so successful for him (26.75 points, absolute champion title and not a single defeat in 7 fights) turned out to be incorrect: in the heavier weights, the medium-sized Darchinyan was lost against the background of younger and physically stronger champions, although he did not lose his face.

Vic’s latest – unsuccessful, we note – attempt to add points to his treasury, and at the same time to take revenge for the defeat from Nonito Donaire, does not change anything, but only adds respect to the sharp-tongued and punchy Armenian fly, who lacks respect in the territory of the republics of the former USSR . Respect that he undoubtedly deserves.

1. (Ukraine)

Weight: heavy

Achievement list: 61-3, 51 KOs

Years of performance: 1996-…

Glasses: 80.00 / 1.25 (Axel Schultz - 0.75, Lajos Erosh - 0.75, Chris Bird - 7, Derrick Jefferson - 1.5, Charles Shufford - 1.5, France Botha - 1.5, Ray Mercer - 2.5, Jamil McCline - 1.5, Samuel Peter - 5, Calvin Brock – 2, Ray Austin – 2, Lamon Brewster – 3, Sultan Ibragimov – 3.5, Tony Thompson – 7, Hasim Rahman – 6, Ruslan Chagaev – 4, Eddie Chambers – 3, David Haye – 7.5, Jean-Marc Mormeck – 8 , Mariusz Wach – 3.5, Francesco Pianeta – 4, Alexander Povetkin – 4.5)

Titles: WBO (2000-2003, 5 defenses and 2008-..., 11 defences), IBF (2006-..., 15 defences), IBO (2006-..., 15 defences), Super WBA (2011-..., 5 defences)

Did you expect to see anyone else here? They hoped in vain. The King remains the King. And his throne is unshakable.

Only facts that are known to be sacred regardless of the variability of comments:

The average score (1.25) is higher than that of any other active ex-Soviet boxer. Only Vladimir and Vakhtang Darchinyan exceeded the number of their fights by the number of points - the Ukrainian had 18 more fights.

The points scored only in the first half of his career (18) - before the defeat by Corrie Sanders - are already enough to enter the top 5.

Vladimir is almost 30 points ahead of his closest pursuer (Kostya Tszyu) in the ranking of the best boxers of the former Union (and the Russian Empire) - not only active ones, but also those who have completed their performances.

The intrigue remains - will Vladimir be able to reach the megastar milestone of 100 points or not? Place your bets - with the current titles of the Ukrainian, this can be done by defending his numerous belts five more times ahead of schedule.

Among the world's boxing stars there are many champions who came to the arena from the USSR. Many of them are not so popular in modern times, but their contribution to the development of domestic sports is reflected today, although few people know about their great achievements and history.

In total, the Soviet boxing school trained 13 Olympic Champions. Gold at the Games is the highest level in amateur boxing, and Soviet boxers most worthy carried the banner of our country in the Olympic rings around the world. Below we provide a list of all Olympic Champions who competed from 1952 to 1992 for the USSR and the united CIS team.

Boris Lagutin (born 1938), twice received the title of Olympic champion (the only one among USSR athletes with such an achievement). The decisive matches took place in Tokyo (1964) and Mexico City (1968). He has 287 victories out of 298 fights. The talented boxer was distinguished by noble standards of behavior even in the ring. In addition, in 1960, Lagutin was one step away from the Olympic final, taking 3rd place.
Vladimir Safronov (1934 - 1979), Olympic boxing champion in the featherweight division who competed for the USSR. He won in 1956. His achievements in Melbourne marked the beginning of his ascent. A total of 294 victories from 316 fights;
Vladimir Yengibaryan (1932 - 2013), winner in 1956, in Melbourne, category. The first Soviet boxer-European champion. He retained the right of primacy two more times. 255 victories from 267 fights;
Gennady Shatkov (1932 - 2009), won third gold in Melbourne 1956. Two leaders of European competitions. Won 203 victories out of 217 fights. After his career as an athlete, he was actively involved in scientific activities and taught at Leningrad State University;
Oleg Grigoriev (born 1937), won his gold in 1960 at the Olympic Games in Rome. Collected three European championship titles, six-time victories in the bantamweight division of the Union. Total 253 fights, 235 victories;
Stanislav Stepashkin (1940), won the champion title in Tokyo in 1964, performing in the featherweight category. Received two titles of the strongest boxer in Europe in his weight category. Three-time champion in the USSR. Out of 204 fights - 193 victories, 60 of them ahead of schedule;
Valery Popenchenko (1937 - 1975), received Olympic gold in 1964 in Tokyo, middle weight of the second category. He achieved 199 victories out of 213 fights. Popenchenko was also awarded the Val Barker Cup for the best technique at the 1964 Olympics. He died tragically, falling down a flight of stairs during the construction of one of the buildings of Bauman University.
Valerian Sokolov (1946), Chuvash pioneer among Olympic winners. Gold mined in 1968 in Mexico. The list of victories includes 196 out of 216 competitions;
Dan Pozniak (1939 - 2005), the first Lithuanian in history to win gold at the Olympics. The games took place in Mexico City in 1968. He competed in the semi-heavyweight division. Three-time champion of European competitions, and four-time in the USSR. A total of 203 victories from 217 competitions.
Vyacheslav Yanovsky became the Champion in 1988 in Seoul, becoming the only representative in the history of Belarusian boxing as part of the allied team who managed to climb to the top of the Olympic podium.
Shamil Sabirov, who boxed in the minimum weight category (up to 48 kg), also became somewhat unique, as he received his gold at our home Olympics in Moscow
Boris Kuznetsov - great lightweight, Olympic Champion 1972 in Munich
Vyacheslav Lemeshev, “Mr. Knockout,” became the winner of the 1972 Munich Olympics in the 75kg category, finishing almost all of his fights ahead of schedule. He was the best representative of the classical Soviet school of boxing.

Soviet boxing gave the domestic sport many names that we are rightfully proud of even now. At times it seems that even with the help of simple computer technology it will not be possible to count all the successes and regalia of our glove masters. Mikhailov, Lagutin, Popenchenko, Ageev, Shatkov... No, it’s impossible to list all the boxers of the Soviet country who wrote their names in the annals of world boxing in golden letters. But still, there is one person among them who will always stand apart, standing out among his great brothers in arms. This is Nikolai Korolev. An inimitable example of the inflexibility of a Soviet citizen, his fortitude and will to win, both in sports and in life.

Dossier: Nikolai Fedorovich Korolev (14.03.1917 – 12.03.1974) . He competed in heavy weight. Honored Master of Sports (1942). Absolute champion of Moscow (1941). Four-time absolute champion of the USSR (1936, 1937, 1944 and 1945). Nine-time USSR heavyweight champion (1936-1939 and 1945-1949). Winner of the Workers' Olympics in Antwerp (1937).

The beginning of the twentieth century was marked for Russia by the end of an entire era, during which no less great monarchs ruled the great country. The times of tsars and emperors have sunk into oblivion - they have been replaced by party everyday life, perceived by the people in different ways: someone sacredly believed in the bright future that the Bolsheviks who seized power promised, someone, not without reason, believed that good is not sought from good , and the post-revolutionary period will become the beginning of decline for the previously powerful Power.

Both of them were partly right – the truth lay somewhere in the middle.

No one could have guessed that at the same time, such a complex and literally tearing the country apart, in its very heart a man was born who in the future, figuratively speaking, would occupy the eradicated monarchical niche, and would be called by millions of compatriots nothing less than the King .

This man's name was Nikolai Fedorovich Korolev, and he was born on March 14, 1917 in Moscow. It is interesting to note that our hero should have had a different surname - Fadeev. But Nikolai chose his stepfather’s surname, with which he entered the history of world sports.

GOLDEN TIME

Coming home from school, Kolya never really racked his brains about what to do with the time remaining before bed. He enjoyed playing football with his friends, but at the same time did not forget to defend the “banner” of his own yard in the traditional “wall to wall” format. Korolev also had one more, so to speak, “peaceful” hobby, the interest in which prevailed over the rest - radio. With an excitement alien to his peers, he sat for hours over diagrams and drawings, sometimes spending almost all his savings on them.

True, one day he was very interested in a bag filled with sawdust, which Nikolai’s neighbor and friend Fedya Tsarkov hung in his barn. Interest instantly gave way to surprise when he began hitting him with his fists as hard as he could. Korolev liked the bag, but the blows to him, as it turned out, did not bring joy and pleasure: his hands were covered with bleeding abrasions, his joints ached... Boxing was over, as it seemed then, forever.

After graduating from school, Korolev went to work at the Neftegaz plant, where his mother also worked. It was she who served as an example of hard work and diligence for Nikolai, and he adopted these vital qualities, which in the future will greatly help him achieve great success in sports. While Korolev could not know this, the time for his first serious victories was approaching with inexorable speed.

The Bolshevik government, trying to raise labor productivity to new heights, introduced the so-called “five-year plans,” the essence of which was that in a given period of time (in this case, five years), an enterprise, be it a factory or a dairy plant, was ordered to fulfill a certain workload. Completing it ahead of schedule promised both an increase in salary and all-Union honor. Kolya more than once challenged his experienced mentor Anatoly Shchegolev to competitions and often caught up with him, which he sincerely rejoiced at.

Nikolai also did not forget sports, but in order to enroll in one of the many sections that functioned at the plant, it was necessary to pass the GTO standards, and such a prospect did not particularly appeal to him. However, the craving for my favorite football turned out to be stronger. Moreover, Korolev became carried away, and very soon he proudly pinned the coveted badge on the lapel of his jacket, which in those days people were truly proud of.

AND BOXING CAPTURED HIM FOREVER...

One fine day in the summer of 1933, Kolya and his friends, according to tradition, headed to Izmailovsky Park to watch the boxers train. They really enjoyed watching how some masterfully handled the stubborn jump rope, while others practiced their boxing skills in pairs. And one day the guys decided to apply for enrollment in the section to the teacher of the boxing department of the Moscow Institute of Physical Education, Ivan Stepanovich Bogaev, who led these interesting classes, which in no way fit in with the unsightly bag of Fedya Tsarkov. Regarding Korolev, the coach made a decision right away: Nikolai was quite tall and had what is called a heroic physique. The path to future success had begun.

It would be naive to believe that Korolev, who never let anyone down in street battles, would immediately begin to dismantle his opponents in the ring. Korolev predictably failed his first exit into the quadrangle that seemed magical to him - he could not even touch the enemy even once. But there was no point in focusing attention on this, since a similar fate befell and still befalls almost all novice boxers, whom coaches immediately pair with an already quite skilled opponent. Nikolai, who was thoughtful beyond his years, understood this perfectly well. Moreover, this, if I may say so, failure only spurred him on, forcing him to put all his immense soul into training. Multi-kilometer cross-country runs, jumping rope, monotonous practice of strikes - all this, which until recently seemed like a waste of time to Korolev, who was eager to fight, now brought real pleasure.

Bogaev, observing the zeal of his ward, praised him from time to time. True, more often for courage and perseverance than for technique. In the fall, the coach had the opportunity to show a capable student to Arkady Kharlampiev, who should be mentioned separately.

AT THE GREAT MENTOR

When Kharlampiev, who worked as an aerialist in a circus, turned 21, he went to Paris, where he entered the Academy of Fine Arts. It was there that he became interested in boxing, and after returning to his homeland he became one of the first promoters of the art of fist fighting. Having spent many fights in amateur and professional rings, Arkady Georgievich switched to coaching. A man of great culture, Kharlampiev made sure that his students not only moved and struck correctly, but also read a lot, visited theaters and museums, thus developing not only physical, but also cultural growth.

For some time, Arkady Georgievich worked in Ukraine. Having invested a lot of effort and energy in the development of boxing in our country, Kharlampiev trained a wonderful galaxy of Ukrainian coaches: Romanenko, Shagin, Rysev, Sheredega, Serdenko.

He had no favorites: Arkady Georgievich paid great attention to each boxer. Knowing from his own experience that only systematic and hard work in training can turn a simple boxer into a champion, Kharlamiev drove his students to sweat of the seventh. But the main thing was that each of his wards understood this. Arkady Georgievich, in only one way known to him, forced the guys to give their all in training, and they did it not with the well-known laziness and reluctance, but with excitement and even pleasure.

Needless to say, Korolev, who had long ago learned the truth about a fish that you can’t easily pull out of a pond or a tin can, devoted all of himself to training with the great trainer. Nikolai worked tirelessly on physical training, but he worked even harder on technique, which, unlike an impressive physique, nature never gives. Thousands and thousands of times he repeated the same movements, achieving purity and lightness in them. So days, weeks, months passed... Shadow matches gave way to real sparring, and the amount of work invested in training gradually turned into quality.

Kharlampiev knew very well that he could polish Korolev’s boxing skills in training for as long as he wanted, bringing every movement of the talented student to automatism, but he could only gain real and invaluable experience in a real fight with an opponent equally eager for victory. That is why in March 1934, when the individual-team championship in Moscow was held, the coach decided to bring into the team the untested, but full of ambition, 17-year-old Nikolai, who, by order of the coach, had to lose several kilograms that prevented him from meeting the light heavyweight limits.

This step by Kharlampiev cannot be explained by the presence in the team of a heavyweight of a higher level than Nikolai, or by any personal whim of the mentor. On the contrary, Arkady Georgievich once again demonstrated his coaching genius: he foresaw that Korolev should not have any problems reaching the finals, but there, in the main match, Nikolai had to meet the great Viktor Mikhailov, whose entry into the decisive stage of the competition in general was not questioned by anyone.

However, this is not surprising, given that Mikhailov was considered the strongest boxer in the Soviet country throughout the entire decade of legalized boxing. An outstanding master of the classical style, he was the first among all domestic glove masters to receive the newly established title of Honored Master of Sports. Suffice it to say that Viktor Mikhailov did not lose the title of the country's strongest light heavyweight to anyone for 6 years (from 1933 to 1939), and here it is worth talking not about the lack of competition, but about the highest class of the champion. The rivalry, even in those weight categories where the same ones managed to win for years, remained quite high, because the defeated did not want to put up with their not the most advantageous position. They stubbornly and, it must be said, at times not unsuccessfully, again and again clung to the opportunity to win the highest title. This is how “eternal” pairs of finalists arose, one of which was Nikolai Korolev and Viktor Mikhailov.

"ETERNAL" RIVAL

The first meeting of the boxers was, as they say, “one wicket.” Korolev was already a fairly strong boxer, but not yet fully developed, in other words, “raw.” And he was still far from Mikhailov. No matter how hard Nikolai tried to hit his opponent with a striking blow, he failed to do so. Mikhailov saw all the attacks of the young and persistent fighter, and easily avoided them, while at the same time sending his blows right to the target. He had a complete advantage and could have knocked out Korolev, but he did not do so. Seeing Nikolai's fighting spirit and will to win, despite the failures, he continued to stubbornly move forward, the noble athlete Mikhailov clearly sympathized with his opponent because he valued these qualities very much. As a result, at the end of the first round, Korolev’s second threw in the towel into the ring, following the instructions of Kharlampiev, who foresaw such a development of the battle and, in order to avoid injuries, took care of the health of his charge in advance. The necessary and invaluable experience was gained, and Arkady Georgievich was finally convinced that this guy would be good, and began to send him out for real fights more often.

In 1935, Korolev and Mikhailov met in the ring twice, and Nikolai failed again, but these were completely different defeats.

After his first loss to Mikhailov, Korolev was very upset and even stopped going to training. Of course, he could not help but understand that it was too early for him to fight on equal terms with such a master - without a doubt, the best boxer of that time, but still, a serious blow was dealt to the pride of the ardent and hungry seventeen-year-old youth.

However, the lump of resentment simply could not squeeze the brave chest for too long - the thirst for revenge pulled the ambitious fighter back into the ring, and after a short “vacation” he returned to training. He returned with renewed energy, shedding even more sweat in training and analyzing his own mistakes. And although after this Nikolai lost to an experienced opponent again, now he already understood that very soon it would be his turn to throw his hands up victoriously.

Mikhailov, along with two victories over Korolev, who had noticeably improved, received a lot of troubles, which Nikolai now often managed to cause to the ring luminary. More than once putting his opponent in an uncomfortable and dangerous position, Korolev just as regularly pestered him with blows, demonstrating his increased technical and tactical equipment. Perhaps he can be called the personification of the thesis “you learn from defeats,” as evidenced by the words of Viktor Mikhailov himself, which he said after one of the meetings he won against Nikolai:

–

It was absolutely clear that the clarification of the relationship between two such colorful characters, which the entire vast country was following with genuine interest, would not end there. And in 1936, the boxers’ paths predictably crossed again.

By this time, Korolev not only finally moved up to heavyweight and immediately won first the Moscow championship and then the championship of the Soviet Union, but also successfully passed the exams at the coaching school, being one of the first in the country to receive a diploma. Mikhailov once again confirmed the title of the strongest in the light heavyweight division, but as soon as it became known about the establishment of a new title - the Absolute Champion of the USSR, for which only the winners of the national championship in heavy, light heavyweight and middleweight could fight, he challenged Nikolai. Korolev was just waiting for this.

On October 22, at the Moscow Circus, two great masters played out a new series of their confrontation, which remained one of the most spectacular and exciting in the history of Russian boxing. This time Korolev, who had improved greatly since the last meeting, was in no way inferior to his experienced opponent and, in a six-round fight that was stunning in intensity and entertainment, he won a well-deserved victory, which was recognized by Mikhailov, who was the first to congratulate his colleague. Unfortunately, Arkady Georgievich Kharlampiev, who had already passed away, could not share the great joy of his ward. Pyotr Fedorovich Fastov prepared Nikolai for the fight with Mikhailov at the Absolute Championship, and later Konstantin Vasilyevich Gradopolov, head, became his mentor. Department of Boxing at the State Institute of Physical Culture, who was Kharlampiev’s assistant.

Someone else in his place would probably have stopped there, believing in his own superiority over the others, but Korolev, despite the long-awaited success in the fight with his main rival, who had long been rightfully considered the strongest boxer in the USSR, did not dare to think about captivating moods, quite capable of turning a brave head. On the contrary, Nikolai, exhausted by the hardest battle with Mikhailov, decided to increase his endurance even more and, without delaying the matter, began to work diligently on it.

The reward for hard work in training and the desire for constant self-improvement was a series of victories in 1937. Korolev again confirmed the title of the strongest boxer in the Soviet Union, defeating Mikhailov again in the fight for the title of Absolute Champion, and also achieved success in the international arena for the first time, becoming the winner of the Workers' Olympics in Antwerp.

In the same year, a characteristic episode occurred in Nikolai’s career, which fully characterizes him as a Person. At the Spartak championship, Korolev reached the final without any problems, but in the decisive match he faced fierce resistance from the Georgian Andro Navasardova. In the hardest battle, the judges gave the victory to Nikolai. However, the very next day Korolev himself wrote a letter to one of the central newspapers, in which he refused what, in his opinion, was an undeserved victory. It is believed that a person should be judged by his actions. Nikolai Fedorovich never did anything in his life that could cast a shadow on his bright personality.

In 1938, Korolev again became the national champion, and in 1939 he crossed gloves with Viktor Mikhailov for the last time. A winner by nature, Mikhailov did not want to accept defeat and longed for revenge. Taking into account the experience of previous battles with Nikolai, and noting that he does not really like close combat, Victor changed tactics and immediately turned the meeting into an inconvenient direction for his opponent. The unexpected move of the great Master bore fruit - Mikhailov won, and now Korolev wholeheartedly congratulated his sworn friend and rival. Having achieved what he wanted, Viktor Pavlovich decided to leave the ring. Leave as a winner.

With the departure of his main rival, Korolev did not overnight become an untouchable leader in his incarnation - one whom everyone looks up to, praising his already numerous merits and achievements in every way. But only for the reason that he became one much earlier.

At the same time, it cannot be said that besides Nikolai, there were no other worthy boxers in the Union at that time. There were, and what kind of ones too! First of all, these are the great Evgeniy Ogurenkov and Sergei Shcherbakov. As individuals, they may not have been inferior to Korolev, but it was Nikolai who became a cult figure for the Soviet people. To some extent, the fact that he was a heavyweight played a role, which means that at least visually he was somehow more suitable for the role of a hero of his time. But the pro-Stalinist ideological machine had a much greater influence, drumming into the consciousness of citizens that there must be a leader everywhere and in everything. Someone alone whom others should look up to. In boxing, and, perhaps, in sports in general, Korolev became such a leader.

WAR

There is no doubt that Nikolai Fedorovich - undoubtedly the strongest Soviet boxer of that time - would have continued to collect the highest awards, winning almost all the competitions in which he took part, but... But the country was already living in anticipation of war. Korolev, naturally, could not stay away, and in 1940 he became a cadet at a military aviation school. It took a lot of effort to “subdue” the fighter, but in the end this peak was conquered by Nikolai. And yet, in the plans of fate, he was apparently not destined to become a hero in the air: one of his parachute jumps resulted in a serious leg injury that remained with Korolev for the rest of his life. The path to the Red Army for the boxer who was so eager to join its ranks was closed.

Nikolai returned to the ring and on June 15, 1941, became the winner of the first Absolute Championship of Moscow, in the final defeating his famous comrade and Spartak teammate Ivan Ganykin, with whom they knew almost all the strengths and weaknesses of each other.

Ganykin, who repeatedly became the champion of the Union in welterweight, was distinguished by unheard-of endurance, conducting all his meetings at a high pace and constantly moving in search of the most advantageous position for attacking. He just brought his opponents to complete exhaustion and was confident that such tactics would bring him success in his confrontation with Korolev. But this time Ganykin, who calculated that the enemy would never withstand eight rounds at a high pace, miscalculated.

The boxing demonstrated by Korolev surprised not only Ganykin, but also his own coaches. Nikolai did not rely on superiority in strength and physical power, instead inviting his opponent to compete in... super-fast boxing throughout the entire fight. Nikolai was the first to use such tactics, and it was this that allowed him to succeed. The more than unexpected move of the Great Master delighted even Ganykin.

A week later, the Great Patriotic War began.

A true patriot of his homeland, Nikolai Fedorovich was ready to make any sacrifice for its good. Even if not in the air, where he was not allowed to because of the damn injury, even if in any other element - but he had to be with the people.

As a result, Korolev was enrolled in a sabotage group that operated on enemy territory near Rivne. He ended up in the special-purpose partisan detachment “Winners” of the famous commander Dmitry Medvedev, becoming his adjutant. The amazing, heroic character of the boxer is reflected here.

During one of the battles, Medvedev was seriously wounded, but fortunately Korolev was nearby. Taking the commander in his arms, Nikolai slowly set off towards the forest, but when native trees were already visible on the horizon, he came across a German bunker equipped in a clearing. Having lowered Medvedev to the ground, Korolev calmly stepped towards the Germans who ran out, and when they were nearby, he took off his machine gun and handed it to them. Fortunately, the commander’s cry “Kolya, what are you doing?!” and the subsequent click of the revolver trigger, already pointed by the taken aback commander at the back of the “traitor,” did not change Nikolai’s bold plan. Korolev in an instant knocked out two Germans with sudden blows, after which he took one of the enemy grenades and threw it into the embrasure of the bunker. Without saying a word, he again put Medvedev on his shoulders and moved towards his own... A few weeks later, Nikolai Fedorovich was already in Moscow, where he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

Many are inclined not to believe that this is exactly what happened in reality, and consider all this to be a beautiful legend created and introduced to the masses by Soviet bureaucrats in order to further exalt Korolev’s bright personality. Such people have an ironclad argument - an excerpt from the memoirs of Nikolai Fedorovich himself, published in 1950 under the title “In the Ring”.

Here is how Korolev describes this episode:

–Our guys, it seems, are all on target, and the Nazis are coming towards us. I shout: “Run across, comrade commander!” He jumps up and starts running. I fire at the enemy. Then I quickly run over to the commander myself. The fire is continuous. I’m surprised: is he really still alive? There are probably thirty or forty meters left to the forest. I see: the commander is lying in the snow, greedily grabbing snow with his mouth. He takes out grenades and lays them out. I say: “Get up, let’s run into the forest!” Shakes his head: “No, Kolya, I can’t... You run. I’ll stay here.” "What else!" – Think. I remembered here how our “old man” Kharlampiev once told us that the supply of human energy is inexhaustible. If you force yourself properly, then you will find the strength. When I shout: “Run!” He looked surprised. But, I look, he collects grenades and gets up. I opened fire on the Germans. I hear someone supporting me from behind. The SS men lay down. I look around - the commander has already entered the forest. I jumped up here too, running towards the trees. The commander cannot move further. My strength has run out. Breathes with a whistle. He is wounded in the head. I put him on my back and walked quietly. It’s not in vain, I think, that I went in for sports. Now is the time to show what you can do. I walked like that for a kilometer. It’s good that the snow wasn’t that deep yet. We met our own. It turns out they decided that we were dead and were going to go back and recapture the bodies. I betrayed the commander. I see that I am now in good hands. He leaned against a tree, his head was spinning. The battle lasted four hours. The detachment managed to escape from the ring without major losses. There were about five hundred punishers, and then there were no more than seventy of us...

Or maybe Korolev did not mention the episode with the “manual elimination” of two enemy units on purpose? Let's say, because of natural modesty, considering that this is a common thing that does not require special attention. If so, then most of us are not destined to understand this. Because we were brought up on different ideals and go through life with a completely different mentality.

The case with the two Germans is also described in one of his stories about Korolev by our respected colleague Alexander Nilin, who knew Nikolai Fedorovich personally. True, Nilin heard about this not from Korolev himself, but from ten-time USSR champion Sergei Shcherbakov, who, although he did not like Nikolai, talked about it so vividly, as if he himself was present at the scene of the events.

We will never know exactly what happened in reality. So let everyone decide for themselves whether to believe it or not. The author’s humble opinion is this: Korolev deserved to be believed.

EVERYTHING IS IN ITS PLACE

Korolev never returned to the front, although he really wanted to. The party decided to use the experience and talent of the outstanding boxer, instructing him to train saboteurs in general physical training and strength martial arts. Along the way, Nikolai resumed boxing.

On the eve of the absolute national championship in August 1943, Korolev was far from his best condition, not even having time to get in shape properly, and during the competition he was removed by a doctor. Nikolai failed to win the national championship in 1944, losing in the final to a very strong Georgian boxer Andro Navasardov. The same one whom he had previously defeated, more than once.

If you are used to winning, then it is very difficult, and most often simply impossible, to get used to defeats. Korolev, a winner by nature, who always and everywhere strived to be first in everything, could not do this.

At the cost of efforts, the volume of which cannot be described on paper or told in words, but can only be felt in one’s own skin, Nikolai regained his former form, and in December of the same year he regained the title of Absolute Champion of the USSR. In the final he The opponent was the famous Evgeny Ogurenkov, who a year before became the first middleweight to win this title, but he failed to repeat his achievement. Korolev did not allow it.

In 1945, Nikolai became the owner of the “Grand Slam”, if we speak tennis language, having won both the national championship and the absolute championship, just like in the good old days.

In the same year, an interesting episode occurred in Korolev’s biography - for the first time he met in the ring with a professional boxer, and not just some novice green youth, but with a strong master who already had considerable weight among the masses.

– I once had to watch a professional champion train,” says Korolev. – It was soon after the end of the Great Patriotic War, in Germany. Here's how it happened. In Berlin, in the Soviet occupation zone, I was on a business trip. One afternoon, an acquaintance of mine, the head of our troops’ club, came to see me and said that in the American zone, in the gym, some famous light heavyweight champion was training. I wanted to watch, and we came to the gym. Here they smoked and drank beer; Some checkered misses at the table were wagging their legs, and even more so, their tongues. The training had just begun, the champion, a light heavyweight boxer, a typical bull-necked professional, jumped into the ring and, showing off, flirtatious, like an operetta diva, extended his hands to put on his gloves. The sparring partners waited at the ring for their turn. The champion began training. Of course, as expected, he beat his partners. He acted like an automaton: he would work round after round, rest and start again. It took me to the quick here. What, I’m thinking, shouldn’t I try to fight for a round or two? I’m talking about this to my officer friend. At first he waved his hands. Then, I see, it hurt too. “Okay,” he says, “try it!” I turned to the stewards. “Can I,” I say, “should I practice too?” Someone translated. They looked at me and nodded. By all indications, they were delighted, saying that such a healthy guy would be a good sparring partner for the champion. Undressed. He entered the ring. They put gloves on me. For one round I tried to be as baggy as possible. The champion carried out his series of strikes. I slipped away as if by accident. I’ll “stumble” or something like that. It turned out quite naturally. In the second round, the same game first. I've already taken a closer look at the champion's style. I realized that in front of me was a typical “automatic machine” who knew so many tricks by heart, and that’s all. I got used to this manner. While boxing, I approached the ropes, where my familiar officer was standing. I told him: “Now I’ll hit him. I’m tired...” And I hit him. I managed to get there just like that. I see that the champion has “sobered up”. He looks at me in surprise. Then he nodded his head: “Gut, gut.” Of course, I didn’t intend to box at full strength. We played two more rounds. My “professional” has finally given up. They started pestering me. "Last name? Where?.. Russian champion? Yes?.."

In 1946, Korolev once again became the champion of the USSR, at the same time taking revenge from Navasardov. He again shone on the international stage, winning tournaments in Helsinki and Prague.

In a word, Nikolai once again proved his dominance in the sport of the powerful of the Old World. Having hundreds of brilliant victories in the ring behind him, most of which were won by knockouts, and unimaginable heroism in the arena of real fighting, 30-year-old Korolev could easily retire to a well-deserved rest. Many of his colleagues did just that. Many, but not “KV” - as they began to call Nikolai Fedorovich in the Union. The simple abbreviation was deciphered very simply, fully characterizing the people’s attitude towards their favorite - “Korolev the Great”. No more and no less. Obviously, the boxer’s nickname was also intertwined with the heavy tank of the same name (“KV” - Klim Voroshilov), which earned considerable fame during the war and was more effective than German vehicles of this type.

The fame of the invincible Soviet hero reached America, where at that time the inimitable “Brown Bomber” Joe Louis was shining in the heavyweight division. The absentee rivalry between the two superpowers in all spheres and industries, including, of course, sports, began already then, and in the “Land of Great Opportunities,” where the heavyweight champion was always held in special esteem, they wanted to prove that their boxer was the strongest not only on their own land, but throughout the world (then these were different things). By “everyone” we meant Korolev, the victory over whom, taking into account the triumphant end of World War II for the USSR, received special value. In addition, Nikolai was the only one who, in the opinion of the Americans, could form “at least some” resistance to Louis, sufficient to ensure that the “pass-through” did not work out, and Joe’s success turned out to be bright and beyond doubt.

As a result, Michael Jacobs, perhaps the most prominent functionary in the overseas professional boxing of that time, wrote a letter to Korolev, the whole point of which was a proposal to hold a fight in the USA against Louis. Nikolai truly longed for this meeting because it was a CHALLENGE. In the USSR, as well as throughout Europe, at that time there was no one left whom Korolev could not beat. And he agreed without hesitation.

On the other side of the Atlantic, the PR machine was in full swing, designed to whet the audience’s interest in the “fight of the century,” the venue of which was to be the legendary Madison Square Garden. Boxing fans have endless debates about their opponents' chances of success. The organizers rubbed their hands contentedly, anticipating much more substantial earnings compared to traditional battles "local significance". Particular emphasis was placed on the participation of both boxers in the war (the fact that Korolev was in the very crucible of hostilities, and Louis was used by the US propaganda department exclusively to “push” patriotic speeches, of course, was safely “forgotten”). All in all, a traditional but integral part of the show called “professional boxing” at its best. All that remained was to agree on the terms of the battle and the timing of it.

But the overseas side put forward a demand - they say, let Korolev first show himself in several rating battles, which can answer the question of whether he is ready for a fight with Louis himself. The explanation for the sudden whim of the receiving party was found to be both simple and humiliating in relation to Nikolai: the Americans allegedly cared about the health of the Soviet boxer, who had never competed. They wanted to make sure that Korolev could take a punch. They apologized. Did not help...

Nicholas was forbidden to meet with Louis, although both boxers really wanted this fight. And then Korolev decided to write a letter of petition to the highest authorities of his country. A country to which he gave a lot, but never asked for anything in return. Medvedev, who owed him his life, undertook to help Nikolai with this. The letter was sent, but no response came.

There was only one thing left to do - turn to Stalin himself. And again, a comrade, Air Chief Marshal Alexander Golovanov, who was considered Joseph Vissarionovich’s favorite, came to Korolev’s aid. Despite the difficult post-war political situation in the world, which negatively affected the mood of the Soviet commander-in-chief, whose hot hand could well have created a bunch of unnecessary problems for Korolev, Stalin agreed to listen to the boxer’s request, voiced by Golovanov himself. But Joseph Vissarionovich’s answer turned out to be completely different from what our hero needed: “Korolev is a victorious symbol of our national character, spirit, the pride of our sport. And fighting in some clubs in front of drunken cowboys means losing your dignity and that of your country. The Americans would never allow our boxer to triumph, and that is why they decided to conduct reconnaissance in force. Korolev should not go to America. Or do you have more convincing arguments?

No one could find more convincing arguments.

In simpler terms, the country’s leadership was afraid that one of its symbols, personifying strength and goodness, would be beaten by American “evil.” And this could not be allowed, otherwise the ideas of the superiority of the Soviet system could be questioned by the people - those to whom these ideas were persistently instilled from childhood.

Korolev was confident in himself and knew that he was capable of winning this historic fight. He was ready to fall for the tricks of the Americans and hold these damned rating battles, just to fulfill his dream and once again benefit his country by showing the self-confident capitalists the strength of the Soviet people. But the country, represented by its cautious leadership, remained adamant, leaving Nicholas not a single chance of defeat.

It has already been said and discussed thousands of times that history does not tolerate the subjunctive mood, and no one knows who was right in the protracted “USSR-Korolev” dispute. One thing is clear - Nikolai definitely had a chance of success in the battle with the Brown Bomber. And the chances are good. Most of the doubts were and are whether Korolev would have enough stamina, because the duration of pro fights, which at that time boxed fifteen rounds, significantly exceeded that of amateurs. But at the same time, one cannot ignore the phenomenal physical data of Nikolai, who covered the distance of six rounds at the Absolute National Championship with casual ease. In addition, Louis fought only a few fights a year, while Korolev could enter the ring against five opponents in just one tournament. No, in SUCH a fight, Nikolai, if necessary, would definitely have withstood the entire time allotted by the regulations. But only if necessary, because the meeting could well have ended before the final bell: Louis often found himself on the floor in the first rounds, when Korolev would still have plenty of strength for a smashing shot. In addition, Nikolai definitely took a punch no worse than an American, was at least as agile as Joe, and was one of the few in the amateur ring of that time who successfully used the so-called “pendulum”, while possessing the rare ability to assess the situation in a split second and make the only right decision.

And yet, it is pointless to talk about something that has not happened and will definitely never happen, because this is nothing more than fortune telling on coffee grounds. Both the Union leadership and Louis soon forgot about the failed “battle of the century.” Korolev was never able to do this. He was offended, but it was not in his power to change anything.

Nikolai had no choice but to continue performing in the domestic arena, where for the first time in a long time he had a worthy competitor - young Algirdas Šotsikas. At first, Korolev defeated the newcomer without much difficulty, but he quickly learned and gained experience. Just as Korolev himself once learned in his meetings with Mikhailov.

In 1948, Nikolai easily defeated Shotsikas, sending him to the floor several times, but the very next year Algirdas showed stubborn resistance to the famous opponent. So persistent that many were dissatisfied with the judges’ decision, and it was eventually overturned.

To identify the best, the country's sports leadership hastened to organize a mini-tournament of the strongest heavyweights in Moscow - Navasardov and Estonian Martin Linnamägi were added to Korolev and Shotsikas. As expected, Nikolai and Algirdas met in the final. AND Once again, Korolev had a hard time - he was even knocked down, but in the end he still ended the match in his favor. However, it became increasingly obvious that youth was gradually taking its toll.

Korolev Shotsikas did not win again, having suffered four defeats in a row - the final of the 1953 USSR Championship summed up their seven-year duel: 4 victories for Shotsikas, 3 victories for Korolev, one draw.

The time of “KV” is over. Inexorably and irrevocably. Later Shotsikas himself would say: “I was not stronger than Korolev. I was just twelve years younger."

Yes, Nikolai Fedorovich at that time was no longer the strongest heavyweight in the USSR, having given up his place to Shotsikas. But didn’t he, the greatest athlete of his era, ready to give everything for the well-being and prosperity of his country, deserve a similar attitude towards himself? Was one golden round piece worth once again painfully cutting the feelings of a Man who served as an example for millions? The country knew its heroes only when it needed it, and, unfortunately, when necessary, it easily forgot about them.

The last time Korolev entered the ring was at the Russian Spartakiad in 1956, when he was already 39 years old. Nikolai won these competitions and was eager to take part in the Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR, but the doctors did not allow him to attend.

Thus ended the journey of Korolev as a boxer - bright, unforgettable and unique.

After that, Nikolai Fedorovich taught at the department of the famous technical university MVTU named after. Bauman, and then finally moved to the coaching bridge. Because I couldn’t live without boxing, and boxing couldn’t live without him. If Korolev took on something, he took it on thoroughly and with all his soul. That is why the students did not get bored in his classes, and his students went to training with pleasure. Fortunately, the top government officials appreciated Nikolai Fedorovich’s labor merits (unlike sports ones), awarding him the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

...Korolev planned to celebrate his 57th birthday in a boarding house near Moscow, but did not live to see the holiday for two days - the Champion’s heart stopped when he was playing his favorite billiards. Just six months later, the first Nikolai Fedorovich Korolev Memorial was held in Bryansk...

In the talented Soviet Union, there were many great boxers before Korolev, and no less after him. But none of them were comparable to the KV. Because there can only be one real King.

P.S. While on duty in Moscow, the author could not help but visit the grave of the great boxer. Using the help of a sympathetic woman of advanced years - the secretary of the cemetery where Nikolai Fedorovich is buried (otherwise the search could have taken, at best, several days) - after just ten minutes I was standing at the Korolev monument, overwhelmed by the feeling of an invisible touch to the great . And it’s sad that such people are becoming fewer and fewer. There are only three words on the monument - “Boxer”, “Partisan”, “Communist”. It's a pity that very few people know how much is hidden behind them...

2009

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Dossier:Nikolai Fedorovich Korolev (03/14/1917 – 03/12/1974). He competed in heavy weight. Honored Master of Sports (1942). Absolute champion of Moscow (1941). Four-time absolute champion of the USSR (1936, 1937, 1944 and 1945). Nine-time USSR heavyweight champion (1936-1939 and 1945-1949). Winner of the Workers' Olympics in Antwerp (1937).

Both of them were partly right – the truth lay somewhere in the middle.

GOLDEN TIME

True, one day he was very interested in a bag filled with sawdust, which Nikolai’s neighbor and friend Fedya Tsarkov hung in his barn. Interest instantly gave way to surprise when he began hitting him with his fists as hard as he could. Korolev liked the bag, but hitting it, as it turned out, did not bring joy and pleasure: his hands were covered with bleeding abrasions, his joints hurt... Boxing was over, as it seemed then, forever.

AND BOXING CAPTURED HIM FOREVER...

AT THE GREAT MENTOR

He had no favorites: Arkady Georgievich paid great attention to each boxer. Knowing from his own experience that only systematic and hard work in training can turn a simple boxer into a champion, Kharlamiev drove his students until they worked up a sweat. But the main thing was that each of his wards understood this. Arkady Georgievich, in only one way known to him, forced the guys to give their all in training, and they did it not with the well-known laziness and reluctance, but with excitement and even pleasure.

"ETERNAL" RIVAL

The first meeting of the boxers was, as they say, “one wicket.” Korolev was already a fairly strong boxer, but not yet fully developed, in other words, “raw.” And he was still far from Mikhailov. No matter how hard Nikolai tried to hit his opponent with a striking blow, he failed to do so. Mikhailov saw all the attacks of the young and persistent fighter, and easily avoided them, while at the same time sending his blows right to the target. He had a complete advantage and could have knocked out Korolev, but he did not do so. Seeing Nikolai’s fighting spirit and will to win, despite his failures, he continued to stubbornly move forward, the noble athlete Mikhailov clearly sympathized with his opponent, because he really valued these qualities. As a result, at the end of the first round, Korolev’s second threw in the towel into the ring, following the instructions of Kharlampiev, who foresaw such a development of the battle and, in order to avoid injuries, took care of the health of his charge in advance. The necessary and invaluable experience was gained, and Arkady Georgievich was finally convinced that this guy would be good, and began to send him out for real fights more often.

In 1935, Korolev and Mikhailov met in the ring twice, and Nikolai failed again, but these were completely different defeats.

– Not an easy fight for me! Korolev endured blows from which others fell, and at the same time he hit very hard, quickly and variedly, maneuvering and skillfully hiding the beginning of his attack. His throws from a distance were completely unexpected and swift. Having won three rounds on points, I saw that in front of me was a fully established and continuously growing professional master of international class - the strongest of all those I had ever met in the ring.

In the same year, a characteristic episode occurred in Nikolai’s career, which fully characterizes him as a Person. At the Spartak championship, Korolev reached the final without any problems, but in the decisive match he faced fierce resistance from Georgian Andro Navasardov. In the hardest battle, the judges gave the victory to Nikolai. However, the very next day Korolev himself wrote a letter to one of the central newspapers, in which he refused what, in his opinion, was an undeserved victory. It is believed that a person should be judged by his actions. Nikolai Fedorovich never did anything in his life that could cast a shadow on his bright personality.

WAR

Ganykin, who repeatedly became the champion of the Union in welterweight, was distinguished by unheard-of endurance, conducting all his meetings at a high pace and constantly moving in search of the most advantageous position for attacking. He simply drove his opponents to complete exhaustion and was confident that such tactics would bring him success in his confrontation with Korolev. But this time Ganykin, who calculated that the enemy would never withstand eight rounds at a high pace, miscalculated.

A week later, the Great Patriotic War began.

Here is how Korolev describes this episode:

– Our guys, it seems, are all on target, and the Nazis are coming towards us. I shout: “Run across, comrade commander!” He jumps up and starts running. I fire at the enemy. Then I quickly run over to the commander myself. The fire is continuous. I’m surprised: is he really still alive? There are probably thirty or forty meters left to the forest. I see: the commander is lying in the snow, greedily grabbing snow with his mouth. He takes out grenades and lays them out. I say: “Get up, let’s run into the forest!” Shakes his head: “No, Kolya, I can’t... You run. I’ll stay here.” "What else!" – Think. I remembered here how our “old man” Kharlampiev once told us that the supply of human energy is inexhaustible. If you force yourself properly, then you will find the strength. When I shout: “Run!” He looked surprised. But, I look, he collects grenades and gets up. I opened fire on the Germans. I hear someone supporting me from behind. The SS men lay down. I look around – the commander has already entered the forest. I jumped up here too, running towards the trees. The commander cannot move further. My strength has run out. Breathes with a whistle. He is wounded in the head. I put him on my back and walked quietly. It’s not in vain, I think, that I went in for sports. Now is the time to show what you can do. I walked like that for a kilometer. It’s good that the snow wasn’t that deep yet. We met our own. It turns out they decided that we were dead and were going to go back and recapture the bodies. I betrayed the commander. I see that I am now in good hands. He leaned against a tree, his head was spinning. The battle lasted four hours. The detachment managed to escape from the ring without major losses. There were about five hundred punishers, and then there were no more than seventy of us..."

We will never know exactly what happened in reality. So let everyone decide for themselves whether to believe it or not. The author’s humble opinion is this: Korolev deserved to be believed.

EVERYTHING IS IN ITS PLACE

At the cost of efforts, the volume of which cannot be described on paper or told in words, but can only be felt in one’s own skin, Nikolai regained his former form, and in December of the same year he regained the title of Absolute Champion of the USSR. In the final he was opposed by the famous Evgeniy Ogurenkov, who a year before became the first middleweight to win this title, but he failed to repeat his achievement. Korolev did not allow it.

In 1945, Nikolai became the owner of the “Grand Slam”, if we speak tennis language, having won both the national championship and the absolute championship, just like in the good old days.

– I once had to watch a professional champion train, – Korolev says.– This happened shortly after the end of the Great Patriotic War, in Germany. Here's how it happened. In Berlin, in the Soviet occupation zone, I was on a business trip. One afternoon, an acquaintance of mine, the head of our troops’ club, came to see me and said that in the American zone, in the gym, some famous light heavyweight champion was training. I wanted to watch, and we came to the gym. Here they smoked and drank beer; Some checkered misses at the table were wagging their legs, and even more so, their tongues. The training had just begun, the champion, a light heavyweight boxer, a typical bull-necked professional, jumped into the ring and, showing off, flirtatious, like an operetta diva, extended his hands to put on his gloves. The sparring partners waited at the ring for their turn. The champion began training. Of course, as expected, he beat his partners. He acted like an automaton: he would work round after round, rest and start again. It took me to the quick here. What, I’m thinking, shouldn’t I try to fight for a round or two? I’m talking about this to my officer friend. At first he waved his hands. Then, I see, it hurt too. “Okay,” he says, “try it!” I turned to the stewards. “Can I,” I say, “should I practice too?” Someone translated. They looked at me and nodded. By all indications, we were delighted, – they say, such a healthy guy is a good sparring partner for a champion. Undressed. He entered the ring. They put gloves on me. For one round I tried to be as baggy as possible. The champion carried out his series of strikes. I slipped away as if by accident. I’ll “stumble” or something like that. It turned out quite naturally. In the second round, the same game first. I've already taken a closer look at the champion's style. I realized that in front of me was a typical “automatic machine” who knew so many tricks by heart, and – All. I got used to this manner. While boxing, I approached the ropes, where my familiar officer was standing. I told him: “Now I’ll hit him. I’m tired...” And I hit him. I managed to get there just like that. I see that the champion has “sobered up”. He looks at me in surprise. Then he nodded his head: “Gut, gut.” Of course, I didn’t intend to box at full strength. We played two more rounds. My “professional” has finally given up. They started pestering me. "Last name? Where?.. Russian champion? Yes?.."

In 1946, Korolev once again became the champion of the USSR, at the same time taking revenge from Navasardov. He again shone on the international stage, winning tournaments in Helsinki and Prague.

THE GREATEST FIGHT THAT NEVER HAPPENED

On the other side of the Atlantic, the PR machine was in full swing, designed to whet the audience’s interest in the “fight of the century,” the venue of which was to be the legendary Madison Square Garden. Boxing fans have endless debates about their opponents' chances of success. The organizers rubbed their hands contentedly, anticipating much more substantial earnings compared to traditional “local” battles. Particular emphasis was placed on the participation of both boxers in the war (the fact that Korolev was in the very crucible of hostilities, and Louis was used by the US propaganda department exclusively to “push” patriotic speeches, of course, was safely “forgotten”). All in all, a traditional but integral part of the show called “professional boxing” at its best. All that remained was to agree on the terms of the battle and the timing of it.

No one could find more convincing arguments.

THE LAST CHORDS OF THE GREAT DESTINY

To identify the best, the country's sports leadership hastened to organize a mini-tournament of the strongest heavyweights in Moscow - Navasardov and Estonian Martin Linnamägi were added to Korolev and Shotsikas. As expected, Nikolai and Algirdas met in the final. And again, Korolev had a hard time - he was even knocked down, but in the end he still ended the match in his favor. However, it became increasingly obvious that youth was gradually taking its toll.

Korolev Shotsikas did not win again, having suffered four defeats in a row - fThe final of the 1953 USSR Championship summed up their seven-year duel: 4 wins for Shotsikas, 3 wins for Korolev, one draw.

The time of “KV” is over. Inexorably and irrevocably. Later Shotsikas himself would say: “I was not stronger than Korolev. I was just twelve years younger."

Nikolai really wanted to go to the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki - the first in which Soviet boxers participated. But the country’s sports leadership has already labeled him “old,” ruining yet another dream of the great boxer. And again Korolev wrote to the top, but again received a turn from the gate.

Thus ended the journey of Korolev as a boxer - bright, unforgettable and unique.

In the talented Soviet Union, there were many great boxers before Korolev, and no less after him. But none of them were comparable to the KV. Because there can only be one real King.

P. S. While on duty in Moscow, the author could not help but visit the grave of the great boxer. Using the help of a sympathetic woman of advanced years - the secretary of the cemetery where Nikolai Fedorovich is buried (otherwise the search could have taken, at best, several days) - after just ten minutes I was standing at the Korolev monument, overwhelmed by the feeling of an invisible touch to the great . And it’s sad that such people are becoming fewer and fewer. There are only three words on the monument - “Boxer”, “Partisan”, “Communist”. It’s a pity that very few people know how much is hidden behind them...

For their invaluable assistance in preparing this material, the author expresses deep gratitude to Vladimir Branitsky and Gennady Komarnitsky.

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Boxing history

Immediately after the October Revolution, boxing was put on a unified organizational and scientific basis. In 1918, compulsory military training was introduced, which, among other things, included boxing. Educational institutions were created that specialized in training teachers and produced many future boxing stars.

However, among the country's leadership there were many figures who considered this sport a manifestation of bourgeoisism, which led to its official ban in the mid-20s. Supporters of boxing insisted on holding a general discussion on this issue, which resulted in its final legalization. To do this, it was necessary to assemble a commission, which included representatives of trade union and sports management and doctors, four fights were held with the participation of famous boxers, after which boxing was included in the system of sports and physical education movement.

In 1926, rules for holding competitions were developed and the USSR Championship was organized. Determining the winners was not so easy, because only one athlete took part in four weight categories. They were given the title of winners conditionally, and other, honored leaders were J. Braun, L. Vyazhlinsky, K. Gradopolov and A. Pavlov.

The next championship was held only in 1933, but after that the competition began to be held regularly. Over the past seven years, our boxers, however, took part in various team friendly matches, including with foreign opponents, and often won victories.

In 1935, the government of the country decided to create public organizations for various sports; as a result, the All-Union Boxing Section appeared, which, starting in 1959, was called the USSR Boxing Federation.

During the war, championships were not held, only when the outcome became clear, in 1944, regular competitions for the title of USSR boxing champion were held, and in the same years the first youth championship was played.

In the post-war years, the number of boxing tournaments has increased, now not only national championships are held, but also republican and regional championships, and also, since 1968, the USSR Cup.

In 1950, our state joined AIBA, and our athletes were able to participate in international tournaments, and already in 1952 at the Olympics in Helsinki, our team won four bronze and two silver awards. In the following games, Russian boxers showed even better results and won three gold, one silver and two bronze medals, and also took first place in the team competition. Our subsequent successes were no less impressive and at different times such masters as V. Popenchenko, O. Griroryev, twice B. Lagutin, V. Lemeshev, D. Poznyak, V. Yanovsky and many others became Olympic champions.

In 1953, our boxers began their victorious march at the European Championships and immediately won two first places, three second places and silver in the team competition. Between 1953 and 1989, the USSR team won 155 medals at the European Championships, namely 90 gold, 32 silver and 33 bronze. Another 36 medals were won at the World Championships. Since 1969, regular friendly boxing matches have been organized between teams of the USSR and the USA, as well as other countries.

The number of boxers in the country by 1990 reached 330 thousand people. The past decades have served as an excellent start for the formation of various original schools, mainly St. Petersburg and Moscow, as well as Armenian, Kazakh, Ukrainian, Georgian and others.

The modern history of Russian boxing began in 1992, when the Russian Boxing Federation was approved. It included regional organizations located in 82 regions. In 2000, the total number of students was 210 thousand people. Since then, national championships and Russian Cup competitions have been regularly held, and there are also regional competitions.

Recently, domestic boxing has been experiencing another upsurge; our athletes have won many European and world titles. Many boxers participate in professional tournaments.

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Ancient Boxing Legends

Boxing is one of the oldest sports. Few people know that it existed before our era and was included in the Olympic Games. Information about the legendary boxers of antiquity has survived to this day.

The outstanding ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras was an Olympic champion in boxing (48th Olympiad, 588 BC). He was known as the first fighter to use the tactical and technical style of boxing. According to information recorded by Diogenes Laertius, a long-haired young man came to the Olympic arena and asked permission to compete in the youth category. At that time, Pythagoras was not yet 17 years old. When he was refused, Pythagoras joined the group of adult competitors and, to the surprise of the spectators, became the champion.

Pythagoras later founded a school that was considered one of the strongest and purest in the field of spiritual development in the entire known world. However, Pythagoras and several of his students were burned alive in the house by government mercenaries. At the same time, all his works were destroyed. Many consider Pythagoras not only the founder of the humanities, natural, systematic and exact sciences, but also the classical school of boxing.

Glaukos - Olympic champion in 520 BC. e. One day, Dimilos noticed that his son was driving a plow into dry soil with one blow of his fist. Struck by the strength of his son, the peasant sent him to an athletic school. During the championship fight, a more experienced opponent defeated Glaukos, then the father shouted: “Son, remember how you handled the plow!” Glaukos gathered all his strength, stood up and dealt a knockout blow to his opponent. An island located near Karystos was named in honor of the champion; it still bears the name Glaukos today.

Diagoras - Olympic champion 464 BC. e. - belonged to a noble Greek family. He was remembered by his contemporaries for his special boxing style. Diagoras did not even try to avoid his opponent’s blows, but held them in such a way that it seemed like he was made of steel. He never violated the rules of the fight. Thanks to this, the boxer became a real “people's” champion. In addition to the Olympic Games, he won the Isthmian boxing tournament four times and the Nemean twice.

His son became an Olympic champion in boxing, and another achieved victory in a different form. The winning tradition was also supported by one of the athlete’s grandchildren. According to legend, when the two sons of Diagoras became champions, they lifted their father onto their shoulders and carried them in front of the stands. Someone from the crowd shouted: “After this, it’s not scary to die!” After that, Diagoras suddenly dropped his head on his chest and died.

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Boxing in Russia

Boxing history

A variety of martial arts have always been popular in Russia. Even in Ancient Rus', wrestling, hand-to-hand and fist fighting were clearly distinguished; they were practiced by both military and ordinary people. Many were folk pastimes. “Wall to wall”, for example, existed until the 50s of the last century and was team fist fights. In another variation, the “dump-coupler”, several fighters fought each for themselves. “Sam-on-sam” - a duel between two fighters, has been known since the times of Kievan Rus and was an integral part of festive festivities; in addition, it was often used to resolve controversial issues if it was not possible to resolve a difficult situation in the usual way.

Many times they tried to outlaw fist fights in Rus'; church leaders considered them an echo of paganism and demonic games. However, this did not lead to fewer fights.

During the time of Ivan IV, our compatriots became acquainted with English boxing. In those days, for the sake of joy, “international matches” were held between visiting English ambassadors and Russian representatives, however, boxing received real development as a sports discipline in Russia only at the end of the 19th century.

One of the first representatives of domestic boxing was Baron Mikhail Kister, who was a lieutenant of the First Life Grenadier Regiment of Ekaterinoslav. In 1894, he published a book that allowed him to train independently and contained descriptions and drawings. This publication became incredibly popular and was reprinted many times. In 1896, Kister created the Arena sports club, where, in addition to English and French boxing, they also practiced weightlifting and wrestling.

On July 15, 1895, on the Khodynskoye field, on the territory of the camp where Kister’s regiment was stationed, the first official boxing competitions took place. The winner was Sergei Lomukhin and this date is considered the beginning of the history of Russian boxing.

In 1915, Russian rules of fighting and competitions were developed and in the next two years championships were held, where boxers from Kyiv, St. Petersburg and Moscow took part. However, at that time there was no single organization, an integral educational system of training and competitions were often spontaneous.

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Fist fights

Boxing history

Fist fights (also known as “kulachki”, “navkulachki”, “fist fight”, “boyovische”, “boyka”) have long been Russian national pastime. They were held mainly on holidays, reaching a special scale on Maslenitsa. Over time, based on the tactics of fist fights, a special Slavic style of fighting was formed.

The first report of a fist fight in Rus' can be found in the “Tale of Bygone Years” by the monk Nestor. In it, Nestor retells the story of the famous fist fighter Jan Usmoshvets, better known as Kozhemyak. The latter, demonstrating his strength to the Pecheneg, killed an adult bull with one blow of his fist, and then the Pecheneg himself.

Preparation for fist fights began among the Slavs from childhood. Games such as “pile-mala”, “king of the hill”, “on the ice slide”, “lapta”, “ryukhi”, etc. contributed to the development of fist skills in adolescents and young men. Over time, the strongest of them were allowed into real fist fights.

In the summer, battles took place on the fairground, in the winter - on the ice of rivers or lakes. Our distant ancestors distinguished three types of fist fights:

"on your own"

“coupling-dump” (as options: “dump fight”, “coupling fight”, “scatter dump”, “coupling fight”)

“wall to wall” (as options: “street to street”, “village to village”, “settlement to settlement”).

“Sam-on-sam” is the most honorable type of fist fighting. In it, the opponents met one on one. This battle was often resorted to as a way to determine who was right in a difficult legal case. This method was called “field” in court. Compared to the brutal traditional English boxing, Russian fist fighting had many restrictions:

don't hit someone who is lying down,

don't trip up

don't grab clothes

don't hit from behind

don't kick

don't hit between the legs,

do not hit if the enemy is bleeding,

do not use stones in your hands, “brass knuckles”, etc.

"Clutch-dump" is the oldest form of fist fighting. Existed in two versions:

“crowd versus crowd fight” - a duel between two groups of fist fighters; Usually in such battles there was no clear organization;

“one against all” (as an option: “for himself”) - each fist fighter fought for himself.

“Wall to wall” is the most common and favorite type of fist fighting. Teenagers usually started the battle, then it was the turn of the young men, and finally, the last to enter the battle were the adult fighters. During the battle, each side (“wall”) tried to oust the opposing side from its territory (“field”).

Each side necessarily had its own leader. He was called “battle chief”, “leader”, “old man”, less often “leader” or “ataman”. His responsibilities included determining battle tactics and adjusting the battle as the fight progressed. Each “wall” consisted of ordinary fighters and “hope” - one or more experienced fighters.

During a fist fight, fighters tried to hit mainly in 3 places:

“to the head” (to the head),

“under the mikitki” (under the ribs),

and “into the soul” (into the solar plexus).

Among the main blows, fist fighters used:

“powerful” - short side blows to the head or body,

“crack” - long side blows to the head or body,

“direct from the underflow” - direct short blows to the body in close combat,

“from the wing” - side impacts with the body inserted.

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Boxing history

It is difficult to find through the centuries the moment when fist fighting began. Images of warriors wearing primitive gloves are found even in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, which date back to the fortieth century BC. Images of fistfights are found on Babylonian bas-reliefs, and on slabs found in the vicinity of Baghdad, and in the Minoan labyrinth.

Some researchers of ancient civilizations claim that boxing existed in 1500 BC on the island of Crete. Others believe that this type of martial arts was known in Africa (in the territory of modern Ethiopia) even earlier. Hieroglyphic records, which experts date back to around the 4th millennium BC, indicate the spread of this sport throughout the Nile Valley and Egypt. As Egypt's great civilization expanded, the sport also spread to other countries.

There are also written references to fist fights held in Ancient Greece and described by Homer. The Greeks called Amycus the founder of this art, who fought with every foreigner before releasing him from his country.

Plato, Socrates and Aristotle considered fist fighting to be an aesthetically beautiful sport for strong and courageous people. In those distant times, everyone was fond of it: writers, statesmen, and poets. Pythagoras was no exception, who even took part in the Olympic Games.

For many centuries, fist fighting occupied a significant place in the lives of various peoples. Songs, epics and works of art glorify various qualities demonstrated in battle: strength, courage, nobility, courage. All this was highly valued then and is still worthy of respect.

In the period from the 11th-12th century until the 4th century BC, fighters used the simplest form of gloves, which is called meilihai. It was a soft leather belt up to 3.5 meters long, which was used to bandage hands. There were many ways to wrap your hands, but most often the fingers were bandaged first, and then the forearm.

In the 4th century, meilihai was replaced by sfairai. These gloves had two parts and consisted of the glove itself, which reached the middle of the forearm and a leather ring that surrounded the joints. At the same time, the difference was cardinal and consisted in the fact that meilihai was intended to protect the hand from injury, and sfirei was intended to increase striking force.

Then the cestes appeared - heavy gloves of Roman origin, which were equipped with iron and lead. However, their appearance had a detrimental effect on the art of combat and sports culture, therefore they were used only in gladiatorial battles.

It was during those times that the first professional boxers appeared. They held stone or metal balls in their hands and fought until one of the opponents was knocked down or one of them dealt a blow to the other, causing great damage. This approach reduced the educational value of the fight, generated unhealthy excitement and often required incredible stress from the fighters.

In those days there were no rules of combat. Neither the time of the fight nor the size of the fighting area were limited. There were no barriers, therefore there was no opportunity to drive an opponent into a corner, and there was no division into weight categories, therefore it was a sport for heavyweights. The fight lasted until one of the athletes raised his hand as a sign that he was giving up, but if no one wanted to lose, and there was no strength to continue the fight, then it was interrupted, they waited until the boxers had a rest and continued again.

The Olympic Games are, undoubtedly, a very bright and socially significant phenomenon in the history of physical culture of Ancient Greece. They received general recognition in 776 BC, and already in 688 BC. Fist fighting was included in the Olympic program.

So, in 686, boxing was included in the program of the Olympic Games. This sport, of course, was significantly different from modern boxing. There was not yet a square ring with ropes stretched around the perimeter, which gave the modern name to this sport. The fights took place in an open-air arena, with spectators marking the boundaries of the area where the athletes competed. At that time there was no countdown of the time of the fight or the number of accurate blows: the fight continued until one of the participants was unable to continue the fight.

Already in those years there were special schools that prepared athletes for competitions and were called palestras. At first, boxers used soft strips of leather to protect their hands and wrists. For some reason, ancient fighters did not think about protecting their heads, and in the Roman Empire, during gladiatorial fights, special copper or iron pads were put on strips of skin. A bag filled with date pits was used as a pear, and even then exercises using the “shadow boxing” method were used.

In order to participate in the competition, the Greek had to prove that he had been training for at least the last 10 months, in addition, he had to arrive in Olympia a month before the competition and pass the tests of the Olympic gymnasium. The statute prohibited barbarians and slaves from participating in the games.

The competitions were held according to strict rules that prohibited injury, resorting to unscrupulous methods, in particular bribery, and the implementation of this was monitored by judges - eladonics.

But it was all more of a fist fight than boxing. Modern boxing appeared in England in the 18th century. Fencer James Figg is considered its founder and first champion. He opened the first boxing school - the James Figg Boxing Academy, where he began teaching those interested in a new sport.

The first rules also appeared in England in 1865. They indicated the dimensions of the ring, the duration of the rounds and even the weight of the gloves. At the same time, Marquis John Douglas Queensbury and journalist John Chambers published “The Rules of Glove Boxing.” On August 6, 1889, the last boxing match without gloves was held. Later, special protective helmets were introduced for amateurs to soften the impact.

The organizers of the revived Olympic Games considered boxing too barbaric a sport, so it was included in the program of only the third Games in 1904. By that time, boxing had become one of the most popular sports not only in Europe, but also in America.

Now there is not only men's, but also women's boxing. The first official (though only a demonstration) fight took place at the Olympics in 1904, but then women forgot about boxing for many decades. It was only in the 80s that it was revived again. Most people still consider boxing not a female sport, and it is still not included in the Olympic program. Male boxers compete for several sets of awards in different weight categories at the Olympic Games.

Kuznetsov, Boris Georgievich

Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia

Citizenship:

Russia

Date of Birth:

Place of Birth:

Astrakhan, RSFSR, USSR

Date of death:

A place of death:

Astrakhan

Minimum weight (57 kg)

Height:

1.60

Number of wins:

Amateur career

Number of battles:

249

Number of wins:

237

Sports awards

Olympic Games

GoldMunich-1972up to 57 kg

World Championships

SilverHavana-1974up to 57 kg

Boris Georgievich Kuznetsov (February 23, 1947, Astrakhan, RSFSR, USSR - May 2, 2006, Astrakhan) - Soviet boxer, Olympic champion in 1972, silver medalist at the 1974 World Championship, champion of the USSR (1972, 1974). Honored Master of Sports of the USSR (1972). Awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor.

1 Biography

2 Sports career

3 Notes

Biography

Boris Kuznetsov was born on February 23, 1947 in Astrakhan. He started boxing in 1958. He played for “Labor Reserves” (Astrakhan). In 1971 he graduated from the Astrakhan State Pedagogical Institute. After finishing his sports career, he created a children's boxing school in Astrakhan. He died in Astrakhan on May 2, 2006 at the age of 60.

Sports career

He began boxing in 1958 under the guidance of coach V. Belokosov. He had his first official fight at the age of 14, in 1961. Since 1965, Boris began to gain fame among trainers and specialists. The boxer was distinguished by his unconventional fighting style: during the fight he worked in an open stance with his hands down, and many compared him to the famous boxer Viktor Ageev. The sharpness of his movements and the surprise of his opponent made him look very spectacular in the ring. In 1965 and 1966, Boris Kuznetsov became the champion of the USSR youth championship. In 1966 he won the international tournament “Olympic Hopes” (Berlin).

Under the leadership of coach Alexander Chaplygin, in 1970 and 1971 he became the silver medalist of the USSR Championship, and in 1972 - the USSR champion. In 1972, at the XX Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Boris Kuznetsov won gold in the featherweight division, winning the final fight against Kenyan Philip Waruinge with a score of 3:2. In 1974, he won the USSR Championship for the second time, defeating Valerian Sokolov in the final battle with a score of 3:2.

In the same year, Bois Georgievich became the winner of the 1st World Boxing Championship in Havana, losing in the decisive match to the American Howard Davis.

He fought 249 battles, celebrating victory in 237 of them. After finishing his career, Boris Kuznetsov created a children's and youth boxing school, becoming its director. During the life of Boris Georgievich, an annual all-Russian class “B” tournament among adults and youth named after him began to be held in Astrakhan, after his death - in memory of the outstanding Soviet boxer.

Boris Kuznetsov. Astrakhan nugget.

a story about the Olympic champion of the 1972 Munich Olympics Boris Kuznetsov.

Boris Kuznetsov was one of two Soviet Olympic champions at the 1972 Games in Munich. His success in the featherweight weight category (up to 57 kg) was then repeated in the second middleweight by the famous knockout artist Vyacheslav Lemeshev. Boris Kuznetsov became the jubilee – the 10th – Olympic boxing champion of the Soviet Union in history. And it was Kuznetsov who was destined to become the first Olympic gold medalist among representatives of Astrakhan and the Astrakhan region in all sports. This is what our story will be about today.

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Boris Georgievich Kuznetsov (249 fights, 237 victories)

Achievements: Outstanding Soviet amateur boxer. Olympic champion 1972, silver medalist at the 1974 World Championship, two-time champion of the USSR 1972, 1974. featherweight (up to 57 kg), Honored Master of Sports (1972)

Boris Kuznetsov was born on February 23, 1947. He began boxing in 1958 with coach V. Belokosov. But he held his first official fight only in 1961, at the age of 14. And already in 1965, the talented guy began to gain all-Union fame in the circles of coaches and specialists. From the very beginning, Boris was distinguished by a very unconventional style of fighting. Possessing brilliant reflexes and incredible coordination, Kuznetsov did not, like the vast majority of novice boxers, work in the classical manner instilled by coaches. On the contrary, during the fight he always tried to work in an open stance with his hands down. At first glance, his manner seemed adventurous and irrational. But it was enough for any critic to look at Boris’s actions in the ring, and all his skepticism instantly dissipated. The more the boxing public of that time recognized Kuznetsov, the more often they began to compare him with the brilliant Viktor Ageev. Boris's movements, however, did not have such stunning cat-like softness as was inherent in Ageev. But Kuznetsov had his own trump cards: his movements were sharper, and therefore extremely unexpected for his opponents.

In addition, all these qualities allowed Boris to look very impressive and spectacular in the ring, which was very much appreciated by boxing specialists in those days. Kuznetsov’s talent fully manifested itself already in the youth ring. In 1965 and 1966 he became the champion of the USSR in his age category, and in the same 1966 he won the very representative international tournament “Olympic Hopes” held in Berlin. True, when Kuznetsov began competing in competitions among adults, at first he did not succeed in everything. With a bold and open manner of fighting, Boris initially got a lot of trouble in fights with skilled opponents. But those temporary setbacks did not force Kuznetsov to change himself. Even missing strong blows, he still acted with his hands down, adapted to experienced opponents, polished his defensive skills with swift dives and dodging, honed his sense of distance, increased his tactical awareness, and polished feints that were puzzling for his opponents. Boris successfully implemented all these developments in subsequent years.

True, on the way to boxing heights, a not very pleasant and rather unusual episode happened in Kuznetsov’s life. When Boris decided to get married, his personal trainer Belokosov categorically opposed it. The young boxer had to make a difficult and, to some extent, even fateful decision. Kuznetsov got married, but lost his coach. At that difficult moment, Boris was greatly helped by his childhood friend Alexander Chaplygin. The guys knew each other well from many years of training, and Chaplygin, who began to look after Kuznetsov after that unpleasant incident, eventually replaced him as his mentor. It was under the leadership of Chaplygin that Boris achieved the greatest success in his sports career.

Kuznetsov had a chance to go to the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, but his then rather unstable results in intra-Union competitions became an obstacle to this. Although Boris's lackluster fights alternated with simply brilliant performances. So, shortly before the Olympics, Kuznetsov managed to defeat two boxers at once, who soon became Olympic champions - his compatriot and eternal rival Valerian Sokolov and the Mexican Antonio Roldan. It was then that Boris finally realized that he was quite capable of winning medals at the largest international tournaments himself.

Purposefully continuing to improve his skills, Kuznetsov managed to add the next Olympic cycle to his credit. In 1970 and 1971, he became the silver medalist of the USSR Championship, which was also a step forward. But 1972, the Olympic year, was entirely left to the Astrakhan resident. First, Boris took revenge from Valerian Sokolov for his defeat in last year’s final of the Soviet Union Championship and for the first time became the winner of the main all-Union competitions. And then it was the turn of the Olympic triumph. 25-year-old Kuznetsov went to the Games in Munich not just as part of the national team of the country, but also as its captain. And Boris fully justified the high trust of the coaches and management of the USSR Boxing Federation.

When Boris decided to get married, his personal trainer Belokosov categorically opposed this. The young boxer had to make a difficult and, to some extent, even fateful decision.

Upon arrival in Germany, it turned out that it was in the featherweight division, where Kuznetsov competed, that the largest number of participants entered the competition. This means that in order to win gold, it was necessary to emerge victorious from six consecutive fights. It is worth noting here that, for example, for the first Soviet Olympic boxing champion Vladimir Safronov, in order to win the 1956 featherweight tournament, it was necessary to emerge victorious in four fights. And here - already at six. But Kuznetsov, who was perfectly prepared physically and functionally, was ready to complete this tournament marathon to the end.

Boris was the first from the Soviet team to enter the Olympic boxing competitions. Kuznetsov was well acquainted with his opponent, Harouna Lago from Nigeria, from joint pre-Olympic sparring. Of course, Lago was aware of the highest class of the enemy. The African decided to forcefully compensate for Kuznetsov’s superior skill, but Boris very quickly “failed” him and knocked him down with a straight right. Lago stood up, but was immediately caught up in Kuznetsov’s signature feints and knocked out. In the second fight - against the Venezuelan Jose Baptista - an incident happened to Boris. He was given new, lightweight boxing shorts, which were good for everyone, but they slipped very much on the flooring of the ring. But this serious circumstance did not unsettle the Soviet boxer, although it made life very difficult. The assertive Baptista moved forward like a bulldozer, but Kuznetsov could not habitually flutter around the ring, breaking the distance and moving away from the direction of the attack. Boris had no choice but to rest his feet on the flooring and fight at close and medium distances. Of course, having lost his brilliant playing style and mobility, Kuznetsov faced serious difficulties, but he met the enemy with a high-speed series of blows from different angles, which ultimately determined the outcome of the battle. Although there was a disagreement in the judges' notes, with a score of 3:2, the victory was given to the Soviet fighter.

But this unpleasant circumstance somewhat unexpectedly turned out to be beneficial for Kuznetsov in the next fight. Pole Richard Tomczyk, who eliminated Valerian Sokolov from the fight at the continental championship and then became the European champion, saw Boris’s fight with Baptista and, obviously, came to the conclusion about the poor mobility of the Soviet fighter. And this played a cruel joke on him. Having put on normal boxing shorts, Kuznetsov, having had the opportunity to act in his element, literally pulled him apart on his feet and outplayed the confused Pole on counterattacks. Until the end of the battle, Tomczyk was unable to tactically adapt to the enemy’s actions and lost outright with a score of 0:5. In the quarterfinals, Boris Kuznetsov was awaited by the strong Romanian Gabriel Pometcu. The captain of the Soviet team quickly rushed into battle from the very start and suppressed the enemy with his activity and rate of fire. The persistent Romanian tried to make up for lost time in the remaining two rounds, but Boris clearly brought the fight to his victory with a score of 4:1. In the semi-finals, Kuznetsov was opposed by the Hungarian Andras Botos, who, like Mark, was a medalist at the 1971 European Championship. The pupil of the famous Laszlo Papp could not do anything about the superiority of the Soviet fighter in technology and speed. Botos tried to force a dirty fight in the clinch, but the sharp and evasive Kuznetsov stopped the Hungarian’s attempts and won with a score of 5:0.

But Boris had to meet the most formidable opponent in the tournament in the final. For Kenyan Philip Waruinga, this was already the third Olympics. In 1968, he became a bronze medalist and winner of the Val Barker Cup and now intended to eventually climb to the Olympic peak. Immediately after the fight, Boris Kuznetsov himself commented on what was happening in the ring: “I had Waruingi pinched in my right hand like a crowbar. If I had gone forward all the time, it could have ended badly. But with my left I always got him. And I got series. Probably, From the outside it didn’t look very impressive, but I felt like I was doing everything right.” The formidable African was never able to catch his jet opponent with his killer right hand and after the final bell he only hit the ropes with it in desperation. True, Kuznetsov himself did not score many accurate hits. Boris acted carefully, clearly and precisely. Perhaps the two side judges, as they say, fell for the Kenyan’s activity. Only this can explain the fact that the victory was given to the Soviet boxer only with a close score of 3:2. But this was no longer of fundamental importance, and soon the USSR anthem was played in the hall.

Having finished performing in the ring, Boris Georgievich did not break ties with boxing. In Astrakhan, he created a children's and youth boxing school and became its director.

A little later, Boris Kuznetsov’s initiative was supported by the magnificent knockout artist Vyacheslav Lemeshev. These two excellent fighters did not allow the disastrous performance of the Soviet boxing squad at those Olympic Games to happen. Only the two of them managed to reach the semi-finals, and then, without the support of their comrades who had lost in the preliminary stages, Boris and Vyacheslav won the two remaining fights and defended the honor of Soviet boxing at the Games in Munich. In their homeland they were honored as national heroes.

Apparently, having relaxed somewhat after such a significant triumph, the following year Boris Kuznetsov lost at the European Championships in Belgrade in the 1/16 finals to his old rival, Romanian Gabriel Pometec. Thus, it can be stated that our hero’s relationship with the European Championships did not work out. It so happened that Kuznetsov participated in these competitions only once, and even then unsuccessfully. But in 1974, Boris regained his fighting strength and for the second time in his career won the title of USSR champion, defeating his eternal rival Valerian Sokolov in a difficult final battle with a score of 3:2. This success allowed him to go as part of the country's national team to the first World Championship, which took place in Cuba. Having confidently won the first four fights and reached the final, Kuznetsov was most brazenly condemned in the decisive fight with the American Howard Davis (who later became the Olympic champion at the 1976 Games).

Boris knew that this first world championship in amateur boxing history would be the swan song in his long boxing career. Unfortunately, solely because of the corrupt servants of Themis, the outstanding Soviet boxer was unable to complete his boxing performances on a wave of triumph. But the champion from Astrakhan, always calm and balanced in life, accepted this blow of fate with steadfastness and equanimity. The final track record of Boris Kuznetsov’s ring battles includes 249 fights, in 237 of which the referee raised his hand. Having finished performing in the ring, Boris Georgievich did not break ties with boxing. In Astrakhan, he created a children's and youth boxing school and became its director. Even during Boris Georgievich’s lifetime, an annual all-Russian class “B” tournament among adults and youth named after him began to be held in Astrakhan. Boris Kuznetsov died on May 3, 2006 at the age of 60. After this, the boxing tournament in Astrakhan began to be held in memory of the outstanding Soviet boxer.

BORIS KUZNETSOV (USSR) – HOWARD DAVIS (USA)

(Final in the 57 kg weight category of the first World Amateur Boxing Championship 1974. Havana, Cuba)

Posted on February 17, 2010 by BoxingCoachMike in Boxing in the USA

In the news of the Russian Boxing Federation, I read an article about the Astrakhan nugget about the great Soviet boxer, 1972 Olympic Champion, Boris Kuznetsov. I heard a lot about the phenomenal reaction and sense of distance of this great master of the ring from my coach Vladimir Ivanovich Shirer, when I was just taking my first steps in boxing...

Unfortunately, I was not lucky enough to meet him and shake his hand as a sign of respect...

But I was lucky to meet his opponent in the finals of the first World Boxing Championship, held in Cuba in 1974, who became the first World Champion in the history of amateur boxing in the 57 kg weight category, and, two years later, the 1976 Olympic Champion in Montreal, winner of the Vel Barker Cup, as the best boxer of the Olympic tournament, Howard Davis!

This is how the article about that final of Boris Kuznetsov in Havana was described in the article: “Having confidently won the first four fights and reached the final, Kuznetsov was most brazenly condemned in the decisive fight with the American Howard Davis (who later became the Olympic champion at the 1976 Games) .”…..

In 2005, my student Jill Emery was preparing for her professional debut at a training facility in Florida on the same team as Zab Judah, who was training for a rematch with Corrie Spings.

The first week Jill trained under Zab Judah's father, Joel, since I would be busy in New York. One day, when we were talking with Jill on the phone, she told me that in the gym where she trains there is a coach - Olympic Champion Howard Davis. Jill then asked me: “Do I know such a Champion?”... “Of course I do,” I answered, “he boxed in the 132 pound weight category (60 kg)”... Jill answered me with doubt in her voice that it couldn’t be, this Howard Davis is very tall and big for 132 pounds...

“When we finish talking, you go up to him and ask, I’m sure it’s him...he won the World Championship at 125 pounds (57kg) before that,” I told Jill, “call me back after training...”

Jill called me back within minutes. “Mike, you were right, it really is him! You can’t imagine how pleasantly surprised Howard was when I told him that my Russian coach knew his entire boxing career...”

A week after this conversation, already in Florida, I shook hands with the great amateur boxer Howard Davis... He talked to me in a friendly way... shared memories of his boxing past...

The first days of my communication with Howard Davis, I did not dare to ask him about the fight with Boris Kuznetsov...

One evening we again started talking about the first World Amateur Boxing Championship. I asked Howard if he thought that in the final fight against the Russian, he was given an undeserved victory... Howard laughed and said: “Mike, I heard a lot about this... it's all your communist propaganda!.. I won that fight! I know that the Russian was superstar, but the judges gave me the victory, which means I deserved it! and, Mike, look, at the World I was a kid, but later, at the Olympic Games in Montreal, I became a champion and received a prize: “Best Boxer of the Tournament”!... probably even then, in Havana, I was not a gift!!! ”

In my opinion, the Olympic boxing tournament in Montreal was one of the strongest in the entire history of the Olympics, both in terms of the representation of world boxing powers and the high class of different boxing schools: European, American, Cuban... US Olympic boxing team, sample 1976 year, according to many American experts, was one of the best in the history of amateur boxing in this country! From that champion team subsequently came such great professional boxers as Sugar Ray Leonard and Michael Spinks! Of all that constellation of the best boxers on the planet, in Montreal, only one was recognized as the best, his name is Howard Davis!

I did not see the final fight of Boris Kuznetsov with Howard Davis in Havana, but I know that Boris Kuznetsov at that time was a mature ace who had gone through the fire and water of boxing battles at all levels, including the 1972 Olympics, and Howard Davis was a simple American 18-year-old boy , who won the US National Boxing Championship for the first time. By the way, at that Cuban World Championship, Davis beat the Cuban host in the semi-finals, and this is also very expensive...

REFERENCE: In 1973, Howard Davis, at the age of 17, won his first New York GOLDEN GLOVES competition among... beginners (a boxer who had no more than 10 fights in the ring)!!!

In 1973, Howard Davis won his first Golden Gloves in New York. In 1974, not the first World Amateur Boxing Championship, Howard Davis received a gold medal in the weight of 57 kg, and at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal he became the champion in the weight of 60 kg and received the Val Barker Cup - the best boxer in the Olympic tournament...

At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, the awards of which were competed by a record number of boxers - 357.

11 DEBUTANTS

The USSR national team flew to Munich as the winner of the previous Olympic boxing tournament. In Mexico City, she won 3 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medals, and this result became a benchmark for the 1972 team. However, the new senior coach of the national team, Anatoly Stepanov (in Mexico City it was led by Viktor Ogurenkov) and his assistants Yuri Radonyak and Nikolai Lee did not find a single boxer among the Olympians of four years ago who, in their opinion, could adequately represent the country at the ’72 Games. None of the eleven fighters who received tickets to Munich had experience competing at the Olympics. Every single one of them are debutants, which has never happened in the history of Russian boxing (not counting, of course, the 1952 Games). And this despite the fact that the team included 30-year-old Valery Tregubov (71 kg), who had 18 years of boxing experience, 256 fights and two victories at the European Championships. Not to mention 36-year-old flyweight Vladimir Ivanov, the oldest Soviet boxer ever to make the Olympic team.

HAPPY VIKING

It was Vladimir who opened the scoring for our victories in the Box-Hall (the Munich arena where the boxing competitions were held), winning the opening fight on points against the Argentinean K. Leyes. His example was then followed by ten other members of the team (Tregubov, in particular, left the very strong American R. Jones out of work), and this continued until the sixth day of the competition, when the first alarm bell sounded for the USSR team. The fight between Gennady Dobrokhotov (60 kg) and the Norwegian S.-E. Paulsen in the 1/8 finals did not promise any complications for our boxer. The descendant of the Vikings had not shown himself to be anything special before this fight, and the 24-year-old Muscovite had 15 victories in 15 international fights. So there was only one question: how quickly will Dobrokhotov be able to deal with his opponent? Everything really ended quickly, but, unfortunately, not in favor of our boxer. In the first round he received a deep cut to his eyebrow. The referee in the ring did not consider the Norwegian to be guilty of this, and after a doctor’s examination the fight was stopped.

BLACK DAY OF “WHITE HOPE”

The loss of Dobrokhotov, alas, was not the only one in our team on the approaches to the main events of the tournament. Following Gennady, Valery Tregubov, Anatoly Kamnev (63.5 kg) and Yuri Nesterov (over 81 kg) laid down their arms.

Valery lost to the Englishman A. Minter in an equal battle. Yuri boxed with the “white hope of America” D. Bobbik, who came to the USSR in 1972 and won three early victories over V. Chernyshov, V. Inyatkin and K. Saroyan. This time the American spent all three rounds in the ring, and the outcome of the fight was decided by a knockdown, which he succeeded at the beginning of the fight. But this victory, as it turned out later, cost Bobby dearly. He did not have time to recover in time for the next fight with Cuban T. Stevenson, and the future three-time Olympic champion managed to take convincing revenge for his defeat at the Pan American Games. In the third round, Bobbik was knocked down twice, after which the fight was stopped.

According to a similar scenario, the fight between Kamnev and Cuban A. Molina developed. Having relied on his signature right side kick, with which he had knocked out R. Johnson from Bermuda the day before, Anatoly this time faced a very mobile and competent defense. In the last round, under the threat of defeat, he went forward with his visor open and himself ran into a knockout counter blow...

TERROR ATTACK AT VICTORY SCALES

Nevertheless, the balance of power before the quarterfinals looked encouraging for us: Cuba – 9 boxers, USSR – 7, USA, Great Britain and Poland – 5, Kenya, Hungary and Germany – 4. But then something difficult to explain began. Vladimir Ivanov and Nikolay Anfimov (81 kg) unexpectedly lose on points to the Hungarian D. Gede and the Nigerian I. Ikuria, respectively. Having disagreed with the judges' verdict, ours protested both results, but to no avail.

They have barely recovered from these unforeseen setbacks when new losses follow. One after another, Boris Zariktuev (51 kg), Vasily Solomin (54 kg) and Anatoly Khokhlov (67 kg) drop out of the fight.

Anatoly Khokhlov says:

Of course, for me, Boris and Vasily, this Olympics could have turned out differently if not for the terrorist attack in the Olympic village. After almost the entire Israeli team was killed in a shootout, the Games were suspended. Then they suddenly announce to us that the battles will take place after all. We passed the weigh-in, arrived at the gym and found out that the competition... was postponed until tomorrow. Do I need to explain that for boxers who are “pushing” weight (and we lost almost 2 kg), such changes are like death...

But if I lost to Valdez from the USA, as they say, without question (I made a number of strategic mistakes), then 19-year-old Vasya Solomin (the youngest, by the way, in the team), who boxed with the American Carreras, became a victim of refereeing errors. Everyone later admitted this. As for Zariktuev, he suffered the same consequences as Gena Dobrokhotov. Boris's advantage in the fight against the Cuban Rodriguez was obvious, but he finished the first round with a cut eyebrow. In the third, Rodriguez, sensing his opponent’s weak point, began to attack chaotically. Bora, in my opinion, should not have accepted the challenge, but he did not know how to retreat. Hard boxing began on a collision course, which at one point was stopped by the American referee. The doctor intervened in the matter, and that was the end for Zariktuev...

THERE IS A TECHNIQUE AGAINST CRAWL

Only two Soviet boxers made it to the semifinals - Boris Kuznetsov (57 kg), who defeated the Romanian G. Mark on points, and Vyacheslav Lemeshev (75 kg), who forced the Turk Kuran to capitulate early. It is curious that in the second round, the Turkish boxer, having been knocked down again, went to his corner, although the judge in the ring was still trying to give him a chance.

In the entire history of previous performances at the Olympics, there has never been such a weak (in quantitative terms) representation of the USSR national team in the semi-finals. The situation actually threatened to turn into a disaster, but Kuznetsov and Lemeshev saved it by winning gold medals.

Having defeated the Hungarian A. Botos (a student of the legendary Laszlo Papp) with a “dry” score, Boris met in a decisive match with the winner of the Barker Cup of the XIX Olympiad, the Kenyan F. Waruingi, who, according to statistics, had 613 victories in 625 fights (for comparison : Kuznetsov had 193 fights and 182 victories by that time).

Boris Kuznetsov says:

The Kenyan held it like a crowbar in his right hand. If I had gone forward all the time, it could have ended badly for me. But I constantly reached him with my left hand. And the series worked for me. Our fight probably didn’t look very impressive from the outside, but I felt like I was doing everything right.

Waruingi never waited for Boris to recklessly rush at him, and put all the strength of his right hand into a desperate blow to the ropes after the final gong...

But Lemeshev’s opponent in the semifinals, American M. Johnson, immediately felt the power of Vyacheslav’s blows. Two consecutive knockdowns in the second round easily convinced him (not to mention the referee in the ring) that there was no point in continuing the fight.

And in the final against the Finn R. Virtanen, 20-year-old Lemeshev only needed 2 minutes and 17 seconds to secure his championship. The third knockdown shocked the Finnish boxer so much that he could not get up from the floor even after the word “out”...

Seventeen years later, at the World Championships held in Moscow, Finnish journalists approached Lemeshev and said that after this knockout Virtanen never entered the ring again and remained disabled. Alas, Vyacheslav was also already ill by that time (today he is no longer alive, like Vasily Solomin, Boris Zariktuev, Anatoly Kamnev, Valery Tregubov and Yuri Nesterov), and one can only regret that in 1972 in Munich, when choosing the next owner For the Barker Cup (a prize for the best boxer at the Olympics), the organizers preferred the Cuban Teofilo Stevenson, and when asked: “Why not Lemeshev?” - They answered: “Everything is ahead of him, and he will still get his…”

COMPOSITION OF THE USSR TEAM BOXING AT THE 1972 OLYMPICS

48 kg

Vladimir Ivanov (1st flyweight)

51 kg

Boris Zariktuev (2nd flyweight)

54 kg

Vasily Solomin (bantamweight)

57 kg

Boris Kuznetsov (featherweight) – 1st place

60 kg

Gennady Dobrokhotov (lightweight)

63.5 kg

Anatoly Kamnev (1st welterweight)

67 kg

Anatoly Khokhlov (2nd welterweight)

71 kg

Valery Tregubov (1st middleweight)

75 kg

Vyacheslav Lemeshev (2nd middle weight) – 1st place

81 kg

Nikolay Anfimov (light heavyweight)

Over 81 kg

Yuri Nesterov (heavyweight)

Vyacheslav Lemeshev: Soviet knockout artist

The fate of boxer Vyacheslav Lemeshev is very tragic. Having become the youngest Olympic boxing champion in the history of the USSR at the age of 20, at the age of 28 he was already a sick man, and at the age of 43 he was gone. Lemeshev, like a meteor, flashed brightly across the horizon of world amateur boxing and just as quickly disappeared. During the years of triumph, Vyacheslav was incredibly popular in his homeland. It was difficult for him to walk through the streets of Moscow, since passers-by constantly recognized and stopped him. The whole country loved this brilliant, lanky knockout fighter at the time. In his heyday, he was even more popular than the stars of Soviet hockey. Everyone who saw him in the ring most vividly remembered his signature lightning-fast short counter punches to the right, from which many of his opponents fell into knockouts.

Reference:

Vyacheslav Ivanovich Lemeshev (111 fights, 103 victories)

Achievements: Outstanding Soviet amateur boxer. Olympic champion 1972 in the second middle weight (up to 75 kg), two-time European champion in 1973 and 1975. in second middle weight, 1974 USSR light heavyweight champion, Honored Master of Sports (1972)

Vyacheslav Lemeshev was born on April 3, 1952 in Moscow. His parents were from two villages in the Yegoryevsky district of the Moscow region. They lived there until 1934, and then moved to Moscow, where their first son, Evgeniy, was born. During the war, Ivan Lemeshev went to the front and met victory in Berlin. Then the Lemeshev family settled in Germany, as their father continued his military service there. In 1947, their second son, Yuri, was born. And upon returning to Moscow, a third son was born - Vyacheslav. As often happens, passing the hobby from one to another, all the brothers in the family were involved in boxing. Evgeniy and Yuriy played for the CSKA team and became masters of sports of the USSR. But their younger brother Vyacheslav achieved much greater heights, becoming an Olympic champion. At the age of 14, at one of the competitions, the talented boy was noticed by Lev Markovich Segalovich, a former famous Soviet boxer, 6-time national champion, who by that time was already working as a coach. Segalovich was the mentor of Yuri Lemeshev, but after he saw Vyacheslav in the ring, he immediately took his younger brother under his wing. In this lanky, not very athletic and slightly awkward guy, enormous talent was immediately discernible.

Segalovich laid the basic technical skills for the young talent. Moreover, the experienced coach professed the philosophy of the pre-war school of boxing, which ran counter to the playing style of boxing then instilled in the Soviet Union. Thanks to this, in the future, Lemeshev, in terms of entertainment, stood out favorably from many of his teammates on the national team - already in his youth, Vyacheslav was an exemplary counterattacking knockout artist, which the audience absolutely loved. At the age of 17, Vyacheslav became the winner of the USSR Junior Welterweight Championship. And then he shone on the international stage, winning the European Junior Championship twice - in 1970 and 1972. Moreover, both times he was also recognized as the best boxer of the tournament, becoming the first and second winner of the Emile Gremaud Cup (the first president of AIBA). In 1970, Vyacheslav began training under the guidance of the silver medalist of the 1960 Rome Olympics, at that time the head coach of CSKA, and a little later who became the head coach of the USSR national team, Yuri Radonyak. But Lemeshev never forgot the mentor who laid the foundations of his mastery. Vyacheslav always said that he trains under the guidance of two personal trainers. Thanks to such nobility and gratitude, Lemeshev Lev Markovich Segalovich was awarded the title of Honored Trainer of the USSR after the Olympic triumph of his pupil.

It so happened that Lemeshev performed much worse at intra-Union competitions than at international ones. The reason for this, many who knew him, say is Vyacheslav’s not entirely serious attitude towards both the training process and sports regime, and a somewhat cool attitude towards internal competitions. Later, these factors would become one of the main reasons that led to a premature decline in both Lemeshev’s purely boxing and physical condition. So in 1972, the Olympic year, a very strong boxer from Tashkent, Rufat Riskiev, became the country's champion, and Vyacheslav did not even make it to the prize-winners of the union championship. But after the pre-Olympic training camp, the national team’s coaches still chose to include 20-year-old Lemeshev in the Olympic application. As it turned out later, this was a justified move.

The boxing tournament at the Munich Olympics almost ended in failure for the USSR national team. Then only two Soviet boxers made it to the semi-final stage - Boris Kuznetsov and Vyacheslav Lemeshev. In order not to lose face and maintain the high authority of the Soviet school of boxing, these two boxers needed to win both the semi-finals and the finals. And the guys coped with this task. Thus, although the USSR national team had only two medals, both of them were of the highest value. The main contenders for gold in the second middleweight category (up to 75 kg) were American Marvin Johnson and Cuban Alejandro Montoya. Lemeshev was in the status of a dark horse. Having started the tournament with a knockout victory in the 1st round over the Indonesian William Gomnies, in the second round Vyacheslav defeated the representative of the GDR, Hans-Joachim Braske, on points in a difficult fight. Two knockdowns helped, in which Lemeshev sent the unyielding German during the battle. At the quarterfinal stage, the Turk Nazif Kuran also did not become an insurmountable obstacle for Vyacheslav and was defeated by technical knockout in the 2nd round.

But in the semi-finals, Marvin Johnson, who had dealt with Cuban Montoya, was waiting for Lemeshev. At the match between the USSR and the USA at the beginning of the same year, the American had already defeated Vyacheslav and entered the fight with him as a favorite. But Lemeshev, who was then at the peak of his capabilities, could not be stopped. Johnson, who later became the world champion among professionals, immediately rushed to the attack. Vyacheslav, who was not at all shy, accepted the battle without hesitation. The 1st round took place in a sharply attacking manner with many exchanges of blows. And in the second three minutes, Lemeshev twice skewered Johnson with his signature right cross, after which the American was knocked down. Shortly after the second count, the referee was forced to stop the fight due to the fact that Johnson could no longer provide any resistance to the Soviet fighter. Everyone understood that this particular fight was key in terms of determining the winner in the weight category up to 75 kg. Finn Reima Virtanen, who entered the ring against Vyacheslav in the final fight, could not last even one round. As a result of Lemeshev’s brutal blows, the poor Finn not only found himself severely knocked out, but was also forced to end his boxing career, remaining disabled for the rest of his life.

Vyacheslav Lemeshev not only won a gold medal, but was also considered as one of the main nominees for the Val Barker Cup, awarded to the most technical (and, in fact, the best) boxer at the Olympic tournament. But in the end, international functionaries still gave this prize to the Cuban heavyweight Teofilo Stevenson. Then it seemed that the Barker Cup and other regalia would still be ahead for young Lemeshev. But it didn't turn out quite like that. Vyacheslav won the title of European champion twice more - in 1973 and 1975, in 1974 he became the national champion (though not in his “native” second middleweight, but in the light heavyweight), and in the next two years he took silver and bronze medals at the All-Union championship But he never had such brilliant form as at the Olympics.

Even when he first joined the country’s youth team, the coaches discovered Vyacheslav’s reaction was phenomenal. As tests carried out by the research group showed, none of the other boxers who were involved in the national teams of the country in those years had the same speed of reflexes as Lemeshev. It was thanks to these natural abilities that he demonstrated such incredible boxing. Vyacheslav did not really like grueling training and did not look like a hero in the ring. In addition, many opponents knew about his deadly counter right cross. But they still couldn’t do anything about him. Lemeshev was asked how he selects the moment to strike, how he sees the opportunity to carry out an attack? To which Vyacheslav replied that he does not see, but feels this moment. And his instinct was so phenomenal that often after delivering a knockout blow, he would immediately turn around and go to a neutral corner, knowing that his opponent was already helpless and falling to the floor.

But shortcomings in the training room and frequent violations of the sports regime quite soon began to negatively affect the results of Vyacheslav’s performances. At one of the sparring sessions with Riskiev, Lemeshev was literally knocked out, after which his seconds had to carry him out of the hall in their arms. Numerous blows missed due to inadequate preparation for battles and neglect of defense began to affect the speed of Vyacheslav’s reflexes. He continued to try hard, sharply and unexpectedly to deliver counterattacking blows, but more and more often he began to be late. The final blow to Lemeshev's great ambitions was his failure to be included in the Olympic team for the 1976 Games in Montreal. Then, in the second middleweight division in the USSR, the distribution of forces between the three leaders was like a game of “rock, paper, scissors.” Rufat Riskiev defeated Lemeshev, but lost to Anatoly Klimanov, who, in turn, was defeated by Vyacheslav. As a result, the national team’s coaching staff made a decision that was extremely offensive to Lemeshev: in the second middleweight division, Riskiev was included in the Olympic team, Klimanov was nominated in the light heavyweight category, and the champion of the previous Olympics remained at home.

After this, Lemeshev’s career went downhill. In addition, Vyacheslav began to abuse alcohol more and more often. Despite being only 24 years old at that time, Lemeshev failed to achieve any further success either in the international or domestic arena. At the age of 28, Vyacheslav was sent to work as a trainer in a group of Soviet troops stationed in the GDR. Even then he began to suffer from pain. But Lemeshev’s fighting nature did not allow him to calmly engage in coaching; he was still drawn to the ring. Nothing good came of this. Now he was already a slow, inhibited, loose boxer, whom it was a pity to look at. Vyacheslav lost several of his last fights by knockout. Somehow, even a first-class fighter, who was trembling before a fight with him, knocked him under the ropes and suffered a severe knockout. Of course, these defeats further worsened Lemeshev’s health.

After returning from Germany, Vyacheslav found no use for his sports experience in his homeland. He worked as a pumping station driver, a watchman in a cooperative, a landscaping worker, and even for a couple of months as a gravedigger at the Vostryakovsky cemetery. A few years later he was placed on disability. First I received the second group, and then the first. He had a whole bunch of illnesses. Atrophy of cerebral vessels developed, vision deteriorated greatly, there were problems with the liver, and psoriasis and epilepsy were added to this. In the 1990s, Vyacheslav could no longer go with his friends on his favorite hunt. But many comrades visited him and helped him financially, because the state pension and disability benefits were not enough for life and numerous medications. And, of course, the main support in the last years of Lemeshev’s life was his third wife Zinaida. In 1995, Vyacheslav underwent craniotomy surgery. One of the elderly doctors, after studying the tomographic image, admitted to Vyacheslav’s brother Yuri that he had never seen the brain so badly damaged in his life. But even being bedridden, Vyacheslav did not blame boxing for his illness. He said that in many top-level sports, competitors often suffer serious injuries. The youngest Olympic boxing champion of the USSR died on January 27, 1996 at the age of 44. Vyacheslav Lemeshev was buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery. Gold

During his entire sports career, Korotaev had 196 fights in the ring, winning 187 of them (160 times with knockout). He was considered one of the best light heavyweight boxers in the USSR in the 1970s. After one of the battles, an English sports correspondent-observer called Korotaev a “Russian tank.”

In 1973, Korotaev took part in the Twentieth European Boxing Championship as part of the USSR national team, with such famous athletes as Vladislav Zasypko, Boris Kuznetsov, Vyacheslav Lemeshev. He made it to the semi-finals, where he met Yugoslav boxer Mate Parlov, to whom he lost due to a cut eyebrow. Korotaev's award was a bronze medal.

On August 17, 1974, the first world championship among amateur boxers was opened. From 45 countries, 263 boxers arrived in Cuba. Among them was Oleg Korotaev. Having successfully completed the preliminary fights, in the semi-finals of the tournament Oleg met with the promising American boxer Leon Spinks and defeated the American in a difficult fight. Three years later, Leon Spinks became the absolute world champion by defeating the legendary Muhammad Ali. In the final, Korotaev again met Yugoslav Mate Parlov. In the first round, Korotaev knocked Parlov down, but after the collision, Korotaev received a cut, the fight was stopped and the victory was awarded to the eminent two-time European champion. Korotaev won the silver medal at the first world championship. Mate Parlov subsequently became the European champion among professionals. He considered Korotaev a great boxer and his toughest opponent. No one but him could knock down the Yugoslav.

After finishing his performances in the ring, Oleg Korotaev did not leave boxing; he became vice-president of the Russian Boxing Association.

Many are sure that the decline of Oleg Korotaev’s sports career was due to the fact that he was offered a contract to perform in the USA. The amount of the fee was stated to be up to a million dollars. But this was in the 1970s, when something like this would have been impossible in the USSR. Korotaev, although he did not express any anti-Soviet thoughts and was not interested in politics, nevertheless ended up on the “black list” for violations of the sports regime, systematically being late for training, and a difficult character. According to another version, Korotaev stopped his career due to the machinations of his enemies.

Korotaev and crime

After the end of his boxing career, in 1977, due to a fight with Igor Shchelokov, the son of the head of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs Nikolai Shchelokov, Oleg Korotaev was arrested for causing grievous bodily harm, possession of weapons (storage of a souvenir cartridge) and drugs. According to the court verdict, he spent 5 years in prison. Many believe that the accusation was fabricated by his ill-wishers. Among the confiscated weapons was a machete, which Fidel Castro personally gave to Korotaev, admiring his fight, and several pistol cartridges. Korotaev also never used drugs (cannabis was found in his apartment); many were sure that they had been planted on him. In 1983, he was arrested again and convicted of hooliganism and causing grievous bodily harm.

Gradually, Korotaev acquired extensive connections in the criminal world. Among his acquaintances were such famous crime bosses as Otari Kvantrishvili (“Otarik”), Leonid Zavadsky (“Lyonchik”), Sergei Mamsurov (“Mansur”), thieves in law Vyacheslav Ivankov (“Yaponchik”), Pavel Zakharov (“Pasha” Tsirul"), Alexander Zakharov ("Shurik Zakhar"). Korotaev did not lose touch with his fellow countrymen from the Urals. According to some reports, this subsequently became the cause of his death. In the early 1990s, a wave of contract killings swept through Yekaterinburg, and perhaps its echoes reached Korotaev.

Death of Oleg Korotaev

Korotaev was repeatedly warned about the impending attempt on his life, but he refused to believe it, saying:

...Come on, who am I bothering?..

But in 1992, the former boxer found himself under surveillance. In the same year, Oleg Korotaev left for the United States of America. It is not known for certain what business he was involved in there for two years. However, it is known that in the last years of his life he was involved in charity work, for example, he gave 50 thousand dollars for an operation for the Russian boxer Sergei Artemyev, who received a severe head injury in 1993. According to the recollections of Korotaev’s acquaintances, he often called his family and missed his homeland.

On January 12, 1994, Oleg Korotaev was shot in the back of the head in the South Brooklyn area of New York, on Brighton Beach Avenue. Some time later, the coffin with his body was delivered to Moscow. Oleg Korotaev was buried at the entrance to the Vagankovskoye cemetery. The funeral was attended by a huge number of athletes, crime bosses, and thieves in law (in particular, the famous thief in law Ushaty flew in specially from the USA). The authority Leonid Zavadsky, who was soon also killed, said at the funeral of Oleg Korotaev: Nikolai Kosmin Who killed the champion?. - M., 1995.

Igor BEDEROV STRIKES AFTER THE GONG (Russian). Novaya Gazeta (February 4, 2002). Retrieved August 2, 2010.

Oleg Korotaev - another story (Russian). (09 July 2010). Retrieved August 2, 2010.

Literature

Nikolay Modestov “Moscow is gangster. Part 1" - chapter "The Last Knockout"

Nikolai Kosmin “Who killed the champion?”

Some of the best boxers in the Soviet Union

Vladimir Nikolaevich Yengibaryan

A native of Armenia, Vladimir Nikolaevich Yengibaryan became the first boxer of the Soviet Union to win the European champion title, and the second Olympic boxing champion in the history of Soviet sports. He was rightfully considered one of the greatest boxers of the Soviet era. Olympic champion in 1956, three-time champion of Europe and the Soviet Union, winner of the 1st Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR in 1956. A brilliant technician and tactician who boxed in a non-standard and atypical manner for his time. At first, many boxing experts and officials considered Yengibaryan’s unique style unacceptable and unsuitable for performing at international competitions at the highest level, so they “pushed” the talented young boxer without including him in the national team. But the natural genius made his way, proving his skill in battles with the strongest opponents.