By Bill Kozloff (Allboxing.ru) and Alexey Sukachev / Photo: Gesi Shilling

One can hardly find a bigger hitter in modern boxing (and, yes, we are talking pound-for-pound here) than the 29-year old Russian expatriate Magomed Abdusalamov. He recently fought in Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (Hollywood, FL) and “suffered” his first ever “setback” as it took Bahamian heavyweight Jerry Butler (8-9-1, 8 KOs) almost two complete rounds to finally give up hope. Butler also became the first boxer to last longer than three minutes in the same ring with Abdusalamov, as all eight Magomed’s previous opponents were stopped in one.

Allboxing’s Bill Kozloff met Abdusalamov (9-0, 9 KOs) in one of the Florida gyms before his upcoming fight and immediately after it. During a lengthy conversation the rapidly-rising kayo artist spoke about current heavyweights, revealed his plans for the future and memories of the past.

- Magomed, our congratulations! Tell us more about your fight with Butler.

- Thanks. One day before the fight we found an old tape of Butler and realized that he likes to move forward with his head behind his guard. I used this fact to construct my plan for the clash. In the first, I tried to open him up with some feints and also bombed his body. Butler was rather stocky; he ducked down with his guard up so that my punches were just touching the upper section of his head. And it’s hard to knock your opponent out by hitting him on the temple. However, I was able to wobble him twice. I want to address some props to the guy I was fighting against – he is very tough. In the second stanza I managed to open him up; landed several well-placed body shots but he kept boxing anyway. I waited for the referee to stop it but instead it was Butler’s corner that put a halt to this contest.

- Now tell us a few things about yourself. How have you managed to enter the game? What other sports had you taken before?

- I’m from Dagestan (easternmost autonomous republic in Northern Caucasus). My father always told me to take up sports; he gave his blessing for that kind of activities. And I was doing pretty well. At 12, I had already been practicing kickboxing, muay thai and other martial arts. Later I became a national champion in these disciplines and took some medals at world championships. I fully entered classical boxing at 22 after I suffered a knee injury. Firstly, I didn’t plan to make it my priority but I just wanted to improve my hands, to use it better and to deliver more power with my punches. But I got addicted to the new game and followed the path. In September 2008 I entered the pro ranks where I’m at now.

- Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling is much more popular in Dagestan. Why did you choose kickboxing and later boxing instead?

- I love wrestling. I’m really fond of it. Moreover, my father is a master of sports (an honorary rank for sportsmen in the former USSR). But when movie with such superstars as Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee became popular in the Soviet Union, the youth turned into various martial arts more willingly. There was no wrestling gym around but there were classes of kickboxing,and some other sports. And I’ve chosen kick boxing.

- Who was your first coach in amateur boxing?

- Gadzhimurat Gaziev is his name. He still helps me much. He is very close to me, more of an elder brother figure.

- Rumors are widespread about your results in the unpaid ranks. A few of us say all your wins were by way of knockout; others doubt it and point out decisions as well; while some insist you have lost some bouts also inside the distance. Which version is correct? What is your amateur record?

- Actually, I don’t know my record for sure. I had about fifty amateur fights, and most of them were my victories. My biggest achievement is a Russian national title. I won it twice. As for details on my record I’m ensured that at least 95% of my wins were either by knockout or by stoppage. But I did earn decisions as well. For example, there was a tall gifted heavyweight (who has unfortunately given up boxing) Denis Sergeev whom I overcame on points. He was moving good, ran much. I decked him twice but he was able to make it to the final bell.

There are also two opponents, who are currently pros, whom I’m very eager to fight with to avenge my previous losses. One is British boxer David Price. I remember fighting him during the Olympic qualifiers. I rocked him badly in the first but he was able to survive and then he started to fight back. He landed several blows – although they were just touching my hands and didn’t trouble me at all – and the score rapidly increased to 20-0 or similar numbers. The fight was stopped immediately after that. I was very angry with my Belarussian team (that time I was competing for Belarus). They knew much about how bad and corrupt amateur scoring system was and they didn’t provide me with necessary support.

Another fighter I want to come against for the second time is Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev. I met him in the final of one of amateur tournaments almost immediately after I won one of Russian nationals. That was a sad story, you know. In the quarterfinal I stopped a Kazakh fighter but suffered a broken rib. I won the semifinal on a walkover of the opponent and then, in the finals, I met Pulev. My trainers insisted I could knock him out anyway even though I barely stood in the ring. “You can do it”, they said, “Just land a punch and this is it – Pulev will be done”. But it wasn’t that simple.

The Bulgarian is a very good boxer, very experienced. He was looking carefully after my punches and answered in style. While throwing one of my bigger blows I felt an abrupt pain in rib section. I stopped throwing after that and just covered up. I lost that fight.

- You were born in Dagestan, Russia. You competed for both Russian and Belarussian national teams. Now you have Azerbaijani flag at your corner but you compete overseas, at the States. What is your ethnic/civil identity? Who are you?

- I don’t think it’s that important which country you represent while competing as a prizefighter. Originally, I’m from Russia. But to compete successfully you need to have a sufficient financial backing. Russia failed to provide me with that kind of support so I decided to represent a country which helped me much financially and is still supporting me. I don’t think it’s something I should be ashamed of. We need finances to establish a good training camp, to pay my opponents, to move me up in ranks. My manager Gamzat Aghayev was able to reach an agreement with Azerbaijan, which is a neighboring country to Dagestan. I’m very thankful to all people in Azerbaijan who support me so strong. Special thanks go to my Azerbaijani sponsor Kiamaleddin Geidarov, who is also the president of local boxing federation. His help can hardly be overestimated.

- What is your best weight? Don’t you think it’ll be better to lose about ten pounds or are you ok with your present conditions?

- I weighed around 260 pounds earlier in my career. Now my weight is decreased to 245 pounds but I’ll see if it’s enough for me or not. When I’m heavier I’m not as agile and my speed decreases but my punches become much stronger. On the other hand, with the decreased weight I’m still punching well but my hand and foot speed improves.
- You have seen the second round only once in your career (as a pro). Don’t you think a lengthy fight can be a hard test for you as you are adapted to fight in short spans?

- No, I don’t think so. I can tell you without false modesty that my sparring partners in the gym are getting tired much faster than me in our mutual sparring sessions. And I’m working with such established fighters as Mike Mollo, Oliver McCall, Fres Oquendo and Sherman Williams. So going a long road won’t be a problem to me.

- Tell us about your team.

- My manager is Gamzat Aghayev, who is also a manager of “Baku Fires” WSB team. Boris Grinberg helps us an advisor. My head coach is former middleweight champion John David Jackson, who is a well-known personality around world boxing community. Jeremy Fedoruk helps him as a conditioning trainer. I don’t have any promotional agreements at this time.

- Your punching power is fearsome. Is it innate?

- I think it’s natural, innate. These are genes which were passed to me by my father.
- There’s a feeling knockout victories are just coming your way. Sometimes it seems you don’t even intend to knock your opponent out yet he goes down.

Are you hunting for early stoppages or are they occasional?

- Well, you are right. Almost all of my knockouts surprised me as well. I don’t intend to knock my opponents out and I don’t hunt for knockouts. I’m just doing my job which is to land a good, crisp power punch and hardly anything else. But when I do land a punch my opponent is going down.

- Many fans think you are a one-sided aggressor and you can be hit easily with some heavy leather. What can you tell them?

- (Laughs). I read about me in the forums. I pay attention to both my critics and my supporters and I’m not offended by their statements. Every fighter has its own strengths and weaknesses. Someone punches strong, while another one is a defensive wizard. To hit my opponent I need to open him up. So I make feints and set traps. I intend to look vulnerable but not to be vulnerable. I usually notice a strong blow and can avoid it with my defense. But sometimes you need to take a punch in order to land a punch. And my punch is rather strong – that’s why I use such a strategy to a degree.

- Who is presently the best Russian heavyweight – Alexander Povetkin, Denis Boytsov or someone else? Is there anybody who can beat the Klitschko brothers in foreseeable future?

- You never know. Klitschkos were long-time underachievers. They were near the top of the division but failed to climb the hill. But now they are the best and it’s hard to see anyone beating them. But every top fighter has his own chance; even though it can be a slim opportunity. In boxing one punch can do the trick. Both Povetkin and Boytsov have what it takes to become the best but only future will tell us if that is really enough. Alexander is a hard-hitter and he is a pressure fighter. Denis isn’t very active but his punch looks to be even harder than Povetkin’s. He is also young enough to develop into a good fighter.

- Who is the best fighter of our generation? Of all the times? Who was your idol?

- Everyone (and me included) is waiting for a fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. That could be helluva fight. Pacquiao is extremely powerful and of great endurance. Coupled with a fascinating speed it makes him a unique fighter. But Floyd is so smart and so tricky that he can neutralize any single strength of Pacquiao. Speaking of all-time greats, there were plenty of them. Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali were both immensely strong. But I have to go with George Foreman. I like his fights the best.

- Magomed, thank you for your time!

- Thanks to you!

An original interview in Russian can be read here.