By Alexey Sukachev
A Russian fighter isn’t a rarity in the States nowadays. There was a short period of time in the early 00’s when it was hard to find newcomers from former soviet republics (especially from Russia) overseas with the niche being filled by capable veterans like Klitschko brothers, Kostya Tszyu or Vasily Jirov. Another wave approached a couple of years ago, however, as such pugilists as Matvey Korobov, Sergey Kovalev and the Chudinov brothers all turned pro not so long ago. All four were notable amateurs in their past (Korobov being actually one of the most decorated boxers to start prizefighting in recent memory) and an entire squad honed its skills in unpaid ranks by fighting a who’s who of amateur ratings.
One Russian boxer who is significantly different in comparison with the aforementioned group prepares for a huge step up in class less than a week from this date. On October 22, rising bantamweight Khabir Suleymanov (10-0, 4 KOs) will lace up gloves to take on Mexican Javier Gallo (16-2-1, 9 KOs) for the vacant WBO NABO 118lb title. Suleymanov is not a spring chicken at 29, and amazingly so, the upcoming contest will not be placed under a high number in conventional boxing’s record for Chelyabinsk native.
Maybe it will be his 20th or 30th career bout and hardly more.
“You’ve asked me about my amateur experience, Alexey, and that sounds funny. Actually, I have never been an amateur boxer before relocating myself to the States. I indeed had four amateur bouts in Russia but that was all. I had another fighting experience. I was a capable kick boxer in my past. I have graduated from Chelyabinsk Agricultural and Engineering University; I was a long-time champion of this college alongside my twin brother Sabir, and we won a number of titles in Russia. Not that the Suleymanov brothers were the best kick boxers around but we were very good, really good”, says Khabir with a smile on his face, a determined smile.
But it was not kick boxing which riveted brothers’ attention.
“We desired to test our skills in deep waters and to push ourselves up to the limits. Both of us loved boxing and the only choice in this case was to start it from the very beginning in America. It was in 2004. We chose to move overseas because it’s only abroad where it’s worth of starting your pro career. It is the way Kostya Tszyu and Klitschko brothers became world champions – by fighting far from their homes. Not everyone was pleased with our decision, and our parents feared for us. It was a tough choice but we didn’t look back”.
Suleymanov took two years before he started boxing as a prizefighter.
“We decided to first hone our skills in local amateur competitions. And we draw some attention when I and Sabir became heroes of an unprecedented incident during The New York Golden Gloves tournament. It was in 2005 when we competed at the same weight class – 119 lbs. We both defeated all our opponents and we were slated to face each other in the finals but the organizing committee chose not to make a fight between us but to award both of us with champion statuses and respected golden gloves. That was for the first time in the history of the tournament”, Khabir is happily smiling to a webcam (as we are talking by Skype) and shaking his regalia in front of the monitor.
Yet, when Suleymanov turned pro in September 2006 his brother didn’t follow his way.
“It’s pretty complicated”, says Khabir while looking a bit to the side and off cam at the same time. “Sabir was promised fights several times and each time it had fallen through. That was disappointing. There was more to that. We left our parents in Russia, and they are old enough and it’s hard for them to work all day long. Children must take care of their beloved ones; so Sabir took a hard decision to abandon his future boxing career and to fly back home in order to support the family”.
Unfortunately, Khabir’s road was also very rocky at the start.
“Firstly, we resided in New York. It’s a great city but not for diminutive boxers. I’m not the biggest man on the Earth and lower weight classes aren’t really popular on the East Coast. That was the reason why I have missed almost a year and a half in the very beginning of my pro career (Suleymanov hadn’t been boxing since October 2006 and March 2008). It’s got better when I moved to California, where there are a lot of Mexican and Latino fighters, especially around bantamweight. The second reason for my relative setback was that I needed to work hard to earn some money off the ring. I’m still working as a fitness instructor in one of California gyms. That’s just the way it is – you cannot live without working if you are only a bantamweight”.
Suleymanov says his hardest fight was against Alexander Mercado in June 2008.
“We were both unbeatens and Mercado had one fight more than me to his record. He was a hard-hitting, aggressive stalker and I had to dig extremely deep to get a nod in that battle” (Khabir edged Mercado with a split decision).
But that victory signalized a major turn to the good for the 27-year old fighter as he signed with Steven Bash of Bash Boxing.
“We started working together in late 2008 and things got considerably better after that. Not that everything is fine now – I want to fight more often – but with Steve I found a rhythm, got ranks and started to fight capable boxers and not pushovers”.
Suleymanov fought three times in 2009 (with wins over 9-1 Joey Silva and 15-4 Jonathan Arias among others) and cruised over savvy veteran Benjie Garcia this April to get a rank with the NABO. Both Suleymanov and his future opponent Gallo (NABO #13) were in negotiations to battle against highly regarded young gun Chris Avalos but those bouts had fallen through and a title became vacant, when Avalos lost to over-the-weight Chris Martin in August. Gallo and Suleymanov promptly got to an agreement to fight in Glendale.
“The weight limit is also a slight problem to me as I need to burn out 12-13 pounds from my daily norm but there are guys who are losing 15-16 pounds in preparation for their fights and feel themselves comfortably so I’m not foreseeing any problems here.”
Khabir could be a relatively inexperienced fighter in terms of his official record but he is a well-known personality around West Coast gyms where he got a notable nickname “Crazy Russian” (although Suleymanov possesses Asian looks thanks to his Bashkir origin). It hasn’t been given to Chelyabinsk-native for nothing.
“I like challenges and I like to live up to my words. I don’t like trash-talking though so when someone is calling me out or saying something bad about me I’m always ready to get it on right here and now. That was the case in American gyms several times and that was one of the reasons why I received such a moniker. Some fighters, mostly African-American, called me out but when I said to them – c’mon, let’s get it on – they preferred to flee rather than to fight. I don’t get it. If you say something you should follow your word. Another reason is that I prefer in-your-face, aggressive style of fighting which goes well with the fans”.
Suleymanov is known for never turning down a chance to test his skills against the best possible opponents.
“I usually work in Wild Card Gym with such guys as Takashi Okada (2-0-1, 1 KO), Dean Byrne (13-0, 6 KOs) and Efrain Esquivias (10-0, 6 KOs). I stood in pairs with Guillermo Rigondeaux, Alejandro Perez and future world champion Dmitry Kirillov earlier in my past. That was an invaluable experience”.
It was in California where Suleymanov met a good share of his former countrymen.
“I’m in good connection with Ukrainians Anatoliy Dudchenko and Ismayl Sillakh, both of whom are great guys. I’m also a countryman of Sergey Kovalev, who is also from Chelyabinsk”.
Khabir isn’t one who will lose his connection with the Homeland.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t get much of a chance to get back to Russia after my transfer to America. Yet I twice found moments to visit my country. The last time I was in Chelyabinsk was this September. I got so many positive impressions that I still cannot believe them!”
Aside from his visit it was Sabir’s marriage which improved Khabir’s mood.
“I’m so glad for my brother! It’s even more rejuvenating that Sabir will fly over to Glendale to support me against Gallo”.
“I don’t know much of my opponent. I only know his record from BoxRec and that he is an orthodox Mexican boxer. But I’m well prepared; nothing bothers me so I’m ready to grab this minor title. It’s definitely my time to shine. I dislike predictions but I think I’ll get the job done in eight-nine rounds so that Gallo will not hear the final bell on Friday night”, proclaims Suleymanov.
On Friday night, he will surely get a chance to live up to his own prediction an even to exceed his own expectations.
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Fighting against alcoholism in Russia
“When being back to Russia I was literally pushed out of my track by on shameful impression I got there”, recalls Suleymanov. “I saw that a vast majority of young Russians are walking around streets with beer cans and bottles in their hands. Even young mothers are drinking beer and other alcoholic fluids just like it is just water. That is so shameful! I want to address Russian fans one tip: stand up from you bedsteads and take up sports. Sport is what young people should do, not drinking”.
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Glendale Glory 3
Another chapter of “Glendale Glory” fight series will be staged on Friday, Oct. 22, at Civic Auditorium. Suleymanov vs. Gallo battle will become the featured contest of the evening. Several notable fighters will take part in the undercard of the tournament, co-promoted by Steven Bash (“Bash Boxing”) and Kahren Harutyunyan (“Art of Boxing Promotions”).
Former Ukrainian national Anatoliy Dudchenko (9-2, 7 KOs) collides with journeyman Rayford Johnson (5-5, 3 KOs) over eight rounds at cruiserweight limit. Another promising cruiserweight Deon Elam (12-1, 6 KOs) takes on fellow amateur standout and former world title challenger DeAndrey Abron (15-6, 10 KOs) in a six-rounder (Abron lost his last five in a row). Welterweight Aaron Martinez (13-1-1, 3 KOs) and featherweight Jesus Antonio Hernandez (8-0-2, 2 KOs) will fight ever dangerous TBA’s. The fight card will also see a pro debut of female welterweight Holly Lawson.
“Steve (Bash) and I are very grateful to return to the beautiful city of Glendale,” said Kahren Harutyunyan. “I promise that ‘Glendale Glory 3’ will continue the tradition of showcasing world-class talent with plenty of non-stop action and knockouts!”
Tickets start at $50 and can be purchased online at www.glendaleglory.com or by calling the (626) 388-8888. Doors open at 7 PM and the first bout is at 8 PM.
