Russian world champion boxer Sharabutdin Ataev said that he deliberately did not force the situation in the fight for the IBA belt with Azerbaijanis of Cuban origin Loren Alfonso.
On Friday in Dushanbe, Atayev defeated 2021 world champion and 2020 Games bronze medalist Alfonso by unanimous decision and won the IBA belt in the weight category up to 86 kg. The fight took place as part of the “League of Betting” professional boxing evening. IBA Champions Evening.
— I’m happy with the result, but we thought we had to improve and get better every round. We thought we would have to work even faster. But it happened like that. I felt comfortable. But we could have added a little more, we could have ended the battle sooner than expected. But I, so to speak, was accumulating strength.
— Do you agree that your professional boxing experience helped you? Your opponent has only had one 6-round fight under his belt.
“Our task was to hit the body in the first five rounds. But sometimes I hit harder, and sometimes I hit just right.
— In the eighth round, Alfonso received two knockdowns. Aren’t you upset that you couldn’t finish the fight with a knockout victory?
– They made a clever move – he spit out the mouthguard out of the blue. And he managed to recover from the knockdown.
— You boxed 10 rounds for the first time. Are you ready for 12 rounds?
– If you box at this pace, then I’m ready. But you saw for yourself that I didn’t work my way. Usually I throw a lot of punches and put pressure, but now that wasn’t the case. I ran at him several times and he dropped me. So I controlled myself and my emotions.
— What will you spend the $350,000 awarded for victory?
“When the money arrives, I will spend it,” reports the correspondent of , according to Atayev’s words.
Atayev, 24, has 7 victories (4 by KO) in seven fights in the professional ring. Previously, the boxers met three times in amateur fights, the Russians won twice, and the Azerbaijanis once.
Source : MatchTV
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
