“The Ukrainian boxer told Sport.ua why he lostly lost in the championship battle”, – WRITE: Sport.ua
– Sergius, how is your well -being after three knockdowns?
– Everyone saw how the battle developed, starting from the second round. Surprisingly, there are no consequences, I feel good. The next day everything was fine. There were duels that won the whole distance without a single knockdown, but recovered much longer and harder. As for the blows that he missed from the lenery, even unexpectedly. The next day the condition was one that could go to revenge (smiles).
– In your opinion, what are the reasons for such a devastating defeat?
– It is difficult to say. It may have been a laki-punk. I won the first round, it was reflected in all judges. He expected to develop his advantage, but in the second round he missed a blow that he could not recover. But it’s boxing, everything is possible here. One blow can decide the fate of the duel.
Lerena – Radchenko – Morely moving this defeat is obviously harder than physically. After all, this fight was a chance of all your careers …
– Do not pour salt on the wound. The team and I did a huge job so that this battle happens at all. This epic began last year in October. At first it was about the fight to take place in Ukraine. It was about Lviv and Kyiv. The date of holding has changed repeatedly, I even planned other matches. They eventually signed a fight for fight in South Africa. Conducted grueling preparatory and organizational work. Even getting to praetoria, taking into account that we have war, it is not easy. Time, effort and money have been spent a lot. Therefore, this defeat was a huge shock for my team. Especially those who saw how I worked.
My sparring partners were sure that everything would be fine. The only thing was that they had the assumption that by the middle of the duel the battle would be difficult. Lerena, taking into account his style and impressive muscle body, is the most dangerous in the first four or six rounds. The whole distance of boxers of such a pin is lacking. Their muscles are banally lacking oxygen and fatigue occurs.
– Lerena surprised you with something?
– Absolutely. At the start of the battle, the rival boxed the way we expected him. The right in one blow. Kevin did not come out like Mike Tyson and did not start smoking me, and I did not know where to run away from him.
– There are rumors that Kevin Lerena uses steroids. Considering that the fight was taking place in its territory, it was all right with doping tests?
– He also repeatedly heard that Kevin is using something forbidden and his impressive muscles are pushed to these thoughts. But I did not catch his hand. With doping tests before our battle, too, everything seemed to be fine.
– On the eve of the battle, you intrigued the statement about the size of the fee for the championship. Like, the sum is shocking. It’s time to open the cards.
– First of all, it was important for me to take the title of world champion in Ukraine and the opportunity to lift our flag on another continent in such a difficult time for our country. Despite the fact that it was a fight for the title of World Champion, he received one of the smallest fees in his career in outbound duels. Given all the cost of training, which lasted more than six months and the percentage that took the promoter, there is almost nothing left of the amount of fee.
– In praetoria you had great support. What were these people?
– For me, it also became a great surprise. I did not think that so many Ukrainians would be in my fight in South Africa. They talked with many: people came up, wished good luck, gave gifts, photographed. Most fans are representatives of the Embassy of Ukraine in South Africa and their families. However, he was most surprised when he met four people from my native Kremenchuk. It was especially touching for me. It turns out that these people have lived in South Africa for over 15 years.
And in general, people with Ukrainian flags could be found throughout the arena. The most exotic ones are two dark -skinned girls, whose breasts were embroidered with beads. I did not expect me to support me even part of the local public. Of course, a lot of attention was paid to me with me. Both local journalists and Ukrainians who live in South Africa asked how we have business, how we survive. He heard many words of support.
– What now? Have you already decided whether you will continue your career?
– Shortly after returning to Ukraine, he spoke this issue with his promoter. They decided that it was too early to finish the speeches. My return to the ring should happen very soon. The opponent will obviously not be the most outstanding, but for professional boxing such a practice, when you want to close the defeat and restore confidence in your own forces, familiar. And then it will be visible.
I do not lose hope that I will get a chance for a title battle again. To a duel with Lerena, as the owner of a silver champion belt, I ranked fourth in the WBC ranking. Now, of course, I will lose a few positions. But one victory can improve my position again. Of course, now another title battle for me looks like something unrealistic. But time has shown that everything is unrealistic – real. No one believed that I would be able to win the WBC Ukraine title, then the general was pessimistic about my chances on the WBC Silver belt. The skeptics were driving when I sought to get a battle with Lerena. But I succeeded. Therefore, I believe that not everything is lost now. We do our business.
Currently, you just want to relax and dedicate your family time. I do not know what it is for over a year, since last winter has begun to prepare for the battle for the WBC Silver title. The terms of this battle were shifted twice. The match took place only in August, and then he was at first heal the injury, and then began to negotiate to prepare for battle with Lerena. The first date of our match was at the end of December. We had to fight in the undercard of the duel Usik – Fury.
– Your seven -year -old son hoped that Dad would come back with South Africa. The baby is not used to the dad can beat. Did he look?
– Fortunately, no. He just fell asleep near the TV. He was told that I lost everything. Of course, he was upset, but well, I didn’t see how I lost. Before leaving the couple, my son was upset that I was leaving for a long time. “So maybe not go, I’ll be home?” – I ask. “No, go, you need to become a world champion. I will wait for you, ”he replies.
Much more upset my dad. My father raised me himself, because when I was seven, my mother died. Dad has always been to me the main authority and mentor. He started training me from four years old. Father often jokingly and not very much with me He sparring, has always been a major motivator and critic. But now the parental feelings have taken the mountain. I have to say that I never saw Daddy so excited as a fight. We were on a constant connection, when I was in South Africa. Dad was difficult to hide excitement.
After the defeat, the father was first worried not for the lost opportunity to win the championship, but for my health.
