11.09.07 – By Wray Edwards – All Photos © Wray Edwards. When I was about fifteen, my Dad used to take me to Ptomaine Tommy’s on North Broadway in Los Angeles. There was sawdust on the floor, a distressed wooden bar, wooden loop chairs from the ‘30s, and black-and-white photos of Boxers all around. The ambiance was manly, the food hearty featuring the house special, chili sizes (slabs of fried burger meat topped with cheese and chili beans) and the smell of beer. A plethora of indelible memories streamed from the walls. Lunch with Dad was a great treat. Recently, I had an experience which ranks right up there with Tommy’s.
Having smoked Highway 95 from Jacksonville to Ft. Lauderdale, I ferreted my way through surface streets to an obscure alley behind a dark bar and found the right “bay”. It was in one of those garage style commercial complexes where small businesses and light manufacturing take place behind corrugated doors. Approaching the door I heard loud popping noises which sounded like a butane nailer in action. Upon opening the door the gunshot-like reports turned out to be the sound of Sultan Ibragimov blasting a pair of accuracy mitts which were being held up by Jeff Mayweather. I had no idea what a treat this visit to Sultan’s camp was going to be, not to mention the interview..
Amid all of the recriminations and pejorative speculation about Ruslan Chagaev’s withdrawal from the unification contest in Moscow, and the negative commentary about the Evander and Sultan event, many have lost sight of the most important consideration. Not a few have neglected to give due respect to the individual men who walk the longest ten feet in sports from the stool to ring center to spend the longest three minutes of their lives in mortal combat.
An external critique of the bout citing various differences between the fighters which attempts to characterize the fight as less than appropriate in the current Heavyweight market, overlooks the fact that Ruslan bailed (for whatever reason) and Sultan’s camp was forced to find the best possible replacement for an interim contest. Unless you have concrete proof which validates the “step-aside” rumor, don’t bother to waste our time with cynical speculations. To keep their fighter active and begin filling his Championship Defense resume, they located Evander who has name recognition and occasionally displays a skill set which is at least entertaining an often effective.
Unless one is willing to go so far as to accuse the sport of putting on phony contests, the only other alternative is to respect the combatants, appreciate what they bring to the venue, and hope that neither the Evander who fought Larry Donald, or the Sultan who fought Ray Austin are in the ring that night. I look for a positive experience and expect each to be at the top of their game.
As we watched this young man from the western shores of the Caspian Sea steeling himself for 10/13/07, an atmosphere of manly dedication and comradery began to grow in the room. There was Jeff Mayweather with a stopwatch calling the work-out intervals as his co-trainer instructed Sultan through, calisthenics, mitts, speed bag and jump rope. Though working to the limit in deadly earnest, as the sessions continued, Sultan and his camp began to have more and more fun.
Though the inner man contains the capacity for scary dedication to dropping his opponent…he is also realistic about the irony of mortal sportsmanship as serious business in the face of the human comedy.
Here we see Sultan just as he lifts off to fly around the room for a few minutes (Just kidding).
There is a ready and jovial wit in him proving he knows how to lighten up and bring balance to us all as we witness his “no pain, no gain” efforts.
The sights and sounds of a professional Boxer in preparation are dramatic. The powerful force of the gloves hitting the accuracy mitts, the blurred tattoo of the speed bag, and the singing slap of the jump rope are the music of training camp, and music to the ears of a true fight fan.
Observation…Sultan has powerful legs which make his footwork very effective especially when delivering a punch. Many refer to how a Boxer might “sit down” on a punch. I prefer to think of such punches as being “brought from the floor”. The stance suddenly widens, the leg to the rear propels energy to the hips, shoulder, arm and, finally, to the fist. As opposed to a quick hook, swooping uppercut, arm cross or counter…these punches are supported through a balanced, solid stance which takes stability and power from solid contact with the floor.
Ibragimov does this with great effectiveness. He has the fastest hands of any heavy I have ever seen. Many Lights and Welters would cherish such rapidity. Not one to showboat, Sultan is serious, focused and demanding of self when it comes to results.
After the session, ESB was given an exclusive, private interview with the champ. Unlike our conversation last time, which predated the Briggs encounter in Atlantic City and dwelt exclusively with Boxing, this meeting was far more personal. I had asked Boris for permission to ask such questions in cautious concern that we not touch on subjects which were inappropriate. In his usual direct and encouraging manner, Boris assured me that Sultan was genuine, spontaneous and has come to terms with his life’s course to date.
So, in Part II we shall learn more about the personal history, growth of maturity and very interesting life of this great guy who also happens to be a Boxer. See you at the fights.