21.09.07 – By Wray Edwards: Photographs © by Wray Edwards/ESB. One of my favorite pictures of Elvis, is one where he is sitting in a director’s, chair arms folded and a disarming and friendly look on his face. When I edited the photos from the camp visit and interview, I was pleased to find that our camera had caught Sultan in an almost identical posture. In both cases one sees the scope of the human. Whether a Rock-and–Roll star or a Rock-’em-Sock-’em Boxing star performing in front of cheering thousands, it is very fulfilling to be able to experience humans like these in quiet moments of reflection far from the world stage.
After the three hour afternoon training and workout sessions, Sultan Ibragimov took time with East Side Boxing to sit down for a closed-door door interview. The back-stories of world-class celebrities and athletes often contain surprises in their life histories which seem counter to their present-day accomplishments…and sometimes we discover events which cause us to think: no wonder he became a fighter, explorer or soldier.
ESB: Sultan, tell us what it’s like where you are from, and a little about how you came to be a person who thinks he can whip any guy on the planet.
Sultan: “I am from Rostov-na-Donu in the western parts of the Republic of Dagestan. It is located at the north end of the Black Sea and is a city of over one million people. Dagestan is a member of the Russian Federation.”
ESB: After the fight in Atlantic city you went home to Dagestan in the city of Rostov-na-Donu. Did you get a big reception there?
Sultan: “Yes, everybody there was very happy. There was even a parade as their good wishes are with me when I go out into the world to fight.”
ESB: How about your family…is your mother very proud of you?
Sultan “My mother passed away when I was born.”
ESB: I’m sorry to hear that. Did you grow up with your father?
Sultan: “No, I grew up in the house of my aunt (father’s sister).
ESB: Well, your aunt did a great job of raising you. You are now the home-town hero. How does that make you feel?
(At this point Sultan looks somewhat embarrassed. True to form, he is a modest person who tolerates a fuss being made over him, but he is, rather, always expecting more of himself.)
Sultan: “It makes me feel like I want to do more. My success in Boxing is good for me and my family, but it also gives me a chance to do more for others.”
ESB: What has changed in your life since you have become champion?
Sultan: “Nothing…a lot of what has happened is not important to me. I am not a person who gets that excited about such things.
Boxing is my profession right now, and what happens around that is ok, but there is much more to life.”
ESB: When will you go to Russia? (I’m thinking pretty soon to acclimate to the time difference.)
Sultan: “About one week before the fight.” (guess not)
ESB: How are your knees…any problems this time?
Sultan: “No, Jeff and I have corrected my training so that the problem I had just before the Austin fight will not happen again.”
ESB: What do you think about the age difference? Evander is forty-five and you are thirty-two.
Sultan: “I don’t think it will be such an issue. He has kept himself in good shape all his life and he is a very serious fighter.”
ESB: Do you think you will still be fighting when you are forty-five?
Sultan: “No.” (He looks adamant)
ESB: What’s the deal with Ruslan Chagaev…what do you think, happened there?
Sultan: “I think it was really a management issue.”
#Note: As soon as Ruslan’s new fight plans were published (as I expected) it appeared to me that a certain evil European hand was involved in the situation. It seems championship politics and money are still more influential than the reputation or survival of the sport in the eyes of some. That is so ironic, for if the bigwigs would just allow for unification, the growth in popularity of the sport with an undisputed heavyweight champion at the helm would double everybody’s profits.
ESB: What do you think Evander’s best skill is?
Sultan: “Inside fighting with his head and his left hook.”
We then discussed his training with Jeff Mayweather and went over his frustration at some points during the fight with Briggs. Sultan admitted that he really wanted to go all out, but remembered that Liakhovich got impatient while leading in points and blew his chances. Perhaps Sultan could have taken Shannon down, but was it worth the risk of staying in front of him to try that while obviously winning the match? The answer is an emphatic no.
ESB: Now that you are recognized internationally and by most Russian people, do you think that they will all be cheering for you in Moscow?
Sultan: “No. There are many people in Russia who know the name of Holyfield and his try for a fifth championship, and they think he is really great. I think so too. I have respect for Evander.”
#Note: That’s why Boris warned people at the New York press conference that it would probably seem boring to them as Sultan and Evander are both gentlemen. I would agree. Jazzed up hype of animosity between fighters seems out of place most of the time. True Boxing fans would prefer that such incidents be spontaneous as a result of truly negative forces rather than WWE style promotions.
We have all seen horrendous battles between good sports who showed respect before and after the match. And if you don’t think that these two have a sense of humor about the whole thing…try this link and watch the video with Evander and the Dolphin, and especially the Rocky Send-up video with Sultan and his “Russian” handelers…it is a complete hoot:
It is refreshing to see a promotional company like Golden Grain pick up on the use of humorous advertising. They get it. Many of today’s most memorable advertising taps into this essential human trait.
ESB: One of your people told me that if you had lost the Briggs fight that you would retire. Was that true.
Sultan: “I don’t know. I told them that a long time ago, but now one day I think yes and another day I think no. It depends.”
ESB: Probably if you lost by points it would be no, but if it was a big knockout you might not go on.
Sultan: “Yes the way it happens, if it ever does, would have much to do with my decision after the loss. Boxing is important in my life right now, but there are other ways I can be a man who is good for the world”
ESB: What do you think about Wlad? I think if you could get inside on him, it would be a very good fight.
Sultan: “Yes…ah…he is a good fighter, but it is interesting how many guys will get in the ring with him but they won’t fight as well as I know they can.”
ESB: Do you think that they are intimidated? Besides his skills, do the fireworks, music and cheering have an effect?
Sultan: “Perhaps, but it is more than that. We may see someday. To me, Wlad is a challenge and an opportunity. I do not fear him…actually, I am quite curious to see how I would do.”
I know what he means. I have watched several very good boxers get in the ring with WK, and for some reason they don’t bring their A game (with the recent exception of Sam Peter). That’s not to say that Wlad is not a world class champion, but it just seems that there’s more there than meets the eye.
ESB: Thank you for taking time to talk with us. Good luck in Moscow.
Sultan: “You are welcome, and hello to all of your readers on East Side Boxing. We all enjoy their observations”
Sultan has a great sense of humor (as you will see in the video link above) and so does his posse. ESB would like to thank Sultan, Boris (Golden Grain Promotions) and Jeff for being so generous with their time and good natures. Providing the Counsel General of the Russian Federation is just as accommodating, we will be at the apron of the Khodynka Ice Palace in Moscow to photograph the festivities.
Opinions run strong concerning the outcome of this contest. Let’s hope that the fighters are just as strong in their quest for victory. See you at the fights.