– You took up boxing at the age of 14. It's late enough for a sports career. Was it hard to get started?
– Before boxing, I played a little football and did judo. Somehow it didn't work out. Then my brother's friend took me to a boxing gym. This is where it all started. However the gym was not the best, some windows there did not even have glass.
– But you liked it, didn't you?
– Yes, I liked it very much. Although some people said it was too late; children usually start training at the age of 7 or 8 years. But in any case, the main thing is your will to achieve something.
– How did you feel after the first fight?
– The first fight was difficult and exciting for me. At that time I still did not understand what kind of sport it was, and how and what exactly I had to do. Because training and competing are completely different things. And training will never give you the experience of a real fight in real competitions. I was gaining experience with each fight. And in the end, I seem to have achieved something!
– Do you have any rituals or superstitions? How do you psych yourself up before the fight?
– There is only one superstition: if you don't train, you will lose. So you have to work, train, dedicate yourself completely to what you are doing, and do everything in your power.