Ïðîìîóòåðñêàÿ êîìïàíèÿ "Elite-boxing"

Viktor Plotnikov © Inna Gorobchenko

By Dmitriy Mikhalchuk

We offer your attention interview with Viktor Plotnikov (21-1, 10 KOs), famous welterweight from Lviv who fights for «K2 East Promotions» promotional company. Very soon Plotnikov will step into the ring in his native town in order to clash against Sherzodbek Alimjanov (15-0, 10 KOs), an unbeaten fighter from Uzbekistan. Plotnikov and Alimjanov will collide for vacant EBA (European Boxing Association) welterweight title. The fight will be the main event of the boxing evening on June 27th at Sportpalace «Ukraine» in Lviv.

– What can you tell us about your opponent Sherzodbek Alimjanov? What do you know about his style and his strong and weak points?
- I saw only one of his fights – a six-rounder against Mikhail Vinnichenko in Kyiv just a year ago. And it is not easy, of course, to make some deep conclusions based on one fight only. My impression was that he did not put his heart 100% in that bout. In initial rounds he made some efforts to try to win early by KO, however, later he boxed as if he was just sparring. He could afford doing this – he was much faster than Vinnichenko who was forced to be mainly defending. Sherzodbek understood that it was no use to land power punches on his rival’s solid blocks and then started to outbox Mikhail using his good speed. He did not show anything outstanding, however, I must admit that he is a very good fighter – there is no doubt about it. He is aggressive in the ring, very fast, uses a lot of combinations and never forgets about body attacks. He is of very good boxing school – he easily changes stances and he is equally effective in both orthodox and southpaw stances. At the same time Alimjanov looked too much self-assured – he often took unnecessary risk in that fight. But I think he knew that he was much faster in comparison to Vinnichenko and Sherzodbek could afford such style. In general he is a skilful, strong and experienced fighter, however, as I said, I did not see any special in him.

- Some people believe that so far Alimjanov is the strongest fighter among your opponents except Jackson Osei Bonsu. Do you agree to that?
- I really don’t know – the upcoming fight will tell the truth. And I fought other serious fighters besides Bonsu. For example, Marat Khuzeev, a highly skilled boxer from Russia. I have to mention also Carlos Donquiz, a solid puncher from Venezuela whom I fought just before Bonsu. Donquiz was quite dangerous. Donquiz did not have much skill but possessed a good punch combined with awkward style. But coming back to Alimjanov I must say that he, of course, is one of the most serious rivals. He has more skills comparing, let us say, to Donquiz but at the same time he is not so strong and unpredictable.

- How long have you been training? Did you have good sparring sessions?
- Training period was quite successful and now I’m 100% ready for the fight – I’ve fulfilled everything that we planned before. I had been training for two months. I sparred with Jackson Osei Bonsu for two weeks – the only boxer who managed to win the fight against me. Then I continued my training in Lviv – there I sparred with Mikhail Vinnichenko and Artem Aivazidi.

- Did they succeed in imitating Alimjanov’s style? As far as know neither of two has the same style with the Uzbek.
- Bonsu at the times of our sparring prepared for the title fight against Selcuk Aydin so he had his own tasks. As far as Vinnichenko and Aivazidi are concerned they did not try to imitate Alimjanov’s style – simply because we did not see many fights of his. However, I never had difficulties in adjusting to my rivals’ styles in the ring.

- So what was your impression after sparring sessions with Bonsu? Was it easier than your fight against him or vice versa? And what would you like to change in your boxing in case you fight Bonsu again in the rematch?
- With Bonsu we mainly mastered boxing skills – it was easy enough. A sparring and a real fight differ very much. So I do not know what could happen in our rematch. Now after some time passed after our first fight I understand that I had to throw more powerful punches, I had to be more aggressive and continue attacking him after landing punches. I got him very nicely several times when I was counterpunching but I did not go forward. Probably, I'd better start exchanges with him but it would have meant accepting his game. He is a puncher and exchanges with him could be dangerous.

- Can you tell us a few words about your fight plan? Do you plan to win the fight against Alimjanov by early stoppage?
- My strategy will be very simple: I will try to hit and to avoid getting hit. As far as my tactics are concerned it will mainly depend upon action of my opponent. I never plan to win a fight by KO – I’m always ready to go the full distance. This time it’s just the same: if I have a chance to win by KO it would be nice but it is not an end in itself.

- Did you see Klitschko vs. Chagaev fight? If yes what are your impressions?
- Sure I did watch the heavyweight clash. I never miss fights of such a level. Klitschko was perfect and left no chance of success for Chagaev. Ruslan being a shorter fighter tried to go inside but Wladimir did not let him do it effectively using his height/reach advantage. Another fighter Ibragimov who resembles Chagaev much in his style used different tactics when fighting Wlad: Sultan did not attack and tried to provoke Klitschko into going ahead. That is why Ibragimov managed to go the full distance although he lost the fight completely. But Chagaev had no chances and his trainer did the right thing by not letting him to continue. At the moment there is no competitor for Klitschko brothers in the heavyweight division, I believe.

- Do you have any idols in boxing or just famous fighters whom you consider to be the best?
- I was always fond of gifted, many-sided boxers like Floyd Mayweather Jr., Kostya Tszyu, and Mike Tyson. And Manny Pacquiao, of course – he has outstanding combination of speed, power and tempo. I even do not know any other fighter who could compete with him more or less successfully. Probably Floyd Mayweather could if he really comes back to boxing. Or Juan Manuel Marquez: two times he was very close to victory over Manny but did not go through it.

- Who do you think is the best welterweight now?
- Manny Pacquiao, of course – he’s able to succeed both in 140 and 147 divisions. I have to mention in this respect name of Shane Mosley. He completely destroyed Antonio Margarito. Miguel Angel Cotto, to my mind, is still sort of recovering after defeat from Margarito: I believe that he rather lost to Clottey than won the fight. Thus Pacquiao and Mosley are the best, I think.

- Tell us, please, in short about your amateur career. What famous amateur fighters did you clash against?
- I was the second in Ukrainian Cup; I won several international tournaments too. However, unfortunately I did not box at Olympic Games or at world and European championships. Several times I boxed against Sergey Fedchenko. Our fights were ding-dong battles – sometimes he was better fighter, sometimes it was me who was the victor.

- Do you have any hobbies? How do you relax after boxing?
- The cinema is my hobby. I like Quentin Tarantino’s movies best of all: «Reservoir Dogs», «Pulp Fiction» and so on. Of course, I like many other movies – not only Tarantino’s works. For example, today I’m going to see «Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen».