Ukrainian ex-champion in three categories, currently competing in the lightweight division (up to 61.2 kg) Vasily Lomachenko (16-2, 10 KOs) in
interview For his friend, French actor Said Tagmagui, he spoke about the beginning of his boxing career, the advice of his father-coach Anatoly Lomachenko, and the decision to remain in the amateurs after the first victory at the Olympics.
At what age did you start boxing?
– I don’t remember. I think when I was born and brought home, my father put gloves on my hands. At that moment I started to be a boxer.
– It turns out as soon as you were born.
– Yes. But I remember the moment – I was 6 years old when I first came to the boxing gym. It was a small old hall. There was a special smell in this room. Now it seems incredible, but I was a small child when I started boxing.
– You were about 6 years old.
Yes, I was about 6.
— Madness. You were engaged in judo, dancing, wrestling, swimming, football. You are a real athlete. You could become a pro in every sport. Why did you choose boxing?
— I think because my father was a coach. He trained me, he prepared me for competitions, prepared me for professional sports. But I did other sports for the sake of boxing. When I was a child, I understood that I was doing these sports for boxing. My father always explained to me why I do dancing, football. He always explained to me why I should use this and that. That’s why I understood and did it.
– It helped you.
Yes, it helped me. But I didn’t like dancing.
– It helped you with movement in the ring.
– Yes, at least I didn’t like it, but I went for several years.
– But did it help you in boxing?
We can’t go into the river twice.
— [смеётся]
– I dont know. We cannot live a second life without dancing and compare.
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– Your amateur record is 397 fights.
But it’s not official.
— And you won 396 times. One defeat is very controversial. I saw that fight. What made you turn pro?
– Look, all amateur boxers who want to become an Olympic champion, after achieving this goal, I think, they try to become professionals. All the big amateur champions are trying to become big pros, sleeping pro champions. When I won the first Olympics, my decision was to turn pro.
– Then why didn’t you switch, but remained in the amateurs?
“It was my father’s decision. I have always followed my father’s advice. He explained to me that we need to stay amateur and win the second Olympics.
Take two Olympic gold medals.
— Yes, because in Ukraine we didn’t have…
“…those who have done it before. Would you be the first?
– Yes. This is a historic moment.
– I understand. You wanted to make history like an amateur boxer.
Yes, but I didn’t think about it. I didn’t understand it. For me, it was enough that there is, because it was my childhood dream. I went to bed with a dream, I woke up with a dream, I lived a dream.
– Chased a dream.
– Yes. And when I took this medal, I was ready for professional boxing. But my father explained to me that we must do it again. I said, “OK, no problem.”
“It’s all love, devotion and passion, because we all know there’s not a lot of money in amateurs.
“It was only for the legacy. For the sake of history.
“You are history, my friend.
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