Former contender for the world heavyweight title (over 90.7 kg) Ukrainian Vyacheslav Glazkov gave an interview for the YouTube channel ”
Boxing studio of Viktor Yalymov“.
In a conversation, Vyacheslav spoke about corruption in Ukrainian boxing, the championship fight, the injury received in it and the subsequent end of his professional career.
Recall that Glazkov fought for the vacant IBF title against the unbeaten American Charles Martin in January 2016. Already at the beginning of the fight, Vyacheslav received a leg injury and could not continue. It was the last performance of the Ukrainian in the professionals.
— About corruption in amateur boxing. Tell me, were there any biased moments not in your favor in your career?
– There were a lot of fights. So I don’t remember. Sometimes they deserve it. Anything can happen.
– Before our broadcast, I saw information that Prodivus asked one of your managers for 65 thousand dollars or more. What was the situation?
– Not what you asked for. I had to give. This is a kind of, as they then claimed, payoff from the amateur Boxing Federation, allegedly or compensation. At that time, I signed a contract with Kirill Pchelnikov, and he had the best offer. In terms of perspective and advancement in battles. Lifting, as they say, was then given to boxers when you sign a contract with a promoter. So he had the most profitable lifting at that time. He offered $200,000. For past merits, as they say, for the Olympic medal, the future perspective.
Prodivus then became or came to the leadership of the Boxing Federation of Ukraine. Igor Ivanovich Gaidamak was then the president of the Federation at that time, and Prodivus, it seems, had just begun to squeeze in there, if I may say so. I don’t know what kind of relationship he had with Yanchishin, with my manager in Lvov. But then they somehow decided that I should give a third of the amount. It’s kind of like a payoff for the Boxing Federation. As Prodivus told me then, this money will go to the development of the Boxing Federation of Ukraine. Where they went, I don’t know. Reporting – no one reported to me.
— Charles Martin 22-0. It turns out that 2 years after moving to the States, you went to the title fight. And in this fight, in what round did you get injured?
“Katie Duva has a lot of credit for getting me into this fight. Thank you very much, of course. Everything worked out. As they say, brought to the championship fight. But this unfortunate injury happened. I don’t remember, it all happened in the third round. I fell there twice before, due to this knee injury. I felt a pop in my knee. I think something is wrong. He began to move, but something does not pass and does not pass. The duel is responsible for the title of world champion. It’s all spinning in my head, I’m aware of it. I strike myself, move away and feel that the knee “buzzed” strongly. The operator filmed, there is even a video. I looked after myself. My inner feeling was as if the leg had jumped out altogether. Therefore, the pain is hellish, and, accordingly, everything. There would be a hand, a shoulder, you understand – you can continue the fight with one hand. Well, here’s the leg. That’s all. Where to? The judge asks: “Will you continue?” Well, where? I can’t walk. It turned out that this is a torn cruciate ligament, a meniscus … Usually, when the cruciate ligament is torn, the whole knee flies to hell. Meniscus and lateral ligaments.
– You were operated on after the fight, and immediately there was a relapse, right?
– Well, yes. I was operated on. The injury itself is not easy. Usually it’s a football injury, I know. This is my supporting leg, right. She jumped out. Yes, they operated. The recovery period was difficult – 6 months. The leg lost weight accordingly, everything had to be restored, ligaments, muscle build up again. I went through all this. After 6 months, he began to quietly get involved in the work, because Egis (Klimas) calls: “Glory, come on, offers.” Heavyweight began to kind of come to life after Klitschko’s dominance. Fury began to gain momentum then. I began to train slowly and during the run something clicked again. I think: “Yes, what is it?” The next day I went to the doctor – I need to operate again – the meniscus. On the same knee is the meniscus. Everything, as if after that I understood that for big sport … For life – yes. I go to the gym, I run, I work out. But for a big sport – you know, the loads are completely different, so such a knee is not suitable. Well, that’s all. It was decided to finish with big sport.