Champion of the People, or Why Tyson's Fight with the Soviet Heavyweight Failed

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Donetsk resident Alexander Yagubkin remained the only heavyweight world champion in the history of Soviet boxing. The athlete won all the cups possible at that time, but he never went to the Olympic Games. Yagubkin was offered access to the ring with Mike Tyson, and a million dollar fee was at stake. But this did not happen either. And it wasn’t a matter of skill level. Freedom-loving, straightforward and principled Alexander did not fit into the model of behavior of an exemplary Soviet champion.

Modest Boy and First Workout

Yagubkin was born on the Donbass land. Parents met in Donetsk at the mine, having come to work. Alexander's father was a miner, his mother worked as a machinist on a mine hoist. The boy grew up an active child, trying himself in all kinds of sports. Alexander always looked up to his older cousin, who was making progress in the boxing section of the authoritative Soviet trainer Kotov. So a tall teenager got into the Donetsk boxing hall in September 1974.

Later, the trainer said that the boy attracted attention with his modesty, despite his impressive physical data. He was shy and did not differ in sociability, but at the same time he did not miss a single lesson and by deed proved the seriousness of his intentions. The first training session was not given at all to Alexander, who could neither pull himself up nor climb the rope. But after a month of hard work, the then young coach clearly understood: the future of the star of the boxing world is in his hands.

Missed Olympics and a generous gift to Ecuador

And Kotov's predictions soon came true. Yagubkin very quickly learned the basics and began to demonstrate success. After practicing for about six months, he began to beat titled boxers in training sparring. Soon, the young man was overtaken by major successes. In 1978, at the age of 17, Sasha takes gold at the USSR championship among young athletes, and then he conquers the all-Union youth championship. By 1980, the name of Alexander Yagubkin sounded throughout the vast country. Still remaining in the right to compete in youth championships, Yagubkin swung at the Absolute Boxing Championship of the USSR, confidently winning gold. Earlier, the Sports Committee did not consider it appropriate for Alexander to participate in the home Olympics. It was decided to send experienced Pyotr Zaev to the capital Games, only he did not reach the gold. So, with his victory, a level higher than all the previous ones, Yagubkin brightly answered the officials who did not believe in him.

All subsequent years, Alexander again and again demonstrated that it was he who should be given the first place in the national team. During the period 1982-83, Yagubkin won three gold medals among heavyweights at the level of the Union championship. In parallel, he twice won the European championships. The Olympic Games seem to be very close. But in 1984, Moscow ignored major sporting events in response to a similar boycott of the 1980 Olympics. But even under better circumstances, Yagubkin was not guaranteed participation in competitions of the highest level. By that time, the boxer had more than once managed to distinguish himself before sports officials with his indomitable and independent disposition, annoying those in power.

In 1983, Yagubkin, in the company of coach Kotov, went to Ecuador to instruct heavyweight Luis Castillo. Such a trip was paid in the amount of 400 thousand dollars, which Yagubkin donated to local residents affected by the floods. And he explained his act by the fact that the houses can be taken away, and at least the money is used.

Devastating publication and disruption of the fight with Tyson

Yagubkin's coach in his interviews claimed that his ward could confirm the world championship more than once, and lead the Olympics. According to the experienced mentor, there was simply no equal to Yagubkin at that time in the USSR. Despite the boxer's clashes with sports officials, claims against him in anything serious for the time being did not pour out. He showed good results, which neutralized his violent character. In 1985, the Donetsk athlete got into the first line of the World Cup participants and conquered the European championship. The level of victories inspired him with confidence and gave him hope for the 1988 Seoul Games. But a year before that, Yagubkin was overtaken by an unfortunate failure in the final of the European Championship, which was used by officials who disliked the boxer. So, the second Olympic chance ended in nothing.

In 1989, Yagubkin received an offer from American promoters, among whom the Soviet athlete had weight. Alexander readily reacted to the idea of holding a duel with Mike Tyson himself in Tokyo. By the way, the Donetsk amateur champion was only the 4th in history who was offered to defend the professional title in the first fight. Alexander began intensive preparation and execution of documents for a flight abroad. But then "Soviet Sport" published an article about Yagubkin's impartial hobby. Readers all over the country were told that the famous boxer makes his living as a thimble-maker. This raised a scandalous wave, and the trip to Japan was canceled. When the boxer himself later commented on the incident, there was no smoke without fire. He did allow himself sometimes this kind of entertainment. There was no law prohibiting games, and from the recommendations there were only warnings pasted on the posts. Several times the thimbles brought the athlete to the police station, which ended in a fine.

Apologies from the journalist and loyalty to the Motherland

The devastating publication did its job, and Yagubkin was banned from traveling abroad. “Tyson was lucky,” Alexander joked. But he did not want to enter the ring anymore, despite the proposals received. Later, the author of that fatal article came to Donetsk and apologized to the boxer. But the deed was done. At the peak of his career, Yagubkin had a chance to take part in the training camp in the United States. They also offered to stay. But Yagubkin saw his life exclusively in his homeland, in Donetsk. He did not miss the opportunity to mention his hometown in conversations of all levels, being proud of his origin.

Today there is no point in guessing how Yagubkin's fate would have turned if he had won that professional fight. Perhaps the whole world would see Alexander's unique technique. Indeed, according to multiple testimonies of boxers of the Soviet generation, the level of a heavyweight in the 80s was comparable to the legendary Mohammed Ali.

Not everyone is up to the glory by becoming a champion. The fate of the youngest Soviet boxing champion was very tragic.