Boxing is one of the most traditional sports in Uzbekistan. Behind the footballThousands of young people train every day to achieve one dream: to become world champions. Its popularity has been among the most backward classes of Uzbek society for hundreds of years They instilled discipline that gave the country five golds In past Olympic Games.
But the sport has not always been synonymous with Olympic glory for Uzbekistan. He went after the gold of Muhammedkadir AbdulayevSydney in 2000, when boxing began to bear fruit that had been planted in dozens of schools across the country for decades. MARCA wanted to know about the culture of Uzbek boxers And he did it with the help of legendary coach Abdullayev.
Boxing, the king sport
Andijan city is about 350 km. From the capital, Every morning dozens of young people go to the gym for training It is closed due to Futsal World Cup. The Spanish national team was ‘banished’ outside the Bober Arena, just 200 meters from the pavilion where the tournament will be played. Future champions fight hand in hand for the dream.
Conditions are very dangerous KO can be fatal. Boxers perform their skills on the cement outside the ‘Andizone FK’ stadium. They do it very ‘conservatively’ with a mouthpiece and a protective helmet.. They fight under the supervision of a man who has been training boxers in the city for 24 years They dream that there is a chance to enter the ring And show them all that’s inside.
Fighting in Uzbekistan
A nurse supervises the training. Any ‘blow’ can be fatal and it doesn’t take long for blood to appear. But that doesn’t stop a man who has seen himself a thousand times over with a world belt slung over his shoulder. Instead, it allows you to immerse yourself in the harsh reality of this sport in Uzbekistan.
Admirable how distant his dream was. Without meaning, with Gloves worn, physical preparation and no safety Some work hard day and night for opportunity. which allows them Risk your life in the ring to achieve gloryAs his statue Abdullayev has already done.
Any blow can be fatal
At the end of the session, after taking off his gloves and realizing that a Spaniard was recording his every move They started shouting: ¡Hala Madrid!, ¡Visca el Barça!, Mbappé!, Vinicius!, etc.. At this point they discussed among themselves the best morning punches they would ‘repeat’ in their lives and would do so until it separated them from boxing or made them champions.
