Our boxing is going through difficult times, but it seems to be coming back to full life. However, many things remain unclear for ordinary martial arts fans. What is happening now with professional boxing in Russia? How did boxing organizations decide to return our country to ratings? Will we ever have a full stadium for a boxing match? We found answers to these and other questions from the famous promoter, general director of RCC Boxing Promotions, German Titov.
What Titov said:
— How is RCC Boxing doing? What worked this year and what didn’t? — I think we have achieved a lot. The main thing, and this is primarily due to the RCC, is that boxing organizations began to lift sanctions from Russia. I flew to the WBA Congress, got Russia to lift sanctions, and then I flew to the IBF Congress with the same result. As a result: first we organized two WBA tournaments, and recently in Chelyabinsk we held a tournament under the auspices of the WBA and the IBF. I consider this a great achievement.
Yes, we have been fighting all this time. Even if we count from 2020, when notorious events also occurred. Then, all over the world, the battles first stopped for a while, and then continued without spectators. And since 2022, the fights in Russia have practically ceased. Yes, they were held formally, but without big goals and objectives, without titles. Just so that the athletes would not stay too long.
German Titov
Photo by: RCC Boxing
The fight to lift sanctions on Russian boxing
— According to both versions, the sanctions have been lifted, but what about the other major organisations? — I really hope that the WBO will also lift the sanctions in the near future. I will attend a congress in Puerto Rico in the fall and I hope that we can resolve the problem. Even with two versions that lifted the sanctions, we are already starting to have official champions.
Let’s take any sport as an example: nowhere else has such progress been made towards returning to the world stage. Let’s take the judges at our tournaments as an example: people came from Germany, Switzerland and Spain. Countries that are considered “hostile”. Not to mention other countries. And athletes come to us from all over the world: America, Asia, Africa. I think this is a significant event.
— Can Russia once again become one of the centres of world boxing? “Of course, we can at least return to the previous level, I’m sure of that.” Yes, now someone else refuses to go to Russia – for example, one athlete watched enough television and decided to refuse. And others come. And then they tell others about it. Boxers, their teams, judges – they all say that they are not accepted anywhere, neither in the RCC nor in Russia.
Thank God we still have champions, great champions: Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev have not gone anywhere. And now they will organize one of the most important fights in boxing. I consider our task to prepare a replacement, new champions. Let there be champions not in all weights, but at least in several categories. The last tournament showed that we are going in the right direction.
The situation of professional boxing in Russia.
— Is professional boxing still alive in Russia? Generally speaking. – Of course it is alive! There are small promoters, there are medium-sized promoters who also organize fights. We lifted the IBF sanctions and our colleagues from other regions immediately took advantage of this and held championship fights. So our boxing did not die, and now, after the restrictions were lifted, the results immediately appeared.
– All tickets for the fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois have already been sold out: 90 thousand. Will boxing tournaments ever fill football stadiums in Russia? — First of all, we need superstars. When we held the fight against Povetkin, we built a venue for 15 thousand people and it was completely full. In Moscow, boxing used to attract 15-18 thousand people. There will be stars, there will be full stadiums. I don’t know about 90 thousand, but we will definitely constantly fill large hockey stadiums for 20 thousand people. In England, professional boxing has existed for 100 years, but here it appeared relatively recently. Everything will come.
— How difficult was it to negotiate with the WBA and the IBF? There is a stereotype that boxing organizations are mired in bureaucracy and corruption. — As for corruption and bureaucracy, this is, of course, an exaggeration. I have been in the boxing business for 25 years and the relationship with all organizations has always been excellent. Even when a difficult political situation began, I continued to communicate with everyone. They all said that they loved and respected us, but that they could only return when the situation changed. A first step was needed and the WBA took it. Although it is customary to scold this organization. And then came the IBF, which has the status of the most important one.
Difficulties of being a promoter
— What is the most difficult thing about being a Russian promoter? — The most difficult thing is our television. Which, in principle, is halfway there. But in the United States and the West, boxing depends only on television; it is television that drives boxing and pays the most. But in Russia television does not play that role. There are objective reasons for this, I understand everything, our television also needs to make money.
The second point is the filling of the stands. If you take Yekaterinburg, there will be no problems there. Everyone there knows what RCC is, spectators come and fill the arena. And in Chelyabinsk, the arena was recently officially filled only two-thirds of its capacity, plus fans were constantly coming and going: people came to see someone specific, for specific fights.
There were records at the Chelyabinsk tournament:
Record knockout in boxing? The Russian knocked out an undefeated rival in four seconds
– In the stands. Where are the best places to sell seats in the stadium right now? — The stands are now the biggest sellers in the UFC. They have achieved the main thing: their spectators even come to the preliminary fights. Unfortunately, this is not the case in boxing. Even at the most important tournaments, spectators, as a rule, only attend the main fights. And a dozen more fights take place in front of empty stands. There is something to work on, not only in Russia, but also in the world.
It is a big problem in boxing that the strongest do not fight the strongest. Perhaps with the arrival of the Saudis the situation will change.
— Just about Arab money. Do you think the Saudis will improve the boxing world? — Your beginnings are correct. A few years ago I thought about a unified boxing league. Without reducing the weight classes and the number of champions, it will be very difficult to grow. The strongest do not fight against the strongest. The problem is with the promoters. For example, in the United States, and even in England, promoters have exclusive contracts with television channels. It is impossible to go there now.
Boxing was at its peak on HBO and Showtime when they didn’t have exclusive contracts. I could go there with Ruslan Provodnikov or Dmitry Pirog and arrange a fight. Now this is impossible. Little by little everything died down and the peak dates back to the 70s and 80s of the last century.
Turki Al ash-Sheikh wants to change everything. He already unites promoters by offering above-market rates. This is a huge advantage. By the way, if a single super league is created, fighters’ fees will decrease slightly. But fan interest will increase, PPV sales will rise and the stands will fill up.
Studying the Turki Al ash-Sheikh phenomenon
“Ominous signs of dictatorship”: Why Saudi money could destroy boxing
Potential of the World Boxing Super League
— Are there enough stars in boxing for the Boxing Super League? — There are even more big stars in boxing than in mixed martial arts. But in the UFC, the strongest fight the strongest, hence the huge interest. If the strongest fight each other in boxing, it will be a huge success. Take any division and pit eight boxers against each other according to the Olympic system. What if we also reduce the number of weight classes? Like it was in the middle of the last century. It will be amazing.
If the Saudis do manage to create a super league, it will be a huge advantage for boxing. There will be no Super League unless the Saudis get tired of this idea. They have money and specific goals. Only the human factor can interfere.
Insider information on the intentions of Arab developers
—Could professional boxing finally move to the Middle East? At the moment, its centres are still the United States and England. “I don’t think that will happen.” Turki Al ash-Sheikh himself has already contested a tournament in the United States with Crawford. He is now involved in organising the Joshua-Dubois fight in London. He plans to organise a tournament in China before the end of this year.
Joshua – Dubois
Photo: James Fearn/Getty Images
I’ll let you in on a little secret. Al ash-Sheikh wants to hold the tournament in Russia next year. Negotiations are already underway. There is interest, I’ll say that. I think we’ll announce something soon.
—How would you yourself reform professional boxing? — I would eliminate all these additional weight classes and leave seven or eight classic weights. Well, the main thing is that there should be only one world champion.
— One of the main problems with boxing evenings is the length of the fights. In the best tournaments, sometimes one and a half to two hours pass between fights. Why is this happening and what can be done about it? “There are many factors here, but it is very difficult to do anything about the main reason. Only that in boxing fights are designed for 10-12 rounds of three minutes each, the time difference between a knockout in the first round and a fight that went the full distance is very big. UFC is simpler, most fights are just three rounds of five minutes, some fights are five rounds.
If a boxing match ends in the first or second round, it is clear that before the next fight there will be a break of about an hour in any case. The next boxers are not yet ready, and television cannot bring forward their dates either. Another issue is when the breaks last between one and a half and two hours: this is already a problem that can and should be solved.
Previously, in professional boxing there were quick fights, lasting four to six rounds. These fights were used to fill the pauses caused by quick victories. And if there was no such pause, then the quick fight was held after the main fight or was canceled altogether, paying fees to the boxers. It seems to me that we can return to this practice.
—The tournament of your dreams? “I really wanted to fight Bivol vs. Beterbiev. This idea came up several years ago, we even negotiated. But then some notorious events happened and everything stopped. And then the market value of these boxers increased so much that now we could no longer afford it.
There will still be options later on. After all, Bivol will be able to box for another five or six years, Beterbiev is smaller, but he will also be able to fight for a couple of years.
For example, the winner of the Bivol-Beterbiev fight will most likely face Benavidez. It would be very interesting to do this in Russia. In theory, this is quite possible.
— Is it possible to make money from a fight like this? —That’s a difficult question. I think yes, you can make money.
— Let’s end the interview with predictions. Who is the favorite in the Canelo-Berlanga fight? — Berlanga is a dark horse. He has not been seriously tested. I think the fight will end with Canelo winning on points. Maybe a close decision, or maybe a devastating one. Maybe the Mexican will even knock down his opponent. But Canelo will win.
– Bivol – Beterbiev? – If this fight took place two or three years ago, I would say the chances are 50-50. Now I will give Dmitry a bit more chance, maybe 55-45, because of Beterbiev’s age. In any case, the fight is intriguing and interesting. I don’t think Arthur has aged much. He hasn’t had many fights where you age quickly. Although amateurs also get worn out quickly. But if everything goes according to Bivol’s plan, he will win on points.
– Fury – Usik 2? — Most likely, Usyk will win even more easily than in the first fight. Fury can reconfigure, he can attack. But in the first fight, Fury was hit very hard, but Alexander survived. This already says a lot. If nothing unexpected happens, Usyk will win on points even more confidently than in the first fight.
