BOXING. Alexander Lebzyak: if the Cubans were present we would have competed not worse

On November, 5 the Russian Boxing team arrived at the Moscow airport “Sheremetevo-2” by the flight 3190 transfer from Munich from the World Championship in Chicago. The results of the team, in spite of the total first place, caused an ambiguous reaction of the public. The editor of the Agency of sport information “All Sport” Eugeny Slyusarenko found out the opinion of the head coach of the Russian team, the Olympic champion Alexander Lebzyak.

-- It was a good performance, -- Alexander Lebzyak said at once. -- Or, it was all right, if you wish. I would have been completely satisfied if we had more victories. So, I repeat, the result was good. Three first places, eight medals, nine licenses out of 11 possible.

-- What stopped you from winning two remaining licenses?
-- Nothing stopped. The Thai boxer was just stronger then Balanov. And he didn’t manage to adjust his tactics during the fight. The same happened to Airapetyan. For the moment he is weaker than the Chinese athlete. It was the lack of physical conditions. And even more -- he didn’t follow the instructions of the coaches during the fight. Tischenko? Yes, it was unexpected fail. I have my own personal impression, why it happened. I will inform about it Aleksey and his coach. I think next year Tischenko wins the Olympic Games.

-- What exactly happened to Timurziev?
-- He ate underqualitied food somewhere, and felt really badly. Probably, he had a snack automatically -- and forgot about it the same moment. And to go to the ring with minimal chances, suffer -- what for? We have license, there will be the Olympic Games in the future, he will have chance to take his revenge. I am sure, there won’t happen such incident in our team again.

-- Was Beterbiev really condemned?
-- It is not true! Beterbiev lost. It is my opinion. In such fights nobody has to give the victory to us. And the athlete of the Beterbiev’s level must have worked better. It is not the fault of the referees. At this World Championship the referees were fair with our team. I can’t say anything bad, I have no claims to the judges. Everyone who lost was really weaker. Somebody fused, somebody turned out to be not ready enough.

-- Probably you don’t have questions to the champions?
-- They worked ok, well done! But even to them I have questions, there are pluses and minuses.  Not always I am satisfied with the quality of the boxing -- even with the champions. Unless Matvey Korobov was a level stronger then the others.

-- What exactly are you going to improve, what are you going to work at?
-- You see, it’s a long discussion. For example the health. Many athletes come to the training camp not ready, they do nothing at home. Somebody is busy with a family, a wife, somebody studies and so on. Certainly, they go to a doctor with complains at once. And as a rule, they can’t make all the exercises we give. Half time of each training camp we bring them to the normal physical shape, but not fulfill the plan.

-- And how are you going to solve this problem?
-- Very strictly. To deprive with the salary, to fine. Some athletes can’t still realize that defending the flag of Russia they not just go to the ring to wave with fists. The athlete of the Russian team doesn’t belong to oneself. He belongs, I am sorry, to the State and gets money for this. Good money. Believe me, it is a good money, very good. No result -- good bye!

-- Have those boys who didn’t go to the World Championship a chance to go to the Olympic Games?
-- No, those nine athletes who got licenses in Chicago will go to the Olympic Games. They have the personal licenses, they deserved them, and they will compete in Beijing.

-- And in case of injury, God save us, will the license be wasted?
-- For the moment it is so. That’s why everybody must take care of oneself. I repeat once again: they all get good money, they are professionals. And they must take care of their health themselves. And not the head coach, a doctor or a mother.

-- And what are you going to do in the weight categories of Airapetyan and Balanov, where we don’t have licenses?
-- There are two more tournaments where we can get them: in Italy in February, in Greece in April. Airapetyan and Balanov will go there. I think they will get these licenses with one attempt.

-- So, the others can have a rest till the next Olympic season?
-- And who are they the others? We have a lot of numbers two-three-four in the team… (he shows by his fingers number “zero”). So they are not competitive on the World level. The choice isn’t very big.

-- Which categories out of this staff do you find the most problematic?
-- According to the boxing, which I saw in Chicago, there is no almost a single weight in which I am sure. We can’t relax. Not at all. Not champions, not medalists, not losers. The Olympic Games is absolutely a different tournament.

-- Do you say so, because the Cubans didn’t participate in the Championship?
-- And because of them too. I am sorry that there weren’t at the Championship. Really sorry. Hollifield came to the tournament, watched the way we were working, training, and said that the arrival of the Cubans wouldn’t change anything. The Russians will take their medals anyway.

-- You mean that even if the Cubans competed in Chicago, our results wouldn’t have been worse?
-- That is right.