Boxing empire rises out of old Soviet bloc

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, freeing its many republics to go their separate ways, the start of a new era in boxing was initiated.

The Soviets and their Eastern European satellites had built strong amateur boxing programs during the Cold War that produced dozens of Olympic medalists, who were then forbidden to fight professionally. However, a rock-solid foundation was in place that today is bearing fruit in terrific numbers – particularly in the heavier weight classes.

In the most recent Ring ratings, 12 of the 33 heavyweight, cruiserweight and light heavyweight spots (including the champion) – more than one third – are occupied by boxers from the former Soviet bloc.

In the heavyweight division alone, that number is a remarkable seven of 11, including the top six.

Why? Those familiar with Eastern European fighters will say they're hungrier, more disciplined and tougher than their American counterparts. The fighters there have opportunities to make a living in the sport. And, perhaps most important, they have a pool of fighters larger than that in the U.S. and other Western nations.

"Look back 15 years ago," said Jean Marcel Nartz, matchmaker at Universum Box-Promotion, one of the leading promotional firms in Germany. "Eighty percent of all fighters came from the U.S. or Mexico in the world [sanctioning body] rankings and 20 percent was the rest of the world.

"Now, it's the opposite. There are more Europeans in the rankings than Americans. That is the result of freedom in Europe."

Eastern Europeans gravitate to boxing at least in part for the same reason Americans always have; it's a way out of poverty. Russia has amassed a gargantuan fortune because of its oil reserves but many in the country – as well as in other former Soviet republics – continue to struggle.

And their best athletes don't have many sports to turn to. Soccer is king almost everywhere but boxing isn't far down the list.

Their most successful amateur fighters are stars in their home countries who can live decently on government stipends even if they don't fight professionally. One estimate was $8,000 a month leading up to the Olympics, plus a new car if they're lucky. And the ones who go pro have opportunities to make a very good living, particularly in Germany.

In the United States, most would-be heavyweight champions from poor neighborhoods gravitate to football, basketball or baseball because that's where they find their heroes and, significantly, boxing is a dangerous way to make a living.

Thus, the number of big fighters in Eastern Europe is growing while in the U.S. it's shrinking.

"They have such a great tradition in Eastern Europe, especially in the former Soviet Union," said Gunnar Meinhardt, a German newspaper writer who covered boxing for six years out of Los Angeles before moving back to Berlin. "If you have success at the world championships or the Olympics, you're a hero, like the president. And you can earn a lot of money.

"And success also opens up a future in business (after boxing). That's good motivation for a fighter."

The cream of the Eastern European crop generally turns professional in Germany because a handful of successful promotional firms there more or less specialize in them.

Eastern European promoters stage local professional cards but the money is horrible. Nartz once attended a show in Kiev, Ukraine, in which 10-round fighters earned $200 and six- to eight-round fighters $100. He was aghast, but understood better why boxers head West.

In Germany, the same fighters could make thousands and benefit from high-powered German marketing, which targets both the fighter's home country and Germany. The top stars receive lucrative sponsorships and tremendous attention from the media, which covers the sport more comprehensively than in the U.S. As Ivaylo Gotzev, a Bulgarian-American fight manager said: "They put 'em on billboards over there."

As a result, such fighters as Henry Maske (East Germany), Axel Schulz (East Germany), Dariusz Michalczewski (Poland), Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko (Ukraine) and now Arthur Abraham (Armenia) have become mainstream celebrities through their association with German promoters.

And, of course, all of this feeds the cycle. Young prospects from the East witness the success of their countrymen and yearn for some of it themselves, leading some to believe that Eastern European countries will continue to produce top fighters at least until they grow more affluent.

Meanwhile, few Eastern Europeans have come to the U.S. to build their careers. The distance from home is too far, the language barrier is more of an issue than in Germany and they're just not comfortable here.

An exception is amateur star Matvey Korobov of Ukraine, who has signed with promoter Bob Arum. However, Korobov's situation is unusual: His parents have lived in Florida for 10 years and he has a brother here.

"It's hard to get (Eastern European fighters)," said Cameron Dunkin, who manages Korobov. "They're very paranoid about America and professional boxing here. It's hard to build trust. I had a long talk with Matvey and his parents about it; it's just a different world over there.

"To them, it's a big risk coming here. Everyone wants to go to Germany. It's closer than here. They make good money. Why not?"

Eastern Europeans also appear to be wary of taking risks in the ring. Nartz called them "chess players," who are technically very sound (generally more so than American fighters ) but not action fighters. They win fights, if not the legions of fans who crave dramatic knockouts.

However, that doesn't mean they're soft. On the contrary, Nartz and Meinhardt believe passionately that Eastern European fighters are profoundly tough because of where they come from.

Again, poverty is a factor. They fight for survival. But there seems to be more to it than that. Meinhardt pointed to the performance of Vitali Klitschko on Oct. 11 in Berlin. He hadn't fought in four years because of chronic injuries yet dismantled utterly helpless WBC heavyweight champion Samuel Peter, who quit after the eighth round.

Going into the fight, Peter was recognized as the second best heavyweight in the world, behind only Klitschko's brother Wladimir.

"Everyone underestimated him," Meinhardt said. "Vitali is a real, real warrior. He'll never give up. That's his mentality, his character. That's how Russians, people from Ukraine grow up, the mentality of people from Eastern Europe. … 'You have to kill me or I'll kill you' is the Russian motto. It's in the mind and hearts of all these fighters."

And now, more than ever, they have opportunities to display that spirit.