Stevenson Carnation – An Exclusive Interview with the Ukrainian Boxer – Alexander Clove – Carnation Usik Lomachenko – Carnation Champion – Boxing News

– The first days after the fight are a relief and a kind of restart for the boxer. Now, after the first championship battle of your career, do you feel like after the previous battles? Or new feelings have come?

– Not to say that there were other feelings. Without a doubt, it's a joy that has finally reached such a peak – it's very cool. Now I felt tired – out of the way, I was going back to California for a family and I immediately decided to go on a trip. Or is it a more formal status that has been calmly "put aside" before the championship battle?

– In essence – yes, this status was not particularly seen before the fight against Stevenson. I think I had to fight for the belt instead of fighting with Mehdi Amar (for the title of the provisional champion.) As far as I can remember, at that time, I was already ranked first in the weight category. and I could fight for the title of champion … But the WBC created this title, so I was not bored and I did not feel comfortable (laughs). thought when they missed the kick on the 10th round? It looks like the case is going to victory, but then such a pass …

– I thought to myself "Oh, maybe it can be and I can lose?" And, considering what were the referee's notes (though I did not know him), it was not a fact, it was a matter of victory or not.

– It became unexpected that Stevenson was so well prepared physically and showed such power?

– I was waiting for it right after weighing when I saw it alive. Even his body did not visually resemble Jack's fight (former rival Stevenson – author of the car). In that respect, he did an excellent job.

– Stevenson did not count the reversals of the third round, and many think the referee stopped the fight late, which had disastrous consequences …

– Yes, maybe late Referee – in general, the "cosmonaut" seems to live in his world … But, in principle, we overturned 1: 1, because I also "stole" in the 10th round. I do not know for sure, but it was also possible to consider the reversal. After all, if there were no strings, I would probably have landed well … Therefore, in the work of the referee, of course, a separate conversation.

– You lost two judges' cards and the Canadian referee gave Adonis 8 out of 10 rounds. Your coach was not at all angry at a press conference. But you were sitting side by side and breathing full calm …

– In fact, there was no emotion about it because I had won. So what are the notes there is another question. If we examined 12 rounds with my powerful member, and the judges would raise Adonis' hand, there could have been emotions. And as the fight is over sooner than expected for my winnings, I do not really care what notes were there and how many turns they gave or did not give me. They can count on it no matter what.

– How do you generally see that referees from the country of one of the boxers are working in fights? A common event, but the moment has not yet come to remove it completely

– Of course, it is wrong. But what is right in this life? There is no justice. Should be cashed in any situation and hope for its strength. So, by the way, there are a lot of options and nuances, and they must be minimized to the maximum. If such things happen at home, you have to talk about it and try to influence it. Of course, everything can not be affected, but we must try.

– In your previous fights, there had been such "jolts" with the referees?

– I have more than 50 fights in the fans, it may be that something like this has happened, but there is no such concrete. An example to remember right away.

To "support" Stephenson, in such a situation, a person can be financially supported. But given our financial situation, I think it's irrelevant

– When did you first hear about the situation with Stevenson, did you believe it at all? Since after the battle, you saw him in the spirit and outwardly in a normal state, the hospitalization and coma seemed incredible …

– The probabilities can to be anything, both it is true and what is not true. The truth is known only by Stevenson himself and his promoters. If everything is as they write, I can with all my heart wish a speedy recovery. We are all rivals in the ranks of hard sports, but there is always a simple life that a person has in the first place. Therefore, I sincerely hope that Adonis will recover so that he can not only recover but also be able to return to previous conditions. After all, the cranio-cerebral trauma is very serious.

That's right, it's not true in general, I can not know for sure. You can assume that you can know everything exactly – no. I saw Stevenson carrying an aircraft carrier – he was rather cheerful. But what happened next – this is unknown to me at present

– But many cases of resuscitation and com …

– Many people now live in a virtual world where everything is very fragile. One – tweets, the second – reads, the third – publishes. Personally, I have not seen any pictures about it. Therefore, I dare not declare that here – the truth and what – no. This is not correct if you are in mourning.

– Are you connected with Stevenson's team or maybe with his family?

– No, I am neither brother Stevenson nor his relative. With regard to "support", in such a situation, a person can be financially supported. But given our financial situation, I think that's not relevant.

Carnation during the battle against Stevenson

– You have already had such occasions when your opponents

– I did not know, I did not communicate with them rivals after the fight.

Start eating and "getting fat" is not difficult. And here is the very functional work weight for boxing in the "cruser" – it's a very long and very long job. Up to now, I do not see it in this sense

– How did your trainer Teddy Atlas collide? Have not you said anything serious before?

– "On the shelves", we did not dismantle. Definitely, this victory is a feat that has made my dream. So I think the coach has just given me the time to enjoy this moment and to be successful. And for the specific arrangements, we will have a lot of time.

– How do you work with the Atlas? What has changed in your work when you started collaborating with him?

– Teddy Atlas brought me a lot during my work and I consider him one of the best coaches of all time. No matter which of his words and tips in themselves are interesting, even if they are simple. A person has charisma and the ability to convey information. Even a few simple points that I would not take from another coach, with the Atlas "lying" differently. After all, you hear it from the mouth of a very bossy person who really knows about the box.

Teddy played an important role in the battle against Stevenson. I have completed almost all of its installations and they have been very effective.

Carnation with his team

– After the battle, you made a big leap forward in the BoxRec rankings: 55 lines, 13th place. the position. But is such a mess worthy of you? Is the essential – only the belt and the rank?

– I do not understand particularly, 55 – That's a lot or a little. If a lot means well.

– A lot!

– So, very good (smiles). But still the belt is a belt.

– What are the goals that open up for the first time after you became world champion?

– Or combine the titles or become a champion in the other weight categories. Of course, you can always talk more globally, for example "insert your name in the story". The boxer becomes big when he has a lot of battles and at the same time defends his titles. This is probably the main goal.

– Does the championship factor in a certain weight category really make us think about the transition to the next weight?

– Here we must take into account the physiological characteristics of the organism. For now, I do not feel like a gravel, because for that I have to dial a minimum of 8 kg. Again, start eating and "fattening" is not difficult. And here is the very functional work weight for boxing in the "cruser" – it's a very long and very long job. Until now, I do not see that in the sense. In addition, in a light weight, I have not proved anything special.

– The Russian Dmitry Bivol has in fact announced his willingness to fight against you, making this fight a priority for himself. And how much do you care about such a fight if you do not consider it as unifying?

– It is interesting to mentor people with powerful rivals when there is a challenge for you. And in this case, it's really a challenge, so this fight can be interesting for me and for all boxing fans.

Alexander Gvozdik

– Can the "unifying battle" factor become decisive? Is the main thing always the same as the name and status of the rival?

– I think that at this point, more attracts the possibility of combining the belts. After all, probably, Dmitry Bivol – is not the name of the scale to be granted only for its good. This is not a conditional Floyd Mayweather, where people are fighting because there is a status. Dmytro is a leading boxer and one of the strongest in light heavyweight, but he has not inherited such a legacy of boxing. That's why, for me, such a battle is an interesting opportunity to combine the belts.

– Is there a boxer that you would like to meet soon (if it's not the next fight, then one)?

– Until now I can say that in the coming months and a half, I would definitely not like to meet someone … And then let's look at it. When I rest and resume training, we will think and plan a few shots.

– It did not take you more than a month and a half for the rest of the year?

– The moon will definitely be a rest, and after the new year, in January, I will return to training.

I do not take my family with me to battle, although my son loves boxing

– Your fight would be delighted to take place in Ukraine. Are you ready to sacrifice most of the expenses for the organization of the show, for example in Kharkov, Metalist?

– There are many factors to watch out for: who is the rival, who has combat status, and so on. But in general, I do not reject such an opportunity and would like to box a lot in Kharkov.

– When will I rest in the near future in Ukraine?

– I spent all summer in Ukraine. And in winter, it's more interesting in California.

– You are very good with other Ukrainian champions, Alexander Usik and Vasyl Lomachenko, but some are in the shade in terms of popularity and promotion. Does this feel? And how do you feel about it?

– It does not matter to me. I am where I feel good and it does not matter – in the shade or not. Who needs them, know me. Who does not know – he does not know. Of course, for achievements and popularity, I can not compete with Usikom and Lomachenko.

Usik, Lomachenko and Carnation after the evening in the United States

– There is a tip or a memorable tip for you. Usik or Lomachenko?

– In many respects, the great merit of Usik and Lomachenko is that, in principle, I became a professional boxer. After all, after the Olympics, I had planned to make the link with the box and do something else. But the guys were an example to me, signing favorable contracts. And I've also thought, why should I try the same way? So, if it was not Usik and Lomachenko, then it would be possible that I do not become a professional.

– Why, after the successful performances at the Olympics, were they faced with such a choice?

– Then, in my life, I saw several directions in perspective. I have a family to feed and at that time, I looked at the future on this side. Here we start to rely on mundane things – the opportunity to feed the family and provide the family with everything needed. Frankly speaking, in the amateur category, you do not have to expect to make money. Therefore, at that moment, there were such considerations.

I had the thought that I would do after the Olympics? The Olympic cycle is only 4 years old and it was necessary to think where and how to go from here.

– Immediately after the battle, you said you had not seen your family for a long time … Do not you take your family members with you to fight? Was it just this time?

– I never take a family to fight, because she is worried, and that is transmitted to me. And again – it's time to take a family and there's still time for serious work. The preparation and the fight are already over and I am now in my family.

Photos of personal archives of the family Carnation

– How long have they been living with loved ones?

– During the training camp, he did not live at home but, in principle, he was not far away. And sometimes we saw for a short time. But it was not acceptable to spend time with his family.

– How does the eldest son of Dmytro perceive the profession of his father? Does she love, is indifferent or worries a lot for her father?

– You will not say that he is burning, but he monitors all my fights and applauds frankly. Constantly burst into the room and even wants to train, but I still want it to be not just a restless hand, but a more conscious approach. Therefore, I want to teach him his boxing, but for that, it does not always take time. You must therefore look for a coach or go to a section (although the coach is not so simple at first).