Having been the WBO light heavyweight title mandatory
since last October, Dmitry Sukhotsky has waited patiently for
his opportunity. On the other hand, Sukhotsky hasn’t fought since his second
round stoppage of Nadjib Mohammedi in that very month. He returns on the 14th of July when he goes Stateside to take on once-beaten Cornelius White in the co-main
event at the Palms Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, NV (televised on WealthTV).
The 31-year-old from Barnaul in the south of Russia has a pro record of 18-1 (13) with the lone
reverse coming in a title challenge to former WBO 175-pound champion Juergen Braehmer
two-and-a-half years ago. Currently, Sukhotsky’s ranked number one by the WBO, five
by the WBA and nine by the IBF.
Anson
Wainwright - You're currently the WBO’s number one
contender to fight champion Nathan Cleverly. What is the position for that
fight now? Apparently, the WBO has granted him an exemption to fight on 28 April
but he must fight you next. Is that how you understand it?
Dmitry Sukhotsky - In October 2011 at the WBO convention, I
became the official number
one contender. Nathan Cleverly must fight with me before March [2012]
but WBO sanctioned voluntary
defence with [Tommy] Karpency (which
Cleverly won via unanimous decision). Then I prepare for a fight with
Cleverly at April 28 and again, the WBO sanctioned voluntary defence with [Robin] Krasniqi.
I hope that this fight will be in near time.
I know I will win.
AW - What is next for you?
DS - I am training in Los
Angeles. I'm prepared to fight against Cornelius White. It will the first fight in
America and it is very important for me. But I believe victory is mine.
AW - You
haven't fought since last October and it's likely that if you wait for your
next title opportunity, it won’t be until midsummer. Are you intending to take
a fight beforehand or wait?
DS - I am currently pending
a decision on the appointment of the WBO for the date of mandatory defence for
Cleverly. And if they tightened it, I
would have to fight [anyone] to maintain my condition.
AW - In
your last fight, you impressively stopped Nadjib Mohammedi in two rounds. What
can you tell us about that fight and the stoppage? How happy were you with your
performance?
DS - I just felt [I was
dominating] Mohammedi at the end of the first round and as the result of two knockdowns in the second, the corner
threw in the towel.
AW - Could
you tell us about your team?
DS - My coach is Valeriy Bezpalov
and my manager is Alexander Yakubov.
AW – Where
do you regularly train and could you tell us about your training? How long are
you normally in camp; what sort of things do you do? How often who you spar; do
you lift weights and what’s your diet consist of?
DS - I'm not doing anything
unusual in the preparations for battle and [as] the diet [is concerned], I did
not stick to diets. The main thing was [having] sparring partners in sufficient
quantity.
AW - You
were born and raised in Pavlovsk, Russia. Could you tell us about your younger
days growing up? Were they tough like they are for many in boxing and was the
path you took into boxing difficult?
DS - I was born in the Pavlovsk,
Altayskiy area. There was nothing
unusual. I had an ordinary childhood and youth. I loved playing football and
basketball and took up boxing at age 17. I was in the amateurs five years. In
Russia, it is very difficult to [make] the first part of the national team. And
after a few unsuccessful attempts, I quit amateur boxing and went into [boxing]
professionally.
AW - What
was your amateur career like?
DS - My amateur career was
50 fights, 47 of them were wins.
AW - What
are your thoughts on the light heavyweight division today and the champions, Chad
Dawson of the WBC, the WBA’s Beibut Shumenov, the IBF’s Tavoris Cloud and the
aforementioned Nathan Cleverly?
DS - I am willing to meet
with all these champions tomorrow but the fact is, they are “busy.”
AW - You
challenged Jurgen Braehmer for the WBO light heavyweight title back in 2009. Can
you tell us about that fight and what you learned from it?
DS - I think the Braehmer
fight was the true start of my time in light heavyweight. However, every fighter in this
division is very strong. Simply, I'm better today. Cleverly’s running from me! He beat boxers by points whom I beat by KO! For example, Nadjib Mohammedi! I lost the fight
with Braehmer but it was very
close fight and I nearly
KO’ed him in the 10th round.
AW - Could
you tell us about yourself as a person away from boxing, including your family,
hobbies and interests?
DS - At the moment, I live
in Barnaul. I’m married; I have a daughter and my hobby is fishing.
AW - Who
were your boxing heroes growing up?
DS - Mike Tyson.
AW – Finally,
do you have a message for the light heavyweight division?
DS - I'm a sportsman and not a
showman. Recent boxing does not shine and [champions] should not hide behind
their own promoters. Fighters who choose lighter [challenges], take the fight
and see who is stronger and who is the champion.
