Many professional boxers begin their career with passing battles against not too strong opponents. It is at this stage of development that professional boxer Alexei Papin is now. His sporting fate is rather unusual, because a fighter from the Moscow Region started as a kickboxer, won all the important titles, and then unexpectedly for many turned into a boxer. On his account today, seven fights, in all he won, but the main fights for the boxer are still ahead.
Athlete Feature
Alexey Papin holds his fights in the first heavy weight category. Strongly shot down, he has a powerful blow and works in the ring in the style of a pronounced puncher, trying to decide the outcome of the battle before the time runs out.
Since childhood, he was engaged in kickboxing and only in 2015 moved to boxing.
In the first fights, the legacy of the former sport made itself felt to Alexei Papin. Kickboxing involves minimal body work, as this is associated with a high risk of running into a kick or knee. By inertia, continuing to act in the same spirit, the athlete in his first two fights looked a little hesitant and did not fully use his attacking potential, did not dare to deceive movements and bold breakthroughs.
However, Alexei Papin soon realized that to turn into a boxer it was not enough just to “turn off” kicks, and began to study the nuances of the new craft more.
The level of the athlete’s rivals is not yet too high, which does not allow us to fully talk about his future, but already now Alexey’s good potential is obvious, which acts in an aggressive and spectacular manner, he won almost all of his victories by knockout.
From Peresvet to CSKA
Alexey Papin was born in Reutov near Moscow in 1987. Kickboxing began to be engaged in since childhood, but the hard and hard work in training at first did not bring the boy satisfaction. Often, his father forced him to overpower himself and go to the gym.
Alexei Papin was engaged in the training center "Peresvet", which was located in his native Reutov. At first it seemed that the guy's prospects were rather vague. He did not particularly stand out among his peers; he left the competition without awards. Only at the age of fourteen, Alexey Papin won his first tournament, winning the championship of the Armed Forces of the country. Then there was a lull again, and in juniors he did not stand out.
A kind of breakthrough occurred in him after the transition to adult sports. In the final of the competition, he defeated an international-class master of sports and immediately stepped out of the camp of first-class sportsmen to a higher stage of development. After that, Alexei Papin was invited to CSKA, where he began to train at the sports school of the capital's club.
Kickboxing rewards
The athlete won his first big kickboxing award in 2007, winning the World Cup in Yalta. Then he had not yet scored his optimal physical condition and performed in the category of up to 81 kg.
Over the next years, Alexey Papin consolidates his status, invariably winning all continental kickboxing tournaments. It all started in 2008 in Portugal, when he became European champion in the under 85 kg category. Then the fighter finally grew and got stronger and began to perform already in heavy weights.
This, however, did not affect his victorious tread. Alexey Papin continues to dominate the continent and collects titles at tournaments in Greece and Azerbaijan.
In 2009, the athlete began performing at the world championships, having won a bronze medal for starters. Here he took a chance and decided to try his hand in the category of over 91 kg. Having failed, he returned to his first heavy weight. He managed to become a world champion in 2011 at a tournament in Macedonia.
Fights in amateur kickboxing, Alexei Papin still regarded as preparation for more ambitious goals. Since 2012, he regularly participates in professional fights. For a small number of years, the fighter has gathered championship belts of several professional organizations at once, becoming a real star of this sport.
Change of profession
Having achieved everything in kickboxing, Alexey Papin decided to try his hand at a more financially profitable sport. After all, even the average professional boxer is able to earn an order of magnitude more than the most titled kickboxer.
The shortest way to the top lies through American and European clubs, however, without having a successful amateur career in boxing, Alexey Papin began to realize himself as a professional in his homeland. Preparation for fights takes place in Moscow, coach Anatoly Ivichuk is engaged with him.
Boxing technique has its own distinctive features, and Papin spent his first fights in the usual manner, looking not quite organic in the ring. However, during the training, many sparring sessions were held with the current boxers, and the athlete near Moscow gradually got used to the new realities.
The debut match took place in 2015 at the arena in Moscow. Papin was opposed by Sergey Beloshapkin, whose defeats prevailed over victories in his boxing career. Alexey acted in the usual power manner and defeated the opponent.
Last fights
Having gained a number of victories over local athletes, Alexey Papin went out to fights with good foreign heavyweights. The first truly dangerous opponent for him was Sergio Alberto Angel. Tall, long-armed, he became an uncomfortable opponent for Alexei, but he managed to crush the Argentine and completed the fight ahead of schedule.
The last fight Papin held against another Latino. In May 2017, he fought against Rogelio Omar Rosi, whom he was able to knock out in the second round. After this victory, he retained his position in the Box Rec 43 ranking, ahead of the legendary Roy Jones.