Vysotsky Igor never achieved such successes in the ring as, for example, Jonas Chepulis and Lev Mukhin, who took silver Olympic medals in heavy weight. He was not glorified, like Nikolai Korolev and Andrei Abramov. But with the sound of his name, the heart of domestic boxing fans began to beat unevenly. Vysotsky was well known and respected abroad.
Who is Igor Yakovlevich Vysotsky and what is famous for?
This is a famous boxer of the seventies, the champion of the Soviet Union in 1978. What is he so famous for? Unfortunately, Igor never won the gold medals of the European championships, the world and the Olympic Games, but he is much more popular than some of his contemporaries-boxers who have achieved better results in the ring.
His name was made two great victories over the legendary Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson. The Cuban was previously invincible in the ring, was a three-time champion of the world and the Olympics. These two victories were enough for Vysotsky to become glorified for the rest of his life.
Childhood
Boxer Igor Vysotsky, whose biography is described in this article, was born on September 10, 1953 in the village of Yagodnoye, Magadan Territory. His father was a boxing champion of his land. He inspired his son to start a sports career. As a child, Igor did not particularly like this sport and tried his best to avoid training. However, the father found out about this and began to tightly control his son.
Igor obeyed the will of his father and began to seriously train. He himself did not notice how he began to like the workouts and got a taste. Coming home, the boy continued to work on himself with the help of his father. The latter forced his son to drive hemp from trees into the ground with a sledgehammer. Thus, the power of blows of the future boxer was worked out.
Debut
Vysotsky Igor made his debut in the big ring when he was eighteen years old. He took part in the junior championship, which was held in Alma-Ata in the seventy-first year. The debut was successful, Vysotsky was able to beat on points Vladimir Volkov, who was the current champion of the country. After this victory, Igor began to be invited to the training camp.
Trainer
Igor Vysotsky owes his sports career not only to his father, but also to coach Evgeny Zhiltsov. The boxer career began very successfully. In 1971, he took third place in the youth championship of the Soviet Union, in 1972 - second, and in 1973 he already received a gold medal. The sensitive and experienced mentor Zhiltsov, who taught Igor a lot, was preparing him for the battles.
Championship in Havana
By then, Cuban Stephenson had become the new world boxing star. In the summer of 1973, the first meeting of Vysotsky with this boxer was held in the capital of Cuba . This tournament was dedicated to the memory of the Cuban revolutionary Kardov Cardin. The strongest world boxers and the entire Cuban team took part in it.
Teofilo Stevenson was a leading athlete at that time. At the Olympic Games in 1972, he managed to take gold, and he won all victories by knockout. He also received the Val Barecra Cup (awarded to the most technical boxer). Stevenson is the first heavyweight in the history of the Olympic Games to receive this cup.
The final
In the finals of the tournament, Vysotsky Igor and Teofilo met. The match was supposed to be exciting. Igor did not attack in the first round. I decided to take a closer look at the opponent. Vysotsky in his manner preferred to work as a corps, making deceptive movements. Its main advantage was the same technique of striking both hands with a fairly low (for a heavy boxer) height - one hundred eighty-three centimeters.
Stevenson, however, was superior to his rival both in weight and in height. He, like all Cubans, successfully combined the technique of the Soviet boxing school with the aggressiveness and manner of American punches.
Stevenson did not expect that the Soviet athlete, after the "intelligence", will rush into a tough battle. The Cuban believed that Vysotsky would not force events, fearing such an outstanding opponent. Igor, however, carried out quick jerks, dived the enemy under the hull, and delivered a clear series of attacks. The meeting ended with Igor Vysotsky, whose photo can be viewed in this article, won on points.
He later recalled that Cuban spectators were indescribably delighted with this fight. They brought fingers to their lips and smacked loudly, showing how impressed they were with this sight. And Igor after the battle was “redeemed” in the warm applause of the local public.
Second victory
The second fight between these athletes took place at an international tournament in Minsk three years later. This time Igor was able to defeat the Cuban in the third round, knocking him to the ground. Before that, Vysotsky knocked down his opponent two more times. Igor’s contemporaries say that after this victory he became a big sensation and a nightmare for all Cubans. It was the first and only knockout in Stevenson's life. And he suffered it precisely from the Soviet athlete.
Further career
In 1975, at the next traditional meeting of boxers of the Soviet Union and the United States, Vysotsky was able to defeat the rival leader - Jimmy Clark. The latter counted on an easy victory, but the Soviet boxer caught him with a side impact on the counter and the American hung on the ropes. Igor met with many overseas athletes, and all of them could not withstand the onslaught of the Soviet athlete.
At the end of the seventies, the leadership of one of the American boxing federations offered Igor a million dollars if he goes professional and will perform in the States. Experts predicted him many victories in the professional ring. But the State Sports Committee did not let him go abroad. Still, the cold war continued.
Unfortunately, Vysotsky Igor was injured several times. He was literally haunted by a dissection of his eyebrows. For example, in 1974, at the home championship, he lost to Yevgeny Gorstkov precisely because of such an injury.
Retirement
1978 was supposed to be the most successful for the boxer. He managed to win the championship of the Soviet Union, defeating Mikhail Subbotin in the final. Vysotsky predicted a triumph in the world championship, but he unexpectedly lost to the French athlete. At the Moscow Olympics in 1980, he could not attend. And in the home championship this year, he lost to Evgeny Gorstkov.
At the age of twenty-seven, Vysotsky Igor decided to quit his sports career. He was tired, regular battles and injuries made themselves felt, ten years in the Union team - not so little.
However, boxing for this outstanding athlete has become a life-long affair. In Mytishchi in 1999, a club named after Vysotsky was created. People of all ages train there, and all classes are free for children and adolescents. Igor Vysotsky himself, whose fights have gone down in history, is currently the vice-president of the Moscow Region Boxing Federation.
Igor often recalls his “fighting” past and always notes that the main thing in the ring is not only to have a good technical meeting, but also a psychological attitude. A powerful fighting spirit and a thirst for victory are the main character traits that Igor Vysotsky is proud of. The boxer never was afraid of anyone in the ring and this earned great respect from fans. He is also a deeply religious person.
Now Igor Vysotsky is working in his club, the boxer is engaged in the education of youth. In his opinion, the country's future is much more important than financial profit. Therefore, it trains children for free.
The boxer took the pupils of his club to Kulikovo Field, to the relics of Sergius of Radonezh. There they made friends with the guys from the military-patriotic club "Relight". Now both clubs meet regularly and arrange sparring. Vysotsky’s job is mainly done by children from dysfunctional and poor families. He does not shy away from acquiring gloves, a T-shirt and other training equipment for his students. With these actions, he earned great respect from everyone who has ever met him and is familiar with his current activities.
The Vysotsky club has a branch in Lunevo, where children are also trained by the master of sports Andrei Akaev for free. Vysotsky was able to knock out a salary for him in the sports committee so that he would take care of poor children, raising future athletes from them. In Lunevo, half the population cannot find work, and young people from a young age use alcohol and drugs. The boxing club is practically the only opportunity for these children to get out of the negative atmosphere and grow up as worthy people. Maybe one of them will become an outstanding champion in the future.