Stan "The Man" Martyniouk: Latest interview with maxboxing.com
Latest interview with maxboxing.com
Stan “The Man” Martyniouk :: A new model of fighter has evolved
Over the past decade, the sport of professional boxing has seen more World Champions from the former Soviet Union than ever before. The highest rankings of the heavyweight division - boxing’s most prestigious weight class - have been over-filled with names of present, former, and future Champions like Klitchko (both Vitality and Wladimir), Valuev, Chagaev, Maskaev, Povetkin, Ibragimov, Liakhovich, and Dimitrenko. And nearly every lower weight class has been represented by a fighter who learned his trade in the former Soviet boxing system.
In 2009, as we now see the first generation of post-Soviet children mature in the United States, a new model of fighter has evolved. This new fighter was born in the former Soviet Union with roots in the Soviet boxing system, but raised in the United States. One such fighter who is leading this new generation of boxing Champions is Stan “The Man” Martyniouk. Born in the former Soviet Union, but raised in Sacramento since the age of 5, Martyniouk has taken the best of both worlds to become one of boxing hottest prospects.
Question #1: How did you get started in boxing?
Answer: I believe boxing was in my blood. I grew up, pretty much, in the gym. My father, grandfather, and uncles were boxer and kickboxers, and as a little kid growing up, whatever you’re around, you’re going to want to try it. You see your father, and you kind of want to do what he does. So I was always in the gym, and when I turned 14, I was like, “Hey, let me give it a try.” I tried it out, I liked it, and my dad thought I had a good style, even though I didn’t know anything (laughs.) He told me, “Let’s see where we can go with this”, and it worked out ever since.
Question #2: You are Russian but you have a decorated amateur career as an American, being ranked #2 in the country at one point. Have you ever felt conflicted in what country you fought for?
Answer: Not at all. A lot of the guys on Team U.S.A. were from different cultures and some weren’t born here but were raised here for most of their lives. That’s what America is all about. I have Russian blood but I grew up in American boxing gyms. I was happy to travel the world, fight against the best fighters in the world, and win boxing championships and gold medals for the United States. But I don’t forget where I come from either. And I feel having both backgrounds has made me a more complete fighter.
Question #3: Have you been back to Russia?
Answer: Yes, I went to Moscow for the 2005 World Cup. A lot of my family showed up that I hadn’t ever seen before, some of them live in Moscow now, and some of my family from Estonia showed up. They took me back to one of their places in Moscow, got to see some new family, told me some of the history when I was little and what my uncle, father, and grandfather did. It was an awesome experience.
Question #4: You are now undefeated, winning 6 times in your first 6 professional bouts since turning pro in 2007. How has your career been progressing?
Answer: Pretty good. At first I wasn’t fighting as often as I wanted and promoters and matchmakers were telling me that opponents were turning me down because they heard about my good amateur background. But recently things have been better. I signed with Steve Bash and Bash Boxing and have been fighting more often against tougher opponents. Every fight is a learning process to try and become the best fighter in the world.
Question #5: How is your training going for your upcoming fight?
Answer #5: Good. I always train real hard. I am finishing my training up here in Sacramento and will spend one week in L.A. training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym. It’s a great place to train because of the atmosphere all of the great fighters that are there to spar with. Freddie Roach joked that I was too good looking to be a fighter when he first saw me but I hope to keep going back to WildCard and showing everyone that I can be one of the best fighters in the world.
Question #6: What should people expect from you in your next fight in Glendale on June 12th?
Answer: Excitement. Electricity. Once people see me, my style and the way I fight, I think they'll fall in love with me. And I think I’ll get a lot of new fans in Glendale. I bring both the best of the old school Soviet boxing and some of the flash of U.S. boxing.
Over the past decade, the sport of professional boxing has seen more World Champions from the former Soviet Union than ever before. The highest rankings of the heavyweight division - boxing’s most prestigious weight class - have been over-filled with names of present, former, and future Champions like Klitchko (both Vitality and Wladimir), Valuev, Chagaev, Maskaev, Povetkin, Ibragimov, Liakhovich, and Dimitrenko. And nearly every lower weight class has been represented by a fighter who learned his trade in the former Soviet boxing system.
In 2009, as we now see the first generation of post-Soviet children mature in the United States, a new model of fighter has evolved. This new fighter was born in the former Soviet Union with roots in the Soviet boxing system, but raised in the United States. One such fighter who is leading this new generation of boxing Champions is Stan “The Man” Martyniouk. Born in the former Soviet Union, but raised in Sacramento since the age of 5, Martyniouk has taken the best of both worlds to become one of boxing hottest prospects.
Question #1: How did you get started in boxing?
Answer: I believe boxing was in my blood. I grew up, pretty much, in the gym. My father, grandfather, and uncles were boxer and kickboxers, and as a little kid growing up, whatever you’re around, you’re going to want to try it. You see your father, and you kind of want to do what he does. So I was always in the gym, and when I turned 14, I was like, “Hey, let me give it a try.” I tried it out, I liked it, and my dad thought I had a good style, even though I didn’t know anything (laughs.) He told me, “Let’s see where we can go with this”, and it worked out ever since.
Question #2: You are Russian but you have a decorated amateur career as an American, being ranked #2 in the country at one point. Have you ever felt conflicted in what country you fought for?
Answer: Not at all. A lot of the guys on Team U.S.A. were from different cultures and some weren’t born here but were raised here for most of their lives. That’s what America is all about. I have Russian blood but I grew up in American boxing gyms. I was happy to travel the world, fight against the best fighters in the world, and win boxing championships and gold medals for the United States. But I don’t forget where I come from either. And I feel having both backgrounds has made me a more complete fighter.
Question #3: Have you been back to Russia?
Answer: Yes, I went to Moscow for the 2005 World Cup. A lot of my family showed up that I hadn’t ever seen before, some of them live in Moscow now, and some of my family from Estonia showed up. They took me back to one of their places in Moscow, got to see some new family, told me some of the history when I was little and what my uncle, father, and grandfather did. It was an awesome experience.
Question #4: You are now undefeated, winning 6 times in your first 6 professional bouts since turning pro in 2007. How has your career been progressing?
Answer: Pretty good. At first I wasn’t fighting as often as I wanted and promoters and matchmakers were telling me that opponents were turning me down because they heard about my good amateur background. But recently things have been better. I signed with Steve Bash and Bash Boxing and have been fighting more often against tougher opponents. Every fight is a learning process to try and become the best fighter in the world.
Question #5: How is your training going for your upcoming fight?
Answer #5: Good. I always train real hard. I am finishing my training up here in Sacramento and will spend one week in L.A. training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym. It’s a great place to train because of the atmosphere all of the great fighters that are there to spar with. Freddie Roach joked that I was too good looking to be a fighter when he first saw me but I hope to keep going back to WildCard and showing everyone that I can be one of the best fighters in the world.
Question #6: What should people expect from you in your next fight in Glendale on June 12th?
Answer: Excitement. Electricity. Once people see me, my style and the way I fight, I think they'll fall in love with me. And I think I’ll get a lot of new fans in Glendale. I bring both the best of the old school Soviet boxing and some of the flash of U.S. boxing.
