Igor Yakovlevich VYSOTSKIY
(Peso Pesado)
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Lugar de Nacimiento: Magadan, Far East Russia.
Fecha de Nacimiento: 1953.
Récord Amateur Reclamado: 161 victorias, 24 derrotas.

Campeón de la Unión Soviética de 1978

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Born in Magadan (a forced labor colony for criminals and political prisoners). He grew up to become one of the brightest stars of Soviet boxing.

His father, Yakov Antonovich, was part of Soviet naval infantry forces during II World War. After getting nailed by a land mine, he was captured. Inside the POW camp, he fought against former heavyweight world champ Max Schmeling. He lost, but it was as they say today, a “close” fight. Just imagine: one was imprisoned, poorly fed, and obviously overworked, while the other was living a more or less full and meaningful life.

Yakov Antonovich's ninth escape attempt was successful. However, instead of getting his well deserved medals and accolades, he was sent to Kolyma (note: Kolyma was the most infamous region in the whole of the Soviet Union used specifically for the GULAG forced labor camps).

His mother, Meta Joganovna, was born in Estonia. She met Yakov Antonovich in Kolyma (while imprisoned).

From age 6, Yakov Antonovich trained Vysotskiy daily. They always exercised, and also did development training, as well as constant tightening of  Vysotskiy's defense. He was the one who taught him to instinctively dodge punches.

Vysotskiy went to a gym at 13 years old, weighing 74 kilos. He lost at his debut at 1966 Magadan city championships.

From the 1972 Munich Olympic Games to the 1976 Montreal Games, Cuban champion Teófilo Stevenson lost only two fights, both at the hands of Vysotskiy.

They first met at the final in “Cordova Cardin” tournament in 1973 in Cuba. Vysotskiy took the first two opponents, both being Cuban, out early. In the third fight, Vysotskiy beat Stevenson on points. Although the score was 3:2, the pace of the fight forced Teofilo to take two necessary breaks to retie his gloves.

A saying in the USSR says “It’s easier to win the World Championships than it is to win ‘Cordova Cardin’.”

Vysotsky's first fight with Jimmy Clark in November 1975 was sensational. Clark was floored and battered around the ring, but rallied magnificently and was on top when Vysotsky was stopped with a cut in the third.

In April 11,1976, in a tournament in Minsk, Vysotskiy knocked down Stevenson in 2nd and again in 3rd for the full count.

Vysotsky is variously reported as being a third rate Russian fighter, or the best heavyweight they've ever produced. Having seen him on several occasions, I tend to the latter view. He seemed the complete package to me - hard punching, quick hands and a real presence in the ring. Virtually all Russians would rank Gorstkov as the superior fighter, but that seems puzzling at best. Gorstkov was a classic Russian plodder, while Vysotsky was dynamic.

Vysotsky's problem was that he cut and swelled horribly. His brows rarely held up for the length of an amateur tournament. Indeed, later in his career he fought cautiously in every fight to protect his eyes and his effectiveness diminished.

An article compares Russian Heavyweight Viktor Ivanov to Jerry Quarry. I've always wondered if the writer got his Russians confused as it was Vysotsky who more closely resembled Quarry, although I'd say that Vysotsky was more comfortable taking the lead than was Jerry.

USSR sent both Viktor Ivanov and Vysotsky to the Montreal Olympics 1976 - Vysotsky would be the choice if USSR drew against Cuba. Feeling was that Vysotsky's eyebrows couldn't hold up for the number of fights required.

Before any major tournament the Soviet national team went through a lot of sparring sessions with each other. Before Montreal, in ‘76, Vysotskiy boxed against a light heavy named Kvachadze and received a serious cut.

The Cubans didn’t know it happened and brought two guys to the Olympics, Stevenson and Angel Milián. If Vysotskiy would have participated, Stevenson would be sitting on the alternate’s bench.

Vysotskiy says his most difficult opponents was Angel Milián, who he fought three times winning once and lossing twice; and Evgeniy Gorstkov.

In December 1977, Vysotskiy lost on points against future WBA heavyweight champion Greg Page, "although the result was controversial because the bout took place in America"- says Vysotskiy.

In Fall 1978, Muhammad Ali came to Moscow to box 2 rounds each against three of the best Soviet heavyweights of the time, one of whom was of course Vysotskiy. Before the bout, Ali burst into the Soviet fighters’ dressing room screaming and threatening to destroy them. The policeman standing closest to the scene was frightened to death throughout the entire ordeal.

"Unbelievable speed and combinations" -remembered Vysotskiy - "Still I gave hhim some of me too".

Vysotskiy last fight was at the 1980 National championships. It’s also where they determined who went to the 1980 Olympics. "I lost to Gorstkov, and once again, because of a cut, so I decided that I had had enough".

Palmarés Amateur de Igor Vysotskiy:

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

REGRESO A PÁGINA DE INICIO

Nota: Éste palmarés está muy incompleto y puede ser inexacto.

Responsable: [email protected]
(Ultima actualización: Ene-21-2008)

Credits: By Paul Stevenson

Special thanks to Janusz Majcher