Aleksey Papin: a defector from kickboxing

Many professional boxers begin their careers with passing battles against not very strong rivals. It is at this stage of development that the boxer-professional Alexey Papin is now. His sporting fate is quite unusual, since a fighter from the Moscow region started out as a kick boxer, won all the important titles, and then unexpectedly for many retrained in the boxer. On his account today, seven fights, in all he won, but the main fights for the boxer still ahead.

Characteristics of the athlete

Alexei Papin holds his fights in the first heavyweight division. Strongly knocked 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 fight 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 Alexey Papin. Kickboxing involves a minimum work of the body, since it is associated with a great 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 insecure and did not fully exploit his attacking potential, did not dare to deceive the movements and bold breakthroughs.

However, soon Alexei Papin realized that to turn into a boxer it was not enough to "turn off" the kicks and began to study the nuances of the new craft more.

The level of opponents of the athlete is not too high yet, which does not allow to talk about his future in full, but now Alexey's good potential is already evident, which acts in an aggressive and entertaining manner, almost all his victories won by knockout.

From Peresvet to CSKA

Alexey Papin was born in the Moscow region of Reutov in 1987. Kickboxing began to engage in childhood, but the hard and hard work in training at first did not bring the boy satisfaction. Often, his father forced him to overcome himself and go to the gym.

Alexey Papin was engaged in the training center "Peresvet", which was located in his native Reutov. At first it seemed that the guy's prospects are rather vague. He was not particularly distinguished among his peers, leaving the competitions without rewards. Only fourteen years old Alexey Papin won at his first tournament, having won the championship of the Armed Forces of the country. Then there was a lull again, and he did not stand out in juniors.

A peculiar breakthrough occurred after his transition to an adult sport. In the finals of the competition, he defeated the master of sports of international class and immediately stepped from the camp of first-rankers to a higher stage of development. After that, Alexei Papin was invited to CSKA, where he began to train in the sports school of the capital club.

Kickboxing Awards

His first big award in kickboxing was won by the sportsman in 2007, having won the World Cup in Yalta. Then he has not yet scored his optimal physical condition and performed in the category up to 81 kg.

The following years, Alexei Papin secures his status, invariably winning all continental kickboxing tournaments. It all started in 2008 in Portugal, when he became the European champion in the category of up to 85 kg. Then the fighter finally grew and became stronger and began to perform already in heavy weights.

This, however, did not affect his victorious advance. Alexey Papin continues to dominate the continent and collects titles in tournaments in Greece, Azerbaijan.

In 2009, the athlete began to compete at the world championships, having won a bronze medal to begin with. Here he ventured and decided to try his hand at a category over 91 kg. Having failed, he returned to his first heavy weight for him. To become a world champion he managed in 2011 at the tournament in Macedonia.

Fights in amateur kickboxing Alexei Papin still regarded as preparation for more ambitious goals. Since 2012, he regularly participates in professional duels. For a small number of years, the fighter collected the championship belts of several professional organizations, becoming a real star of this sport.

Change of profession

Having achieved everything in kickboxing, Alexei Papin decided to try his hand at a more financially advantageous sport. After all, even the average boxer-professional 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, not having a successful amateur career behind him, Alexei Papin began to realize himself in the professionals in his homeland. Preparation for battles takes place in Moscow, trainer Anatoly Ivichuk is engaged with him.

Boxing equipment 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 preparation, a lot of sparring was held with the active boxers, and the sportsman from Moscow region gradually got used to the new realities.

The debut match took place in 2015 in the arena in Moscow. Papin was opposed by Sergei Beloshapkin, whose defeats prevailed over victories in his boxing career. Alexey acted in the usual forceful manner and defeated the opponent.

The latest fights

After winning a number of victories over local athletes, Alexei Papin went on fights with good foreign heavyweights. The first truly dangerous opponent for him was Sergio Alberto Angel. High, long-armored, he became an uncomfortable opponent for Alexei, but he managed to suppress the Argentine and completed the fight ahead of schedule.

The last match Papin spent against another Latin American. In May 2017, he fought against Rogelio Omar Rosi, who was able to knock out in the second round. After this victory, he retained in the ranking of Box Rec 43 position, ahead of the legendary Roy Jones.