BoxRec

Two guys who were very dangerous a few years back, and both dominated everyone they fought at 135....

Who would you take?

My first reaction was are you kidding? And then I remembered how I underestimated Nazarov over and over again, I never won a bet on that guy and he always seemed to outperform expectations. My problem is I didn't know enough about the guy and when I finally got really interested in what he was doing he lost and was never heard from again. Anyone know why he left after one loss?

I lost a ton of money betting on local favorite Gamache...A little bit like Calzaghe I didnt do my homework and assumed based on hearsay that he would implode and he never really did.

Nazarov was a hell of a fighter! He put it on Gamache nearly as good as Gatti did and he beat some really good fighters. I was surprised when Jean-Baptiste Mendy beat him!

I honestly think, minus the tough loss at the end, he had a better run going than Mosley did. Yes, Shane was knocking the world out at an astounding rate, but the competition was much in the favor of Nazarov...it's sad the two never got in together.

Anyone know his "post career" history? Or the why's as to his departure?

I never heard anything about him following the loss to Mendy and I don't ever recall any retirement press conferences. It seems that he just quietly faded out after the loss.

In boxing, a man's career is often shaped by timing. Not those of his fists, but of circumstances which evolve and shape the environment around him. Factors such as marketable opponents, promotional squabbles, mandatory title defenses, television appearances, and injury can hold back or accelerate careers at key junctures. Orzubek Nazarov was a skillful fighter whose talents demanded a superfight he was never able to corner as simply as his bewildered opponents. A variety of negatives, many outside of his control, combined to hold back one of the most talented fighters of his era from receiving the adulation he surely deserved.

Orzubek Nazarov was at the vanguard of boxers from the former Soviet Union, who took up the task of capturing world titles in the professional ranks as they had in their days as outstanding amateurs. In the early 1990's, three fighters emerged from the former Soviet Union to stake their claims on the newly opened expanse of professional boxing. They were Russians Kostya Tszyu and Yuri Arbachakov, and Kyrgyzstan's Orzubek Nazarov. All three won a world title. Arbachakov distinguished himself as the first former Soviet amateur star to win a world title in 1992, while Tszyu went on to become a future Hall of Fame performer after winning his title in 1995. Nazarov, however, became lost in the mix. Orzubek won his title a year after Arbachakov, but was never able to follow in Tszyu's footsteps, even though he competed just as well as his Russian comrade on American soil. At the zenith of Nazarov's career he was one big fight, televised against a recognizable American foe, away from entering the pound for pound rankings. In fact, when KO magazine rated the 100 best fighters of 1997, Nazarov clocked in at an impressive number nine slot.

Seeing Nazarov in the opposite corner was an opposing trainer's nightmare. He was an educated southpaw that could bang with either hand. The way Nazarov broke down foes was methodical, much like a left handed Julio Cesar Chavez. Constant pressure and a dedicated body attack destroyed opponents' will. The stoic Nazarov broke whatever he hit with precision, making up for average handspeed. If there was a drawback to Nazarov, it was that he became effective to the point of being one dimensional. A good mover could frustrate him, but certainly not come within range long enough to win rounds. Nazarov had a deceptively lean frame, standing 5'7 1/2 inches tall with a 71 in. reach, with much of that weight and power concentrated on the upper body and long arms. Nazarov's stature and intelligent movement allowed him to muscle opponents to and along the ropes at key junctures. Once in range, Nazarov delivered searingly accurate blows out of a left handed stance, the quality of which inevitably caused adversaries to retreat. The positive boxing traits of Nazarov were formed by an uncompromising adherence to discipline which allowed him to box exclusively at lightweight from his days as a world class amateur in 1986 to the end of his championship reign in 1998. It also helped him overcome the breaking of his left hand on six to seven occasions as an amateur and pro.

Nazarov was born in Kant (then part of Russia and home of one of the Soviet Union's most important air bases), in northern Kyrgyzstan, less than twenty miles from the capital of Bishkek, on August 30th, 1966. He was the son of a simple bus driver, living in a farming community that had little in the way of recreation. At the age of ten, a book about 1964 Russian Olympic middleweight champion Valery Popenchenko fell into Nazarov's hands. Soon, it helped to form his fists, and he began to box at age eleven. Before that, little Nazarov had a reputation as scrapper on the street. Later, Nazarov admired the likes of Sugar Ray Leonard when he saw footage of pro boxers. A love of the body punch was acquired when Nazarov knocked out his first amateur opponent with a hook to the liver. Fourteen opponents in a row were dispatched via kayo.

When all was said and done, Nazarov became one of Russia's most decorated amateurs of the 1980's, ending his dominant reign as Soviet lightweight champion with a 153-12 record. Nazarov was first noticed when he captured, at the age of 18, the European Junior Championship at featherweight in 1984. A year later, he was rated the number one Russian lightweight, and defeated America's Romallis Ellis 4-1 to win the inaugural 1986 Goodwill games. Most saw his World Amateur Championship loss to Cuban Adolfo Horta as an outright robbery. In 1987 and 1988, Nazarov retained his number one rating at lightweight within Russia's vast amateur boxing program, and won the 1987 European Amateur boxing title in Turin. Nazarov seemed certain to contend for a medal at the 1988 Olympic games in Seoul, and had just split two fights against Kostya Tszyu. That run for the gold was dashed by an emergency operation on his appendix. Two Europeans and Romallis Ellis, whom Nazarov had all defeated, medaled in Korea.

The dream of an Olympic medal gone, Nazarov and his trainer Zimin Alexandre set their collective eyes on a future that included the option of turning pro after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Nazarov stated his willingness to turn pro, "After doors open, my dreams open." Nazarov was brought to Japan by manager Masauki Kanehira, who convinced him that because of his Asiatic features he could become a star in Japan under the promotion of Kyoei Boxing. It was not a smooth transition outside the ring. His wife Anna and his two children were prevented from entering Japan for five months, and the assimilation with Japanese boxers never materialized. The transition from amateur to pro boxing inside the ring was nearly effortless.

On a personal level, his stay in Japan was not happy (he felt isolated from Japanese society and home sick), but in terms of career development there was no doubt it was the correct choice. In year one as a pro, Nazarov scored five wins, and only one opponent lasted past two rounds. In his first fight of 1991, Nazarov destroyed Kenji Yagi in four rounds to win the Japanese lightweight title. He fought three more times that year, defeating previously unbeaten Ernie Alesna and winning his most important fight when forced to go the ten round distance against Thai veteran Daomai Sithkodom (36-7). In May of 1992, Nazarov annexed the Orient lightweight title by taking a 12 round decision from Iwao Otomo. Over the next year, he defended the Orient title five times, knocking out four of his five challengers. The devastating wins and facial resemblance to Japanese boxing legend Yoko Gushiken earned him the nickname Guzzie.

Respect and recognition did not come easily outside of Japan. When The Ring magazine listed Nazarov's wins, his name was misspelled, or reported as Gussie Olzubek, Nazarov Oluzbek, or Gussie Nazarov. Yet the wins kept coming, seventeen in all, and in December of 1993 (after a win over Filipino Boy Ligas) Nazarov's achievements could no longer be ignored. The Ring magazine still misspelled and placed his last name first, "Nazarov Olzubek", but did correctly list him within their top ten at number seven. As a former amateur star with a 17-0 record and fourteen stoppages, he was certainly qualified in a division that lacked depth. The timing of The Ring was fortuitous, with Nazarov traveling to hostile territory for a world title fight in his next bout.

South Africa's Dingaan Thobela was the favorite entering the bout, a good champion for the WBA (and incredibly moved all the way up to super middleweight to win the WBC title) who had previously held the WBO version of the title. Little was known about Nazarov, but all were impressed with the way he overcame odds and a severely swollen right eye. Nazarov still calls it his most difficult bout, "That was my hardest fight, both mentally and physically. Even Nelson Mandela came to our match. It was a brawl right from the very beginning. A real street fight. One of my eyes was almost totally closed, and I did not feel quite well after a very long flight," a flight which was necessitated because Japanese TV would not buy the rights to host the fight in Japan.

The fight started ominously for Nazarov when he was dropped in the fourth round by a left hand counter, more due to his being off balance than being rocked. Otherwise, control shifted back and forth, with Nazarov landing good left hooks to the body and unexpectedly out jabbing Thobela. The thought that Thobela was only enduring a slow start, instead of Nazarov being a better all-around boxer, was given up after Nazarov began to land nearly at will from the sixth round on. It was not all one way action, with Thobela landing good counter blows as Nazarov's swollen right eye created vision problems. In round ten, only Thobela's experience saved him from a stoppage after Nazarov had sent him to the canvas with a hook. At the end, Nazarov was awarded a one, six, and ten point unanimous decision victory. It took Nazarov less than four years to ascend to a professional world title.

Some still did not believe in Nazarov, citing internal problems and lack of conditioning for Thobela's lackluster performance. A rematch was quickly granted, and once again Nazarov traveled into the lion's den at Johannesburg. The second time proved less problematic for Nazarov. "The rematch was much easier. At the press-conference he avoided looking into my eyes." A powerful body attack nearly drove Thobela out of the ring, and doubled him over on several occasions. Another unanimous, ten plus points, decision win was punctuated with a seventh round knockdown courtesy of a left hook to the chin. The Ring magazine wrote, "It was all one way action." Nazarov was credited for, "out-thinking, outboxing, and outpunching Thobela." The news was not all positive. Nazarov sustained a detached left retina, a condition that would prove a problem for the rest of his career. The injury required the eye to be "welded" with a laser in order for Nazarov to continue boxing.

Nine months out of the ring did nothing to quell the doubters. The Ring noted before Nazarov's first fight in America, "A defense against former titlist Joey Gamache should be particularly revealing". How right they were. American fans got their first look at Nazarov,when the number one contender believed he had lured Nazarov to his victory party in Lewiston, Maine. The hometown boy received a rude awakening, and after one round returned to his corner with a broken nose believing he had suffered a knockdown. The champ did not prolong the affair, and put Gamache to sleep at 2:50 of the second round. Nazarov looked like a force of nature, as he cut Gamache's right eye in the second then rampaged over his defenseless foe with a left hook that felled the challenger for the count. KO magazine summed up the two rounds best, "A shockingly brief and violent demolition." The Ring ran the headline, "Hometown horror."

Impressive stuff to be sure, and Gamache gave Nazarov credit. "You are a great champ. You attacked me so quickly that you did not let me think what to do." It was a career defining type of win, and should have led to greater opportunities. Instead, Nazarov only fought twice in Japan, scoring a second kayo (a perfect left uppercut to the solar plexus) of undefeated Korean Won Park and a unanimous decision over the experienced Filipino Dindo Canoy. 1995 was a disappointment for Nazarov as managerial and promotional problems stalled his career. At thirty, he was no longer in his physical prime, and needed activity and big fight motivation to keep sharp. There were opportunities to be sure, with Mexico's Miguel Angel Gonzalez (maybe convinced away from a fight by their sparring sessions), American Rafael Ruelas, and newcomers to the division Oscar De La Hoya and Shane Mosley all attractive foes.

The quarreling only left time for one title defense in 1996, as another undefeated challenger felt the sting of defeat with Indonesian Adrianus Taroreh being stopped in four rounds. During this time, cash cow and universally admired Oscar De La Hoya had come into the lightweight division, but it was obvious that he was being navigated around rough waters by his promoter. For nearly two years, De La Hoya and Nazarov shared the same division, but the two best men of those years never fought each other. Nazarov was enveloped in contractual problems, while Oscar feasted on bigger names who were moving up in weight, or boxers less threatening than Nazarov. It seemed that American lightweights wanted no part of Nazarov. The risk vs. reward equation leaned in favor of fighting each other, instead of letting an interloper among them.

Americans who wondered if Nazarov could have given Oscar trouble at lightweight got a hint when Nazarov returned to the USA and destroyed his number one challenger. Leavander Johnson was promoted by Don King, and Nazarov had finally ended his legal battles in Japan to sign with the Acaries brothers, a respected promotional team out of Paris, France. Promoters played no part in the fight in the ring, where Nazarov gave a performance that revealed why De La Hoya had no interest in fighting the tough Kyrgyzstani. Ironically, Nazarov does not remember it as not one of his finer moments. "I had not boxed for more than a year. I was off. In the 6th, I launched an attack and dropped him twice. The last time he was saved by the bell, but anyway there was no fight left in him in the 7th. I landed a dozen blows and it was all over." Boxing Digest raved that the win, "Proved Nazarov's ranking as one of the 10 best fighters in the world, pound for pound, is well deserved. He also showed he is one of the sport's most exciting performers."

Orzubek's next fight was out of the ring, and almost left him a dead man. While returning home to Kyrgyzstan, Nazarov became an inadvertent target when the car he was traveling in was part of a mafia hit. Nazarov was riding with his friend Adyl and a businessman named Rasul, who allegedly owed some protection money to the Russian mob, when the car was attacked by gun wielding thugs. Orzubek's friend and the businessman were both killed, while Nazarov was shot in the arm. As he lay bleeding, the killers had an opportunity to kill him, but perhaps one recognized Nazarov and the hit team spared his life.

It was a harrowing experience that Nazarov shared with writer Alexandre Belenki. "I happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. We got into the car and I started the engine. At this very moment I heard a shot. At first, I did not realize it was a shot. Then came another shot. Rasul who was sitting next to me was killed on the spot. I saw my friend Adyl jumping out of the car. A few minutes later, he died right in my arms. He was already half-dead when he was jumping. I opened the door and fell out of the car. I was shot in the arm. The hit men did not try to kill me, though they could do it a dozen times. My best friend died by chance. I stayed alive by the same chance."

After the shooting, Nazarov's new promoters sent him to the island of Martinique for an eight round fight against former title challenger Freddy Cruz. The location was chosen to ensure they could control the press clippings, and ensure Nazarov was in condition to continue fighting. The power was obviously lacking, as Cruz survived the eight round distance. Still, Nazarov won, and was able to continue the defense of his title. To ensure that the title would slip into the hands of another promoter, the Acaries brothers scheduled Nazarov to fight another world class lightweight in their stable. Frenchman Jean Paul Mendy was selected next for Nazarov, forgoing opportunities in America against the likes of Stevie Johnston and newly crowned Sugar Shane Mosley.

In the lead up to the Mendy defense, Nazarov believed there were problems with his left eye, and that he had re-injured it in training. Looking back, Nazarov saw the signs, "A few days before the fight I felt that something was wrong with my left eye. As soon as I closed it I started seeing some teeny floating point. Then it disappeared. I decided to go on with the fight. I was afraid that my boxing license would be either suspended, or withdrawn. I wanted to get back so badly." Time and age were not on his side.

If the eye was not damaged before the fight, it was surely injured in the third round of his clash with Mendy when he was inadvertently thumbed. Nazarov's retina was completely torn. He recalled, "By the third round, I knew he was my man and then, one minute before the end of the round, I saw a flash in the eye. I think, it was either from a thumb, or a lace. More likely, from a thumb. You know I am left-handed and my eyes are also 'left-handed'. I hardly saw any punch coming. Nevertheless, I was still standing and fought back."

Which is not to say that Nazarov would have won the fight with two healthy eyes, and having lost his sense of distance put Nazarov at a considerable disadvantage. Mendy made full use of the opportunity, landing jab-left hand combinations at a consistent pace. Nazarov retaliated with his trademark body attack, but it was obvious that Nazarov was behind on the cards going into the championship rounds. Like a true champion Nazarov gave all, "In the last three rounds when I had nothing to lose I went all out, but ran out of time. I still think that if the fight had lasted 20-30 seconds more I would have knocked him out."

More than his title was lost that evening. Even after four operations, Nazarov is left mostly blind in his left eye and unable to see things below chest level. So, why did he not quit after the thumb in the third round? "I couldn't. I would have despised myself for the rest of my life. I even wouldn't have been able to see my own reflection in the mirror without spitting at it." Now he can look in the mirror as a successful businessman at his home in Kyrgyzstan, as well as an elected committee member to help the country's Olympic team.

The talented fighter, from the old Russian system, held the WBA title for five years and was the third longest reigning champion before his loss to Mendy. Sadly, his path criss-crossed boxing stars with whom he was never able to share the ring. Managerial problems, timing, a detached retina, a gunshot wound, and numerous other factors conspired to rob boxing fans of a fighter who had the tools to become a great champion. It's proof that talent alone cannot elevate those destined to the status of a forgotten champion.

At lightweight the competition probably goes to Nazarov, although Mosley did have that niec win over Holiday. On the whole, it is very, very sad taht Nazarov didnt get a chance to fight some of the elite guys of his time.

It's unfortunate that Nazarov is like so many other foreign fighters who get little to no play here in the states, but he was one hell of a fighter.

barry wrote:Nazarov was a hell of a fighter! He put it on Gamache nearly as good as Gatti did and he beat some really good fighters. I was surprised when Jean-Baptiste Mendy beat him!

IMO he put it on Gamache better than Gatti did as Gamache was closer to his prime, in a proper weight class, and the fight was in Gamache's backyard.

Parm wrote:

barry wrote:Nazarov was a hell of a fighter! He put it on Gamache nearly as good as Gatti did and he beat some really good fighters. I was surprised when Jean-Baptiste Mendy beat him!

IMO he put it on Gamache better than Gatti did as Gamache was closer to his prime, in a proper weight class, and the fight was in Gamache's backyard.

And he didnt have a 20 lb weight advantage. For sure, Gatti's win over Gamache means next to nothing, whereas Nazarov beat him prime for prime!

Thank you Parm, was that your work? Great read and it really fills the "thousand questions" I had about this guy. I only realized he was great when he fought Gamache.....being one of those who thought it was going to be a home town celebration.....He really put a damper on the night I'll tell you.

However, I did start to watch and began to understand just how good he was and that's when things came unglued for him. Thanks for posting that.

BoxBuzz wrote:Thank you Parm, was that your work? Great read and it really fills the "thousand questions" I had about this guy. I only realized he was great when he fought Gamache.....being one of those who thought it was going to be a home town celebration.....He really put a damper on the night I'll tell you.

However, I did start to watch and began to understand just how good he was and that's when things came unglued for him. Thanks for posting that.

Oh, sorry, Boxbuzz, no it wasn't. I copied it off maxboxing and their forgotten champions series. It is a good read, interesting story.

Effort still greatly appreciated.

http://fightnews.ru/mt/archives/Nazarov%20Orzubek.jpg

BoxBuzz wrote:Effort still greatly appreciated.

http://fightnews.ru/mt/archives/Nazarov%20Orzubek.jpg

Sweet porn 'stache. Funny how guys you think look like total pansies are some of the toughest fighters....Camacho as well.

Mattyp151 wrote:Sweet porn 'stache. Funny how guys you think look like total pansies are some of the toughest fighters....Camacho as well.

http://img144. .us/img144/604/hector028mf.jpg

http://img366. .us/img366/6053/hector065vt.jpg

Tantum, you can take a pretty bland thread and make it rather disturbing with relatively little effort. It's a gift you seem to have.....

that was super gay...

Damn Tantum---I could have went the rest of my life without seeing that shit!

Mosely and Nazarov would both be nauseated....I suppose that's the connection here.

Parm wrote:

barry wrote:Nazarov was a hell of a fighter! He put it on Gamache nearly as good as Gatti did and he beat some really good fighters. I was surprised when Jean-Baptiste Mendy beat him!

IMO he put it on Gamache better than Gatti did as Gamache was closer to his prime, in a proper weight class, and the fight was in Gamache's backyard.

Agreed about prime and weight class.

I'll take Mosley by close decision in an excellent fight. I think his chin could withstand Nazarov's power and he'd move some also. Nazarov didn't fight anyone with that type of speed.
Nazarov, as Parm pointed out, is quite under-appreciated today.

Shane by decision 7-5

If Nazarov not be blinded in battle,He would have won the Mendy

Vladimir5555 wrote:Shane by decision 7-5

If Nazarov not be blinded in battle,He would have won the Mendy

Agreed on the Mendy fight.