Interview with President of the Boxing Federation of Bulgaria

Interview with President of the Boxing Federation of Bulgaria, Krassimir Ininski after the European Women’s Championship in Sofia.

by Giuliano Orlando

Mr. President of the Bulgarian Boxing Federation, Krassimir Ininnski, first of all congratulations for the great job your National Federation is doing. In addition to the historic tournament Strandja, the oldest in Europe, that was born in 1950, now in its 67th edition, which since 2012 takes place in Sofia also open to women, and the Balkan, the first Memorial Emil Zhechev, to remind one of the great Bulgarian leaders worldwide, held also in the capital in April, in addition to the Lokomotiv tournament reserved for juniors, you are one of the most active associations in the continent. Last year in Samokov, you welcomed the male Elite Europeans Championship, this year, a European Women Championship, also in Sofia, where Bulgaria won three golds beyond every expectations. There was an high level Champoionship, with 25 nations present, all the strongest teams from Russia,Turkey, Azerbajan, England, Ireland and Wales, France, Poland, all those in Northern Europe, Italy and Ukraine and many other. Can you make an evaluation of the last two years as president and as passionate about boxing?

“Dutiful to congratulate my team who honored the Women's European event with a record ever recorded in the past. In the last two years, there has been a qualitative leap, equivalent to a general progress in the Bulgarian boxing, especially for Women’s boxing. We got two medals at the Women’s World Championships, silver in the 54 kg with Stoyka Petrova and bronze in the 57 kg with Denitsa Eliseeva. After this Championship the Bulgarian Team went beyond expectations and I must say thanks to the technical staff works in particular the young Cuban teacher Arate Joel Soler, who for several years has been the coach of the team of Lokomotiv Sofia, and thanks to the athletes who have given their best. Bringing the Asenova, Petrova and Eliseeva to the gold, makes us proud and confirms that our engineers have done a great job renovating the all team, aiming to the Tokyo Games in 2020, where we intend to give a important signal. Structural changes and the inclusion of Cuban coach in the national team have had a positive effect throughout the boxing environment. I truly believe that the attitude and determination of our team will bring us positive results and important future success.”

How many athletes between men and women are part of the Bulgarian federation at a competitive level?

“We currently have around 1800, men and women, joining our.”

The trend of Bulgaria, as registered athletes, in which direction goes?

“Definitely it is growing. We are creating four regional centers for athletes of all categories, from elite to youth, men and women. These centers, equipped with all facilities for the best wellness of athletes and coaches, will become the reference point for the competitive activity, both in Bulgaria and abroad. The ideal operating center to train the best Bulgarian Athletes and to better assist their career as well to maintain a high level of competitiveness of the different teams.”

After Rio, have passed pro the two absolute star: Ireland’s Katie Taylor and US Claresa Shields, winning both Olympic gold as several world titles. I would like to know your opinion on this decision?

“I never considered the Pro Boxing and Amateur Boxing as two different sports. For me there is only one boxing. I still believe that the AIBA boxers should continue in the projects of the International structure headed by President WU and Vice President Franco Falcinelli, that is the European President. I approve and I like the WSB format, and I wish that in the near future Bulgarian athletes will take part.”

In Bulgaria are the most popular men or women in boxing?

“At the moment definitely the men, as the sport until a few years ago was a discipline reserved for males. With the advent of women's boxing, the acknowledgment at the Olympics and the many results achieved by Bulgaria, the gap has been drastically shortened, now the interest in women's boxing is definitely very high and in the coming years, I am sure that women’s registrations will increase.”

How does your federation in regards of the professionalism?

“Like I said, I do not separate in Pro Boxing and Amateur Boxing, but I think that the AIBA boxers should have the opportunity to continue their careers in the AIBA structure. Moreover, with the new regulations there are no more regulatory difficulties.”

AIBA is preparing major changes in projection to Tokyo 2020. The women will play three rounds of three minutes as men; we’ll go back to the five judges, the judges’ choices will be only with computer and referees will all be from the same category level. Could you give us your opinion?

“I totally agree. Also in the Women’s European just ended, the draw of the judges was done by the computer. My hope is that all the changes will serve to make our sport better.”

Does Bulgarian Team has some new talent for Tokio 2020?

“The entire Bulgarian team is completely renovated. Some of our young talents have declared their willingness to work in the national team to approach Tokyo 2020, with big ambitions, beginning with Daniel Asanov, who is 19 and has already participated in the Rio Olympics. Together with the Ministry of Sports of Bulgaria, we are developing a four-year training program for the upcoming Olympics. After the Women’s European results, even in Women’s Boxing we have big ambitions to be protagonist at the upcoming Games.”