Abdumalik Khalokov: "Promises made to us have not been fulfilled"

 Abdumalik Khalokov's Instagram profile

Sports.uz will continue to provide exclusive interviews. We "pulled" Abdumalik Halakov, who won a silver medal at the World Boxing Championship. The athlete, who has learned to tell the truth, answered all our questions.

Has your life changed since the World Boxing Championship in Serbia?

- I do not think that my life has changed after the competition. As before, I work hard in training. With the exception of a few celebrities, everything else is fine.

What do you think failed in the final?

- Unfortunately, I did not have enough experience. The opponent was so strong in this regard that he was always one step ahead of me in the final. In no other way did I miss him. I just couldn't contain my excitement at the right time. However, I do not want to disappoint. I still have another chance. If I'm lucky, I will definitely try to win a gold medal in the next big competition.

The Uzbek boxing team has been sharply criticized. How do you feel about that?

- This is normal. Especially since the fans can't digest our result. The reason is that we have always taught them in the first place. If we win, the school will rise to the sky. If we fail, they will throw us to the ground. Unfortunately, that’s what our fans are like. It is necessary to move to new heights, ignoring their sharp criticism. If we go up to the podium again, they will start praising us.

You said that your father brought you back to the sport. Tell me, how did your father evaluate your participation after the World Championship final?

- They were also good boxers. They understand me very well. After the final fight, they called. They cheered me up and told me that I could do better in the future. They told me my mistakes and told me to work on them. Most importantly, I was very motivated at that time. However, I know what happened to me there. I lost in the final. When the war was over, no coach came to me. If I had won a gold medal, it would have been in front of me. No one was standing next to me except my teacher Davron aka.
At the end of the competition, your opinion on social media attracted a lot of attention.

Tell me, did the fact that you were not given the promised money at the end of the World Championship affect your mood?

- Unfortunately, the promises made to us have not been fulfilled. We returned to our country believing them. The results may not be as good as they would like, but the man has to keep his word. A man should have one word. I found out what kind of person those who promised us big money were. They are not men. However, there are people in our country who are outspoken. The mayor of Bukhara presented everything promised after our return from the World Championship.

How do you feel about the fact that the previous generation of boxers was stronger than today?

- The first generation is now to some extent. The path that traverses them is similar. Despite the big differences in the results, it is necessary to gain experience in the future and reach their level. We will continue to work towards this goal. The path we have chosen is clear. The results will come in due course.

What are your plans now? Are you preparing for professional boxing?

- For now, I do not want to consider any proposals. My main goal is to work out and participate in the Olympics. After winning the gold medal, you can move on to other goals. I think I will make my debut in professional boxing. Maybe I'll go to professional boxing before that. It all depends on the contract I am offered.

What do you think about refereeing at the World Boxing Championships in Belgrade?

- Actually, almost all of our athletes fought with the Judges, not the opponents. There were situations when even the most visible winner could not be reached. Nonetheless, these young boxers need to be motivated and served well.