Drozd disarmed “Diablo”: “I knew he was setting a trap for me”

Impossible is not a fact. It is only the potential of possibility. It is temporary. Impossible does not exist. Now I know that for sure! – Grigoriy Drozd wrote online the day after the most valuable victory of his career. The 35-year-old Russian had waited a long time for this moment. In Moscow, he found a way to neutralize Krzysztof Wlodarczyk’s most dangerous weapon. “Diablo” was helpless.

- Experts say that you looked even better on Saturday than you did a year ago, when you defeated Mateusz Masternak. Do you agree?
Grigoriy Drozd: Definitely. Wlodarczyk did not expect to face an opponent like me. I trained extremely hard and changed my style somewhat. I made progress, and it was visible in the ring.

- Did you have even one difficult moment in the fight with the WBC champion?
GD: No. Wlodarczyk never put me in serious trouble. However, the tension lasted until the final second of the last round. I did not experience a crisis. I controlled the situation from beginning to end.

- Did you also fail to feel the power of his punches, which has become legendary?
GD: He caught me once with a good jab and once with a left hook. I also remember one right cross. In total, there were three, perhaps four, dangerous punches from him in the entire fight.

- You did not make the mistake that still haunts Rakhim Chakhkiev. When “Diablo” dropped to one knee in the eighth round, you kept your composure. Your compatriot then rushed at the Pole and paid for it with defeat.
GD: Wlodarczyk is a very clever fighter. I think he tried to deceive and provoke me. He wanted me to attack him, try to finish him off and get involved in an exchange in which he could land a knockout punch. Even before the fight, I knew that open, offensive boxing was out of the question. Fighting at close range was, too. My trainers kept telling me not to rush at Wlodarczyk under any circumstances, even after a knockdown. I was supposed to stay calm and continue boxing from distance. The jab, the left hook and further combinations.

- Did the maneuver in the third round of Wlodarczyk’s fight with Chakhkiev and in the eighth round of his bout with you have the same purpose?
GD: I believe so. In that fight, even before the knockdown, Chakhkiev did land a powerful punch. However, I do not think it was so destructive that Krzysztof had to drop to one knee. Wlodarczyk wanted to encourage Rakhim to attack boldly. In both cases, he was sending his opponent the message: “I’m weak, I have no strength left, I’ve had enough. Come on, finish me off.” I knew it was a trap.

- Before the fight, you told me that Wlodarczyk always boxes to the very end. This time, observers got the impression that he gave up earlier.
GD: After the sixth round, I noticed that he had stopped thinking. He had lost his game plan and did not understand what was happening. Practically nothing was working for him. I could see resignation in his eyes. Nevertheless, he remained dangerous until the end, as always. I could not afford even a moment of distraction. Wlodarczyk could explode at any time. I do agree, however, that he weakened toward the end. He slowed down and was breathing heavily.

- Will there be a rematch? Apparently, the contract stipulates that a second fight should take place within nine months of your victory.
GD: To be honest, I do not know whether such a clause was included in the contract. It is still too early for me to comment on another fight. My promoter, Andrey Ryabinsky, certainly has a good plan for my career. Will I make a voluntary defense now, or will there be a rematch with Wlodarczyk? I really do not know.

- After such a decisive victory, does a second fight make sense at all?
GD: It is true that the victory was clear and convincing. It seems to me that Wlodarczyk has never suffered such a heavy defeat before. From my point of view, a rematch is not the most interesting option. There is no doubt that I clearly defeated Krzysztof. On the other hand, he held the WBC belt for a long time. Perhaps, because of his achievements, he deserves a rematch. We will discuss it.

Interview by: Przemyslaw Osiak, przegladsportowy.pl