Włodarczyk after defeat by Drozd: I will come back for the championship belt

- Have you recovered from Saturday's defeat by Grigory Drozd?
Krzysztof Włodarczyk: Not completely. This fight is still inside me. I keep wondering what happened. I guess I don't want to talk about it too much.

- It's difficult not to ask, though. You were the only Polish world champion in professional boxing.
KW: I know that... To be honest, I think the game plan for the fight with Drozd only reached me when I was already at the hotel. Besides, I felt somehow strange during the bout. Just don't ask me why, because I don't know myself. I really don't. Several days have passed, and I'm still thinking about it. The first time I felt something similar was during the rematch with Steve Cunningham, many years ago. I don't remember the first six rounds of that fight at Spodek at all. This time it was different, but also strange. Fuck, I can't talk about it. You ask, everyone asks why it turned out this way, and I don't know the answer. My entire plan burst like a soap bubble, and after that things only got worse. I screwed up and failed to carry out the game plan.

- Leaving aside your weaker performance, we should remember that Drozd was also very well prepared.
KW: He was, of course. He had an excellent plan and worked me out perfectly. In one of the rounds I dropped to one knee and let the referee count me out. I hoped he would come at me then because he would want to finish the fight early. He would have to leave himself open, and I would get my chance. But he's a crafty one. He saw through my intentions and ruined another plan. Drozd was so well prepared that it was hard to believe.

- I have the impression that you underestimated him.
KW: That's what happened, although I don't know why myself. I thought I would handle him. I respect him, but I really thought this fight would be easier.

- Krzysztof Włodarczyk, former WBC world champion at cruiserweight. That doesn't sound good.
KW: It doesn't, I realize that. But don't worry, you won't be saying it for long. I'm a stubborn son of a bitch... My wife often tells me that, and there's some truth to it. I will have my way, because I always do. I will regain the belt and become champion again.

- When? Whom do you want to take the belt from? Are you interested exclusively in a rematch with Drozd?
KW: I would like to face him again. To find out whether Saturday's defeat was just a fluke, as I believe, or whether Drozd really is that good. I need to rebuild myself calmly. Don't write me off and don't put me in a hopeless position. I was world champion for many years, and one defeat cannot take that away from me. And if you're asking whom I will face and from whom I will take the belt, that's not a question for me. I know one thing: I will be ready.

- When will you return to training?
KW: I said I would take a month off, and I'm sticking to that. I'll take it easy for a while and recover, then I'll get back to work.

- After the fight, you also spoke about personal problems that affected your weaker performance.
KW: Because I'm not just an athlete. I also have a private life. When your mind isn't at peace, it's difficult to perform well. And mine wasn't. Everything seemed fine and I functioned normally, but in reality it wasn't that way. Starting next week, I will also focus on putting my life in order. I have to do something about this mess. Something good that will help me regain my peace of mind. Today I know—or rather, I've known for a long time—what I should do. I don't want to explain anything more because it's complicated. But it's time to take care of my own home and build its future.

- Are you also planning changes in sport?
KW: I definitely won't change trainers. Fiodor Łapin is not to blame for anything. My approach has to be different. Just like several other things.

- Not long ago you dreamed of unification fights with Marco Huck or Yoan Pablo Hernandez. Your value will now fall.
KW: I hope it won't fall too drastically. I know my worth, and I won't fight for five zlotys.

- Paweł Kołodziej also lost that same evening. A black Saturday in Moscow.
KW: Oh yes... We had a truly sad evening. Nevertheless, I still like Moscow and would gladly return there, preferably for a rematch with Drozd. For now, I'm still angry with myself.

Interview by: Kamil Wolnicki, przegladsportowy.pl