Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbek boxer Javokhir Ummataliyev is holding a training camp in California and preparing for his next professional bout.
In an interview with the Uzbekistan Boxing Federation, the boxer spoke about his preparations in the United States, joint training sessions with Shakur Stevenson and a possible opponent for his September fight.
Ummataliyev travelled to the United States for the first time and is currently based in Indio, where he continues training and is adapting to his new surroundings.
His preparations are being overseen by the Diaz brothers, who also work with Muradjon Akhmadaliev and Bektemir Melikuziev. Ummataliyev is also sparring with a coach named Julio in Los Angeles.
According to the boxer, professional boxing in the United States differs from amateur boxing primarily in the approach to training. Professional boxing places greater emphasis on power and punch quality, he said, while amateur boxing focuses more on speed and scoring points.
Ummataliyev also said he has signed a contract with British promotional company Queensberry Promotions. According to the boxer, the company works with fighters including Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois, Moses Itauma and Fabio Wardley. He did not disclose the terms of his contract.
A significant part of the interview focused on his joint training sessions with American boxer Shakur Stevenson. Ummataliyev said they trained together three times in Las Vegas and also sparred at Floyd Mayweather’s gym.
After the sessions, Stevenson pointed out some of the Uzbek boxer’s mistakes and offered him advice. Ummataliyev also recalled a humorous moment after their sparring session. He showed Stevenson a stretching exercise that the American boxer was unable to perform. Stevenson then laughed and jokingly told him, “You are crazy.”
Ummataliyev said Stevenson is familiar with Uzbek boxers. In particular, the American boxer told him that he had competed alongside Muradjon Akhmadaliev at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. According to Ummataliyev, Stevenson had also followed his fights and specifically highlighted his bout against Arlen Lopez.
Stevenson also offered Ummataliyev the opportunity to train with him in Las Vegas at any time.
During his stay in the United States, Ummataliyev also visited the UFC headquarters in Las Vegas. He said he met several champions of the organization there. He also noted that Rakhmatillo Boymatov had recently signed with Zuffa Boxing and had undergone an assessment at the UFC facility.
Ummataliyev’s opponent for his September fight has not yet been determined. The boxer expects the matter to be resolved within the next one to two weeks.
Ummataliyev also spoke about the name he uses in professional boxing. He said his first and last names are more difficult to pronounce in the United States, so he currently introduces himself as “Javlo.”
He does not yet have an official nickname, but said he would like fans to know him by his surname, Ummataliyev, in the future.
