Shtyrkov: "The fight of Emelianenko and Tarasov is a humiliation of boxing"

Russian mixed martial arts fighter Ivan Shtyrkov shared his thoughts on the fight of Alexander Emelianenko and Artem Tarasov. Their meeting will take place on September 18 by boxing rules.

"I don't consider it a sport. I think it's beneath my dignity. When you used to fight at that level and now you're going out against a blogger - are you kidding? That's not my story. Here, for example, to go out for fist fights against someone of his level and age - I have nothing against that. But Tarasov vs Koklyaev and Tarasov vs Emelianenko... well, that's not boxing, guys. I think it is a humiliation of the sport. I have an overly reverent attitude towards the sport.

"I think it's a separate culture or subculture. A separate philosophy. Athletes are a separate caste of people. And when everyone who's not lazy calls themselves athletes... Maybe, this is money, a pump and the public is asking for it, but I do not accept it. Boxing is a great sport, but now it's being turned into something else.

"I feel offended for professional boxers and fighters, who get pennies, while some blogger and Sasha Emelianenko... If Alexander thinks this somehow elevates him in the sport, I think that's a delusion. Is he an athlete now, in my opinion? He's not in very good shape now," Shtyrkov said.