Valentino: I am looking forward to APB
APB Boxer of the Week Valentino
AIBA Pro Boxing's (APB) social media
campaign the "APB Boxer of the Week" is here with another Friday wrap-up
interview. This time boxing fans were treated to a week on the APB facebook
page that was dedicated to the 2009 World Champion, and three time European
Champion Domenico Valentino.
Valentino is also a two time Mediterranean Games Champion, and a two time Olympian. As one of the fan-favourites in his Dolce & Gabbana Italia Thunder team he has also taken many other continental and world medals like the bronze at the 2011 worlds.
The Italian boxer was born in the small village Marcianise in the Campania region which has given the world a number of elite level boxers including Clemente Russo and Vincenzo Mangiacapre. In this fan-generated interview he reveals all:
Domenico, you must be a real celebrity in your hometown. Do you feel it when you go back there?
Actually there is not just me, but also Clemente Russo and Vincenzo Mangiacapre who come from the same little village in Campania - Marcianise. We have a good boxing school in our town, if this year there are three of us who have made the names in boxing, there could be four or five of us in a year time. So when I go home it is not considered as anything extraordinary. For sure, everybody in our hometown is extremely proud of all of us, but believe me, at the same time they treat us just like anybody else in the town.
It looks like you enjoy being a father a lot. Will you encourage your son to get into boxing when he gets a little bit older?
I am convinced that practicing sports is essential for your spirit and education, thus should he wish to practice boxing, I would be quite happy about that as I would be able to give him tips that he wouldn't get from any coach. But what I would not wish is for my son to go through all sacrifices I went through in my boxing career.
Definitely, every athlete has ups and downs in his career, and the latter are not always easy to overcome. How do you deal with difficult moments in your boxing life?
You've got to be a champion once you become an athlete. This is my philosophy in sports. When I don't succeed, I always say to myself: "One day I will get there" and as a result I usually do. However, in my gorgeous son I now have another motivating factor in my life. There is nothing that could help me overcome any professional crisis better than that.
Do you remember your feelings when you had to fight with two-time Olympic and World Champion Vasyl Lomachenko from Ukraine? It must not be easy to step into the ring with such a strong boxer!
I remember both fights with him very clearly. The first time it happened was in 2011 in the semi-finals of the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Baku where Lomachenko eliminated me and denying me a second world title. That time I was only thinking about punching him and to be honest there were moments when I was confident about overcoming him at the beginning. But when I met him for the second time, which was in Season III of the WSB, I was not in my best shape I must admit and I know I had no chance of beating him. That time I was only thinking about defending myself. I remember that he was extremely strong.
How do you think your experience in the WSB will help you prepare for APB?
I cannot understate the importance of those three seasons in the WSB! Due to that experience I am not starting this pathway from zero. Additionally, I feel I am now mature enough to step into APB.
By the way, will we see you in season IV of WSB?
Definitely! I'll be there in the next season as well.
What are you expecting from the upcoming season?
It will be full of emotions and passion like always for sure. Besides that, my personal goal is to improve my skills further in order to be 100 % ready for the APB.
Speaking of which, what are your main goals in boxing for the upcoming years? What are your ambitions in regard of APB?
First of all I am looking forward to getting the satisfaction of boxing in APB and I'm hoping to qualify through APB for the Rio Olympics.
Do you have any plans for your post boxing career?
I really hope to keep boxing for a long time yet. But should I quit it one day, I hope to remain in the boxing environment. What I would really like to do is to train kids. For this reason I see my post-athlete career first as a teacher and then as a manager.
Are you satisfied enough about the financial conditions in boxing taking into consideration all your hard work in your daily job as a boxer?
I am quite satisfied with my current situation as I am not nor rich nor poor, but have enough money to be financially comfortable. But in general, it is true that if we compare the financial benefits of boxers and other athletes like footballers for instance, it becomes clear that with all those sacrifices we have to suffer throughout our careers, like constant hunger, serious injuries and though serious health problems, we are significantly underpaid.
Domenico, do you have any favourite activities outside of boxing?
I always dedicate my free time to my beautiful family. I love spending time with them! As for sports, of course, I practice a little bit of everything. But one of my biggest hobbies is cooking. Whenever I am at home, I cook for my son and my wife. Let's say, the ideal evening for me is to treat my family to a delicious dinner at home while watching sports on the TV.
Valentino is also a two time Mediterranean Games Champion, and a two time Olympian. As one of the fan-favourites in his Dolce & Gabbana Italia Thunder team he has also taken many other continental and world medals like the bronze at the 2011 worlds.
The Italian boxer was born in the small village Marcianise in the Campania region which has given the world a number of elite level boxers including Clemente Russo and Vincenzo Mangiacapre. In this fan-generated interview he reveals all:
Domenico, you must be a real celebrity in your hometown. Do you feel it when you go back there?
Actually there is not just me, but also Clemente Russo and Vincenzo Mangiacapre who come from the same little village in Campania - Marcianise. We have a good boxing school in our town, if this year there are three of us who have made the names in boxing, there could be four or five of us in a year time. So when I go home it is not considered as anything extraordinary. For sure, everybody in our hometown is extremely proud of all of us, but believe me, at the same time they treat us just like anybody else in the town.
It looks like you enjoy being a father a lot. Will you encourage your son to get into boxing when he gets a little bit older?
I am convinced that practicing sports is essential for your spirit and education, thus should he wish to practice boxing, I would be quite happy about that as I would be able to give him tips that he wouldn't get from any coach. But what I would not wish is for my son to go through all sacrifices I went through in my boxing career.
Definitely, every athlete has ups and downs in his career, and the latter are not always easy to overcome. How do you deal with difficult moments in your boxing life?
You've got to be a champion once you become an athlete. This is my philosophy in sports. When I don't succeed, I always say to myself: "One day I will get there" and as a result I usually do. However, in my gorgeous son I now have another motivating factor in my life. There is nothing that could help me overcome any professional crisis better than that.
Do you remember your feelings when you had to fight with two-time Olympic and World Champion Vasyl Lomachenko from Ukraine? It must not be easy to step into the ring with such a strong boxer!
I remember both fights with him very clearly. The first time it happened was in 2011 in the semi-finals of the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Baku where Lomachenko eliminated me and denying me a second world title. That time I was only thinking about punching him and to be honest there were moments when I was confident about overcoming him at the beginning. But when I met him for the second time, which was in Season III of the WSB, I was not in my best shape I must admit and I know I had no chance of beating him. That time I was only thinking about defending myself. I remember that he was extremely strong.
How do you think your experience in the WSB will help you prepare for APB?
I cannot understate the importance of those three seasons in the WSB! Due to that experience I am not starting this pathway from zero. Additionally, I feel I am now mature enough to step into APB.
By the way, will we see you in season IV of WSB?
Definitely! I'll be there in the next season as well.
What are you expecting from the upcoming season?
It will be full of emotions and passion like always for sure. Besides that, my personal goal is to improve my skills further in order to be 100 % ready for the APB.
Speaking of which, what are your main goals in boxing for the upcoming years? What are your ambitions in regard of APB?
First of all I am looking forward to getting the satisfaction of boxing in APB and I'm hoping to qualify through APB for the Rio Olympics.
Do you have any plans for your post boxing career?
I really hope to keep boxing for a long time yet. But should I quit it one day, I hope to remain in the boxing environment. What I would really like to do is to train kids. For this reason I see my post-athlete career first as a teacher and then as a manager.
Are you satisfied enough about the financial conditions in boxing taking into consideration all your hard work in your daily job as a boxer?
I am quite satisfied with my current situation as I am not nor rich nor poor, but have enough money to be financially comfortable. But in general, it is true that if we compare the financial benefits of boxers and other athletes like footballers for instance, it becomes clear that with all those sacrifices we have to suffer throughout our careers, like constant hunger, serious injuries and though serious health problems, we are significantly underpaid.
Domenico, do you have any favourite activities outside of boxing?
I always dedicate my free time to my beautiful family. I love spending time with them! As for sports, of course, I practice a little bit of everything. But one of my biggest hobbies is cooking. Whenever I am at home, I cook for my son and my wife. Let's say, the ideal evening for me is to treat my family to a delicious dinner at home while watching sports on the TV.
+ نوشته شده در شنبه شانزدهم شهریور ۱۳۹۲ ساعت 18:15 توسط علی سلطانی
|
علی سلطانی