By B.TUNGALAG
Professional boxer N.Tugstsogt has signed a contract with famous American manager and advisor Al Haymon.
N.Tugstsogt joined the professional boxing ring on January and will do his training at Ten Goose Boxing Gym in Los Angeles, with coach Joe Goossen.
The following is an interview with N.Tugstsogt.
Congratulations on drawing up a contract for your first venture as a professional boxer. What’s the duration of your contract and which club have you joined?
According to the contract, Al Haymon and Goossen Promotions will be managing me. I signed a contract last week that will last for five years.
Can you tell us how much your contract is worth?
I want to keep it a secret. But the contract is beneficial to me. Al Haymon is a great promoter and he gives many opportunities to boxers. He doesn’t draw up contracts with just anybody. He also doesn’t give interviews to televisions and newspapers. There are lots of boxers that haven’t seen the face of Al Haymon. He is “Mr Mysterious”, who is famous in the professional boxing world. He is the adviser and manager of Floyd Mayweather, Andre Berto, Amir Khan and Robert Guerrero. I am very happy because I’m linking up with a great man by forming the contract.
How were you introduced to him?
He is the best friend of my instructor Joe Goossen. I have received a number contract offers from other promoters such as Golden Boy. I had two or three other choices.
How did you meet your instructor Joe Goossen?
I visited a number of boxing clubs in the U.S. through the advice of older professional boxers. I visited to Ten Goose Boxing Gym and met Joe Goossen. He was my dream coach. He shook my hand when we first met and we did a one-on-one training on the second day. I felt different with him. I am doing my training well under Joe Goossen. I sparred with nearly 20 boxers from Russia, Canada, the U.S. and Mexico in the past days. My instructor said my fighting was brilliant.
What’s the difference between professional and amateur boxing?
Everything is different. Boxing gloves of professional and amateur boxing are also different. Most important thing is that professional boxers have to analyze the mistakes of their opponents first and work on it. Training in professional boxing is more intensive than amateur. I am doing three or four sparring matches in six to eight rounds a week. I was tired at first. Now I am adapting to the weather, food, and environment.
Has your first fight in the professional boxing ring been planned?
Yes. It will be at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on March 6. It might be delayed. But I will have my first fight before March.
Are you nervous?
No, I am not feeling nervous. I can do it. I have nothing to be scared of. I left all my fear in Mongolia. I have no choice now. I have to go ahead.
Who will be your first opponent? Do you have an idea?
I don’t know yet. I will do my best, whoever he is. There are around 1,000 boxers in a particular weight category in professional boxing.
Did you get the ring name “King Tug”? Your training videos on social media was tagged with this name?
Boxer Don, who is training at Ten Goose Boxing Gym, named me King Tug. I didn’t choose it officially. I will fight with the name TGT or King Tug.
You visited the U.S. last year and had the chance to see professional boxing up close. You came back from the U.S. and said you wanted to fight in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Why did you change your mind?
I trained in a professional boxing club in Chicago last year and went back to Mongolia. I wanted to fight in the Rio 2016. I took part in three international tournaments after April 2014. But I didn’t really like those tournaments. Especially because the judging was so unfair. I won at an international tournament in Kazakhstan but the referees gave the victory to my opponent. After that, at the Incheon Asian Games, I was also judged unfairly.
When did you decide to go to the U.S.?
After the Incheon Games, I went to the U.S. No one asked me to go to the U.S. and no one helped me. I asked nothing from anyone. I decided to go to the U.S on my own. I don’t want people to blame me. Professional sport is a big opportunity for any athlete.
What was the reaction of administrators, coaches and athletes of the Mongolian Boxing Federation to your decision?
I didn’t tell anyone. I want to express my gratitude to the national boxing team, and instructors and coaches, namely E.Badar-Uugan, P.Serdamba, U.Munkh-Erdene, president of the Mongolian Boxing Federation D.Bat-Erdene, and former president of the federation D.Ganzorig.
Your amateur boxing path has now ended. Do have any regrets?
I think I am a very unlucky person. I had a chance to become an Olympic and world champion. I was beaten by Puerto Rican boxer 2:18 at the 2009 World Boxing Championship in Milan. I still haven’t dealt with this defeat.
At the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games, I was very tired at the final fight for gold. I didn’t know why I was so tired and I lost. I regret this. I would have become a professional boxer sooner, if I had won a gold medal at the London 2012.