WHO had been your idols once you had been youthful?
Boxers ceaselessly inform us it was a mum or dad or a fighter from the previous. Solutions to anticipate, solutions to respect.
You wouldn’t want many digits to rely what number of picked historic figures or extra particularly the King of an historical kingdom over 2000 years in the past.
So, why was Alexander the Nice an idol of Aloys Youmbi when the cruiserweight prospect was 19 years outdated?
“I believe as a younger man, you at all times need to look as much as any individual,” he tells Boxing Information over Zoom.
“You need to perceive individuals and also you need to be nice. I really feel like each individual deep down desires to be nice. They need to be the most effective. So once I have a look at individuals in historical past, somebody that I resonate with, like a conqueror – like on this sport, I’m a conqueror – what extra are you able to ask for from a person like Alexander the Nice?
“He had Persia at his ft, Persia at his ft [at] 22 years outdated. Oh my goodness.”
There have been 4 key battles for Alexander and the Macedonians to beat earlier than he might take the Persian crown. This started with The Battle of the Granicus in 334 BC, one the place Alexander practically misplaced his life.
Youmbi would by no means describe himself as a historian however he tells BN he’s been “trying out” Charlemagne, Napoleon, Winston Churchill, Leonardo Da Vinci and Mozart. He desires to study from those that have modified historical past or had the kind of affect which continues to be felt in at this time’s world.
“In case you’re nice I can study one thing from you,” Youmbi says.
After 21 fights (17 wins) as an beginner Aloys Youmbi need to grow to be a cruiserweight world champion started with an unconventional skilled debut. In November 2021 Michal Soczynski was at York Corridor and within the reverse nook ready to tackle Youmbi. The Polish cruiserweight had received 108 of his 136 beginner bouts and was a European Junior Championships bronze medallist. Soczynski beat Youmbi however solely by one level – 39-38 – on referee Mark Bates’ scorecard. Youmbi received the respect and admiration of many who night time.
“I’d say that in skilled ranks, the upper you go up, the extra clever everyone seems to be,” Youmbi solutions when requested about what he has discovered as a professional to date.
“Clearly, that’s an enormous factor as effectively. I’d say [it’s] similar to Chess. The better the rating is, the extra clever they’re, the extra they’re capable of adapt. That’s actually modified my thoughts.
“And to not go in there and be an enormous brute and simply swing,” he provides.
“I’ve by no means actually been an enormous brute anyway, however be extra conscious of that. Be way more conscious of that.”
On Saturday night time the 21-year-old is again at York Corridor for the seventh time in 9 fights when he faces Oronzo Birardi for a minor IBO belt. It received’t be unusual environment for the German, nevertheless, who’s having his third consecutive battle on the well-known outdated venue.
“All my wins are stoppages, my subsequent one’s going to be a stoppage,” he mentioned simply after ending a bowl of rice, hen and greens.
Youmbi was sporting a sleeveless shirt highlighting his biceps that look as if they may crush watermelons in the event that they had been positioned in between them. He’s a formidable specimen and one which his nickname ‘The Animal’ fits completely. However as he says he isn’t a “huge brute”. There’s brains to match the brawn. He might simply grace the quilt of Males’s Well being however there may be an intelligence to him which carries itself into the ring as effectively.
The prospect believes he’s “one thing particular” and in 12 months is backing himself to be not solely “much more particular” however probably a British or European champion. However what’s it in his personal opinion that warrants such a excessive opinion of himself.
“My IQ, my explosiveness,” he solutions.
“My explosive energy, my velocity, adaptability. I believe these are my best strengths. And I’m capable of be calm. A variety of fighters should not capable of be calm within the ring. I consider I’ve an amazing sense of calmness within the ring. I’m capable of assess what’s in entrance of me. I don’t get into my feelings.”
His energy is one thing which runs in his household. Aloys’ father used to compete in weightlifting competitions whereas his uncles had been wrestlers.
“My father trains over dinner day-after-day, to today. And he’s virtually in his fifties,” he reveals.
Weightlifting and wrestling didn’t get their hooks into Youmbi however seeing kin within the ring created a need to battle. A need turned to an virtually unexplainable like to battle however generally you want one thing else to take you additional and Youmbi’s energy is an X-factor.
“And the factor is about me is, these guys have to be good for 12 rounds, I simply have to be good as soon as.”
