Yevgeny Vainshtein, boxing pioneer from Chelyabinsk, turns 80

In his youth, he could have chosen the violin and become a famous musician, but he tied his life to sports. He went from a novice boxer to a coach and promoter with a world reputation. He built a unique system for training athletes and raised world and Olympic champions. On January 27, Yevgeny Vainshtein turned 80 years old. For many South Urals residents, he has become a symbol of determination and the will to win.

Instead of a Violin Bow, Boxing Gloves

In childhood, Yevgeny Vainshtein seriously studied music, even graduating from music school in violin class. But at age 14, he became fascinated with boxing. This determined his further life and career.

In 1960, the young athlete joined the club «Stroitel Urala» (Ural Builder). His coach was Vladimir Kogan. Talent and leadership qualities manifested in the novice boxer immediately. He rapidly achieved success and showed a high level of skill.

After 11 years, Yevgeny Yefremovich himself began a teaching career — in 1971 he became a coach at the physical education department of Chelyabinsk Polytechnic Institute, a bit later — at the regional council «Spartak». From 1978, he was appointed first as a coach, and from 1982 — as senior coach of the School of Higher Sports Mastery of the regional sports committee.

His pupils became winners of prestigious tournaments. Sergei Ufimtsev, Radik Khusnutdinov, Sergei Shakhmukhametov — their names resounded throughout the Soviet Union. This was Vainshtein«s first bright coaching era. But he aspired for more.

From Chelyabinsk to Los Angeles

And then — more. Vainshtein«s team implemented a unique approach to the training system. Since then, the Chelyabinsk boxing school became known far beyond the country, and its pupils began to enter fights of the highest level.

Vainshtein«s next step was launching »UralBoxPromotion« — a company created to promote South Urals athletes into the elite of world boxing. It all began in March 2008 with a tournament at Chelyabinsk»s KRC «Markstadt». Then, at the «Yunost» sports palace, they held a boxing evening «Russia vs America» with title fights.

Vainshtein«s boxers began preparation in Russia, then went for training camps in the USA — first to Chicago and Los Angeles, and then to the famous camp Big Bear in the mountains. There, under the guidance of top coach Abel Sanchez, Denis Shafikov, Konstantin Ponomarev, and Murat Gassiev trained.

«UralBoxPromotion» proved its effectiveness with concrete results at the world level. Over 18 years of the company«s work, three of its charges reached fights for the world professional boxing championship title: Anton Novikov, Denis Shafikov, and Murat Gassiev.

Murat Gassiev managed to achieve the main goal — to become world champion and conquer the unification of WBA and IBF belts. Konstantin Ponomarev became the holder of intercontinental champion and WBC youth world champion titles. Within the structure of «UralBoxPromotion», the current IBF world champion Bakhrám Murtazaliev also began his career.

The system created by Yevgeny Yefremovich continues to work today. His cause is taken up by a new generation. A vivid example is the talented heavyweight Timur Bibílov, who has already made a name for himself by winning the Asian champion title.

Women in the Ring

Yevgeny Vainshtein, as his pupils and colleagues say, always knew how to see perspective. It was he who was among the first to support and begin developing women«s boxing in Chelyabinsk Oblast. This decision gave a powerful impetus to an entire direction in sport.

South Urals sportswomen quickly achieved impressive results: Aleksandra Kuleshova entered history as the first women«s world boxing champion in the South Urals, and Anastasia Belyakova brought Olympic glory to the region, winning a bronze medal at the Rio de Janeiro Games.

At the Center of Sports Life

At 80 years old, Yevgeny Vainshtein remains at the center of the region«s sports life. At his instigation, Chelyabinsk regularly hosts the largest tournaments, with stands always full. Annually, in the South Urals capital, at least two bright evenings of professional boxing take place. Moreover, our region — one of the few in Russia — twice a year gathers the country»s best boxers for the All-Russian competitions «Tankograd Cup» in Chelyabinsk and the tournament in memory of Semyon Khokhryakov in Kopeysk.

«Our Boxers Are Our Pride»

Yevgeny Vainshtein is an Honored Coach of Russia. Honored Worker of Physical Culture of Russia. He trained 20 Masters of Sport of the USSR and three Masters of Sport of International Class. Awarded the honorary badge of the Russian Federation «For Merits in the Development of Physical Culture and Sport» and the badge «For Merits to Chelyabinsk Oblast», laureate of the people«s prize »Svetloye Proshloye« (Bright Past). As a promoter, he organized 75 events in the world of professional boxing.

«Our boxers are our pride! We have always rejoiced in every success of a friend, comrade, learned from experience and passed it on to the next generations. This generational continuity, which has existed for many years in South Urals boxing, allows us to show consistently high results. I am sincerely glad and grateful to fate that on my life path I met wonderful people who loved boxing with all their soul and heart, remained faithful to it for many, many years,» admitted Yevgeny Vainshtein.