Anytime a fighter as heavily decorated in the amateurs as Matt Korobov opts to go professional it’s a safe bet he’ll be highly sort after commodity. That certainly was the case for Korobov who had 311-10 amateur record winning Gold at the 2005 & 2007 World amateur championships at Middleweight. Though he was unable to parlay that into the ultimate honour of a Gold at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008 he is still one of the top prospects to come through the programme in recent years.
The journey for Korobov now 27 started way back in late 1991 when he first stepped foot in the gym. It was love at first site for Korobov who instantly took to Boxing. He enrolled in the Military at 19 where he stayed for 7 years. Even when his father George, mother Larisa and brother Alex all decided to move to Florida from their home in Orotukan, Russia in 1998.
It wasn’t a good time for Korobov who missed his family “I missed my family, it was difficult time for me. I just focused on my Boxing career” He knew his work wasn’t complete, electing to stay in Russia where he hone his skills. Until the opportunity came for him to make his impact at the top of the amateur game.
First he won European Junior Championship in 2001. Though he was highly regarded and expected to go to the 2004 Olympics the Russian Federation decided that Korobov was to young and inexperienced and sent Gaydarbek Gaydarbekov who repaid there faith winning gold.
That proved to be Gaydarbekov’s last International tournament as Korobov continued to grow showing the world his skills when he won the 2005 World Championships in Mianyang, China where he defeated among others future Olympic Bronze & Silver medallists Darren Sutherland and Emilio Correa in the Quarter and Semi finals respectively. In the final Korobov destroyed current unbeaten pro Ismayl Sillakh in the second round to win his first title.
Two years later in Chicago Korobov successful defended his title, really catching the eye of his now manager Cameron Dunkin. Korobov won the first three fights inside the distance, then the next three comfortably proving he was the class of the division.
At home Korobov was just as successful winning the Russian National Championships four times from 2003-2007. He didn’t win the 2005 National title because it clashed with the World championships. In 2008 internal politics couldn’t prevent Korobov representing his homeland on the biggest stage of all the Olympics.
The best laid plans rarely work out though and Korobov lost a razor thin decision to 2004 Welterweight champion and winner of the Val Barker trophy Bakhtiyar Artayev who had moved up to Middleweight. It was very disappointing for Korobov “I had no reason to stay in the amateurs and wait 4 more years” also adding “They have to many International and National tournaments and i wasn’t as young as some of the other guys. Also there are politics in Russia with the Boxing Federation”
It lead to Korobov deciding to make the leap from the amateur game to the professional side of Boxing. He decided to link up with award winning manager Cameron Dunkin who teamed him up with Dan Birmingham who was based in Florida like his family. The alliance didn’t last long, only 4 fights.
Since then he has moved onto Kenny Adams who was the 1988 Olympic team trainer and has since trained 18 World Champions. Adams is impressed with his charge “Talent wise he’s comparable to anyone i ever had” though he doesn’t believe he needs to do much to Korobov “The key is fine tuning him”
Adams an Army veteran who served in Vietnam for two years in the 101st Airborne division is a strict disciplinarian, who takes no messing and rigorously puts his guys through their steps each day at the TKO gym in Las Vegas goes on when asked about how Korobov has improved since he came to train with him “His defence has improved and his movement, also he’s able to deal with fighters who shake and bake”. Coach Adams continues “I think he hasn’t shown everything he’s capable of. Last time he was very explosive, we’ll keep building”
Korobov is happy with Adams and says of there training session’s “He knows what i need to do, he has a lot of experience. He is the same as my Russian coach he was also an Army man”
The transition to the pro’s has been seamless for Korobov “After the first couple of fights i have found it ok, in the pros there are more styles and tactics’
Away from Boxing Korobov is a family man, married to Anna who he married a year ago he enjoys walking, going shopping, the cinema, going the beach. He also enjoys Soccer keeping an eye out for Liverpool, Manchester United and CSKA Moscow’s result’s In fact it is with the afore mentioned CSKA club that he was part of. The CSKA club was actually founded by Joseph Stalin. He worked out there several years back with current Heavyweight contenders Dennis Boytsov & Alexander Dimitrenko. Things are much more low key when he’s in training camp he stays away from the bright lights and keeps his head down playing computer games and watching movie’s, he’s also improving his English.
Dunkin enthuses about him at any chance “I was crazy about him the first time i saw him, he’s terrific, he can be whatever he wants a top Pound for Pound fighter” Top Ranks matchmaker Bruce Trampler echo’s Dunkin’s sentiments “He’s a heck of a fighter, who always gives fans his best and is a pleasure to work with”
His next fight will be on the Kelly Pavlik-Sergio Martinez show in Atlantic City where he squares off against Joshua Snyder 8-4-1(3) in what will be his first 8 rounder. From there Dunkin says “By the end of the year he’ll be ready for 10/12 rounders, we’re looking at 3 or 4 more fights this year get him to something like 15-0 then he’ll be ready”
It remains to be seen if Korobov can turn his 11-0(9) record in the pro’s into a title run and then win a World Championship to add to his two in the amateur’s. He’s given himself every chance by aligning himself with an impressive support team along with Top Rank who are widely recognised as the best prospect builders in Boxing.
