Alaverdi Ramazanov is the ONE bantamweight kickboxing champion. He’s fought with some of the top Thai fighters around the world as well as reached the top of the sport.
But it wasn’t always as it was for this Russian. He was not a good beginning to his kickboxing journey.
“I did not see myself as a professional fighter. When I first started competing I would lose lots of times, and I was able to lose six or seven amateur bouts in a row in the beginning,” he recalls.
His career took off following his move to Thailand however, even there it wasn’t always easy with the Russian,
“One time, my boss from Russia took me to the gym in Bangkok and I began training. The training was going well until I was involved in a fight they arranged for me. I was immediately given a completely different treatment. I was aware that they wanted me to go.”
A good move
Ramazanov was able to find himself in his Venum Camp in Pattaya. It was an excellent choice for the 26-year old who worked with the former WBC Welterweight champ Mehdi Zatout.
Both fighters were to go on to fight in The ONE Super Series. The similarities don’t stop with that, as both were knocked down on points by Thai fighters in subsequent fights only to return stronger and record back-to two wins.
The most memorable win of Ramazanov’s professional career was at ONE: “Kingdom of Heroes’ in which he defeated multiple times Lumpinee champion Petchmorrakot Petchyindee through a the decision. It was his first fight in the ONE Super Series and it instantly earned him the title in Thailand,
“Even in the present, when people talk to me, they claim that I’m the person who defeated Petchmorrakot. It’s a bit surreal that idols are adversaries,” he said.
Last minute
Then he followed it up with striking Andrew Miller in the opening round of ONE: Heart of the Lion’. The chance came up in the final minute, however Ramazanov was not afraid to take it.
“Taking on this challenge was risk and when the manager asked me to do it, I responded by saying yes within a second,” he said.
Ramazanov suffered a few setbacks in his fights including decision losses to Kongsak PKSaenchaigym, and Saemapetch Fairtex however both were debatable. However, a first-round stoppage from Ognjen the Topic One: ‘Dreams Of gold’ earned him a title shot, and Ramazanov never looked back.
He defeated Zhang Chenglong at ONE”Mark of Greatness’ to become the first ONE bantamweight champion. It was an incredible moment for a man who couldn’t get a win until the beginning of his career.
“This belt introduced my name in the eyes of the public and an elevated level of sport, the top of the sport. This belt transformed my sporting career.
A tough fight
On January 22nd , he will be taking on one of the top Muay Thai fighters in this time. Captain Petchyindee had a frenzied beginning of the start of his ONE Super Series career when the fighter knocked out Petchtanong Banchamek within less than a minute in O N.E. ‘A New Breed 3rd Part.
It’s a tense fight, or Ramazanov however the Russian recognizes that this is the type of fight which he has to be victorious to achieve his dreams,
“In the near future I would like that my name be recognized all over the world I would like to be considered one of the top five fighters around the world. I would like to remain in the memory of a fighter who fought many legendary fighters and was victorious.”