When Dmitry Pirog fought in Las Vegas, Nevada it marked his American debut on the Marquez-Diaz 2 card. It wasn’t supposed to be a good night for the 30 year old Russian. It was supposed to mark the coronation of one of the top young fighters in the game. However someone forgot to tell Dmitry Pirog 17-0(14), he went with a completely different script. Right from the first bell Pirog put Jacobs on the back foot and made the New Yorker mightily uncomfortable until nearly a minute into the fifth when Pirog landed a debilitating right hook that rendered the favoured American unconscious. A star was born it just wasn’t the one many thought it would be going in. With the win Pirog firmly established himself as a player in the Middleweight division. As you’d expect of a man who’s risen from nothing to the forefront of World Boxing he’s not sitting on his laurels, he wants the other top men who campaign at 160 including Kelly Pavlik and not in a few defence’s time he wants them now.
Hello Dmitry, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – Firstly congratulations on your outstanding win over Daniel Jacobs in Las Vegas where you won the Vacant WBO Middleweight crown. What can you tell us about that fight from your point of view?
Dmitry Pirog – Thanks for your congratulations! As for me it was a rather interesting fight, I hope all box-loving people do like this fight. I was glad to knock out Jacobs, because, if this fight would last for 12 rounds, I wouldn’t gain the victory.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us how you fell now having won the World Title?
Dmitry Pirog – I’m not interesting in gaining all the titles (but it’s great and nice), my main target was to show a spectacular and entertaining fight. I hope I succeed. And now I feel, it was another step for my future results.
Anson Wainwright – I believe you are now back in Russia, what sort of reception did you get when you returned home?
Dmitry Pirog – Yes, I’m now in Gelendzhik. I was meet with great cordiality – my friends celebrates me. There were many invitations to TV and newspapers for interviews. I’m glad to make boxing more popularized in Russia.
Anson Wainwright – This win really puts you in line for further big fights. Though it is early days have you spoken to your team about what maybe next for you? Who would you like to fight if it was possible?
Dmitry Pirog – It’s not a secret anymore, that my promoters do negotiations with Sergio Martinez, Kelly Pavlik. They are also interested in this. This will be very spectacular fight, because Kelly Pavlik and I have different styles of boxing.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team who your manager, trainer & promoter are? Also where do you train?
Dmitry Pirog – OK, here is my team: trainers: Vyacheslav Nepogodin and Victor Petrochenko – they are professional! promoters: Kirill Pchelnikov (Russia) and Art Pelullo (USA). I train in Gelendzhik and Samara – it’s comfortable for me, these are my favourite towns. In Gelendzhik I train in gym, named after me (Gym of Dmitry Pirog)
Anson Wainwright – You turned pro in July 2005 and you were already 25 years old how come your turned pro then and not a few years earlier?
Dmitry Pirog – At that time I was not sure, I would be a professional boxer. At that time it was only hobby. When I became a pro, first 9 fights I had taken without trainer. I trained myself. And only after that, I realized, that boxing come to first plan for me. And only after that I hire trainers.
Anson Wainwright – The Victory over Jacobs was the one that really got you attention, would you say that was the best performance of you career so far?
Dmitry Pirog – It was a really good performance. But Jacobs wasn’t the hardest rival in my career. I hope, the most interesting fights are ahead.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your amateur career? What titles did you win, what your final record was & did you face any current pros if so what were the results?
Dmitry Pirog – Before Olympic Games-2004 I win the last amateur competition in Venezuela. And my final fight was again a Colombian (I don’t remember his name), who became a pro later (and he was rather successful). After I got know about it, I start thinking over to become pro. I don’t trace any other my previous opponents in their professional career.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your early years in Russia and how you got into Boxing?
Dmitry Pirog – I start training at the age of 8 in Temryuk (Russia, Krasnodar region).My trainer was Victor Serdyukov. He formed my style. At age of 17 I moved to Krasnodar and continue training there. And my trainer was Artem Lavrov. At the age of 24 I finished my amateur career and tried to start my town business in Gelendzhik. At 25 I realized, that do like Boxing more, than I thought. After that I carried out my first professional fight not for money, but for my own enjoy. And I liked IT!
Anson Wainwright – Away from Boxing what do you like to do?
Dmitry Pirog – I like to make money! And spend them moving boxing forward! This helps to take kids from streets to gym. I started to build a gym for poor children in Gelendzhik. This prevents them from crime.
Anson Wainwright – Who was your hero growing up?
Dmitry Pirog – There were no idols for me, but I really do liked Sugar Ray Leonard. You may say, he was my hero.
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for the Middleweight division?
Dmitry Pirog – I’m ready to have a good and honest fight with any leader in this division. I’m sure, those fights would be entertaining for any show. I hope, the fight with Kelly Pavlik will be held very soon. I’m 200% sure, this would be an eye-candy fight!
Thanks for your time Dmitry, keep up the good work.
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
