Grigory Drozd is a professional fighter of classical and Thai boxing, a public figure, sports commentator, functionary, holder of the title of Champion of Siberia, Russia, Europe and the world.
Russia can rightfully be proud of its boxers. One of them is Grigory Drozd, a graduate of the Siberian State Academy of Physical Culture, the owner of many significant awards in classical and Thai boxing. Who is he and where from? What does he do after completing a sports career? Who goes with him in life?
Biography
Grigory Drozd was born in the largest coal-mining region of Russia - in Kuzbass, at the end of August 1979, more precisely in the city of Prokopyevsk. The guy’s parents worked at a local mine. From childhood, the boy was taught to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, instilled in him a love of sport. Mom Gregory was fond of skiing, and dad played in the working hockey team. He himself tried himself in many disciplines - in addition to boxing, he was involved in athletics, got up with his mother on skis. He was also interested in art - for some time the boy learned to play on spoons, even several times performed with the school team at city-scale events.
Grisha grew active. In addition to studying at school and training, he managed to spend a lot of time on the streets of the private sector, where he lived with his family. Of course, often fights arose among the guys, and Gregory always became the winner. Wanting to direct this energy in the right direction, his parents found a karate circle for him. He was not entirely legal, the coach worked with the boys "on a voluntary basis."
By the age of 15, Drozd already had a good base for further development in the form of karate and kickboxing training, and decided to try himself in a new direction - Thai boxing. By the end of secondary school, the guy already had third place in the world championship in boxing, first place in the junior kickboxing championship of the Russian level. It is not surprising that he chose the appropriate university - he entered the Kemerovo branch of the Siberian State Academy of Physical Culture.
Sports career
In a professional sports environment, Grigory Drozd received the nickname "Pretty Boy" (Pretty Boy). Initially, he was engaged in wrestling and boxing as an amateur, his first prizes and awards received exactly this plan. The guy understood that it was necessary to go to a higher, professional level, and carefully prepared for this.
While still a student of the sports academy, Gregory performed at Russian and international competitions, championships, mainly in Thai boxing. Among the victories of this level, it is worth highlighting:
- victory in the CIS tournament (1995),
- third place in the world championship (1997),
- Gold medal in Bangkok (2001).
All this time, Sergey Nikolaevich Vasiliev, a world-class master of sports, a Soviet boxer with an impressive list of significant awards, was engaged in his preparation for fights.
Drozd first entered the professional ring in the spring of 2001. A year later, he became the owner of the Siberian champion, and a year later - the champion of Russia. Among the high-profile victories of Gregory in the professional ring, sports analysts note a knockout to the Mexican Saul Montano (2004) in the 9th round of the battle, a victory in the fight with Pavel Menkomian, who had never lost before. But there were other bright battles, ups and downs, and injuries in the career of the Prokopyevsky fighter.
In 2006, Grigory Alekseevich claimed the world title, but lost the fight to the Turkish fighter Firat Arslan. After 2 years, Drozd "rehabilitated" by knocking out two opponents at once - the Americans Rob Calloway and Darnell Wilson. In a fight with the latter, a Russian athlete was injured, and for a year and a half left the ring.
Only victories followed - over Pole Mateusz Masternak (2013), Frenchman Jeremy Hannu (2014), Poles Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (2014), Lukas Janik (2015). Champion title Drozd held for several years. In the spring of 2016, he was declared the "champion on vacation" because he could not conduct the intended battle with Ilunga Makaba due to an injury. A few months later, the Russian fighter had to announce the end of his sports career in the professional field, as the consequences of the injury made themselves felt and did not allow him to have productive fights.
Social work
During his professional boxing career, Drozd was elected a member of the Public Chamber - an organization that interacts between citizens and authorities, including local ones. Public figures and ordinary citizens of the Kemerovo region petitioned for his appointment.
In addition, Grigory Alekseevich heads two Federations - Thai boxing in the capital and classic boxing in Kuzbass, and is vice-president of the All-Russian Federation of boxing. He is closely involved in popularizing sports in his native region, and is supporting boxing clubs and sports schools in the Kemerovo region.
