Former boxing great Leonard Doroftei told AGERPRES in an interview that Romanian boxing is going through a rather challenging period, but he remains confident the sport will recover and once again produce athletes capable of winning medals at European, World and Olympic level.

'We're going through a tougher patch. I hope that one day we'll bounce back and bring Romanian boxing back to the top, as we were used to, with world champions, European champions, and Olympic medals,' Doroftei, himself a European and world champion (both amateur and professional) and a double Olympic bronze medallist, declared.

As Romanian boxing marks its centenary this year, Doroftei believes the decline in international results stems largely from the lack of coaches capable of preparing athletes according to their opponents' style.

'The problem is that we had coaches who didn't know how to prepare athletes. We trained for the Olympics, not for the opponents coming to the Olympics. We trained for the competition itself, not for those we were going to face. That's a mistake we've made for years,' he said.

With major achievements in both amateur boxing (European and world titles, two Olympic bronzes) and professional boxing (WBA world champion), Doroftei clearly prefers the professional ranks. The reason, he says, is motivation: in professional boxing the financial factor pushes you, whereas in amateur sport 'time passes, the salary comes, we work with dedication' - wink implied.

He recalls 1996 as the most difficult moment of his career - the year he had to prove that his world title from 1995 was no accident. He succeeded, becoming European champion, winning Olympic bronze in Atlanta and being named the best boxer in the 60-kg class.

If he could relive one fight, Doroftei would choose a rematch with Arturo Gatti, the only loss of his professional career - a defeat that effectively ended his time in the ring. He says he would want to avoid 'one small mistake' that cost him dearly.

Looking back, Doroftei considers himself a fulfilled boxer who managed to be the best in both amateur and professional boxing. 'I don't see myself as the best, just as someone who worked hard and succeeded.'

As a coach, he remains as passionate as he was in his fighting days, only now, he says, he works even harder, driven by the desire to grow and eventually return to high-performance boxing. But he will come back only when he is certain that he is 'very, very good'.

AGERPRES: Romanian boxing celebrates 100 years. What does this anniversary mean to you, and how do you see the evolution of Romanian boxing over this century?
Leonard Doroftei: It can only be a joy, because it's the celebration of Romanian boxing and of everything we learned, especially in childhood. As for its evolution, for several years now, or maybe more, we've been going through a tougher period. I hope that one day we'll recover and bring boxing back to the highest level, as we were used to, with world champions, European champions, Olympic medals.

AGERPRES: Where would Leonard Doroftei stand in this 100-year history of Romanian boxing?
Leonard Doroftei: I can say I'm one of those who succeeded. Before me, Vasile Vastag was a world champion. I was the second world champion, and after that the ice broke, world champions started to appear. Now we have to show again that we are capable of producing world champions. We have a European champion, and we are one step away from an Olympic gold. But the real problem is that we had coaches who didn't know how to prepare athletes. We trained for the Olympics, not for the opponents coming to the Olympics. We only prepared for the event, not for those we were going to face. That's a mistake we've made for years. For example, we trained mostly for the European style, not for other countries. We always thought about Cuba...

AGERPRES: Where would you place Romanian boxing in the world today?
Leonard Doroftei: In my opinion, we're not at the bottom, but we're not among the leaders either. We are somewhere past the middle of the rankings, so to speak. Not last, not first. But there's room to climb, and I'm sure we'll recover. I hold out hope, because we have athletes and kids who want to box.

AGERPRES: Looking at your own career, which was the hardest moment and the most beautiful one?
Leonard Doroftei: The hardest moment was as an amateur, when I became European champion. I had to prove my worth, to show that the world title wasn't just a coincidence, that I really was the best in the world. I became European champion, won an Olympic medal that same year, and proved I was a key athlete. The world rankings placed me number one at 60 kg. That was both the hardest and the most beautiful moment in my career.

AGERPRES: Did boxing, sport in general, change you as a person?
Leonard Doroftei: Of course. It educated me and kept me away from things that could have become vices - alcohol, cigarettes, not to mention drugs or other nonsense, which didn't really exist back then. You can stay away from them, but only if you truly want to achieve something.

AGERPRES: What does it mean to become world champion? What do you feel when you are the best in the world?
Leonard Doroftei: You feel it's the ultimate reward for your work. The results of your effort. It was the same as a professional, when I became world champion, I wanted more, I wanted to fight another champion. I never aimed to fight for money. My goal wasn't money, it was performance. That's what being a champion means: not just fighting anyone for the sake of it.

AGERPRES: Were you always Romanian in the ring?
Leonard Doroftei: Always. I always felt I represented my country, and I have also proven it. I always carried the Romanian tricolour. I never waved any flag other than the tricolour.

AGERPRES: You were also president of the Romanian Boxing Federation. What were the biggest challenges then?
Leonard Doroftei: I took over a federation with no money, financially blocked, and I think I managed. I brought back the Golden Belt tournament - we organised two editions. One cost us 20,000, the other cost nothing. I proved things can be done when you want to. Maybe I didn't do more, maybe I lacked experience, but I wanted to do boxing.

AGERPRES: If you look at Romanian boxing today, what do you think is missing?
Leonard Doroftei: Competent people. That's what's missing. And I don't mean the federation - I mean the national teams. People who know how to work with athletes and show them the right path in boxing. Coaches should also be psychologists. Unfortunately, many of our coaches are just loud, but lack experience.

AGERPRES: Has boxing been held back by internal conflicts and disagreements?
Leonard Doroftei: Probably by conflicting egos, because instead of promoting those who worked hard and achieved something, we focus on foreign boxers. In any gym - even mine in Ploiesti - I hear kids saying, 'My idol is Mayweather'. So we, as Romanians, mean nothing to Romanian boxing, that's the idea. And it's not the kids' fault. Coaches should explain things. They dream of becoming like Mayweather, but they can't even reach our level, let alone his...

AGERPRES: Do you think Romania's great boxers are being sidelined today?
Leonard Doroftei: Look at the Federation or the national teams, is there anyone there who truly achieved performance? Probably there are other interests... I was away for five years, I don't know what's happening now. I've opened my own gym, I'm on my own, I'm not involved with anyone. I'm doing business, not performance. Whoever wants performance should go to a club - at least until I get there. For now, I'm minding my work and learning to become a better coach.

AGERPRES: But you do intend to return to high-performance sport, I assume...
Leonard Doroftei: Yes, one day, when I see that I'm a good and capable coach, I'll probably return. For now, I'm training myself as a coach. Not just a good coach - a very good one. Because that's what Romanian boxing needs: very good coaches.

AGERPRES: Where do you see Romanian boxing in 10 - 20 years?
Leonard Doroftei: I see it going upward, having professional boxers, professional world champions, European and world medals, Olympic medals. We all have to hope and believe.

AGERPRES: Does Romania have the strength to win a medal at the next Olympic Games?
Leonard Doroftei: Yes. If the national teams find the right coaches, we will succeed. Coaches who can teach athletes that at the Olympics you face five opponents from five continents, with five different styles. You need a coach who knows these things and teaches you how to approach each fight. The days of 'go break him, knock him down, push him into the corner' are over.

AGERPRES: You mentioned earlier the importance of opponents' styles. Is this the big problem in Romanian boxing - that we don't consider the different styles from other countries?
Leonard Doroftei: Of course. If you look closely, we struggle with South Americans, right? The Russians give us trouble sometimes, the Asians too. We need to prepare specifically for them, to know how to approach those fights. It's not enough to say 'go, break him, take him down!' Everyone trains now, everyone studies, everyone knows about us. And you go into a match like a lamb to the slaughter.

AGERPRES: And they probably benefit from larger budgets than Romania...
Leonard Doroftei: Probably - but what bigger budgets do we need? Yes, they have a physical trainer, several coaches who know how to prepare fights. But in Romania, one person takes over the national team and that's it. He knows everything, he does everything, he's the best. As I told Titi Tudor: 'Yes, you taught me boxing, but that was 40 years ago. Things have changed.' We need to refresh, don't we?

AGERPRES: So Romania needs change?
Leonard Doroftei: The change has begun, but it's moving very slowly. And we still have people without results, who have no idea what first place means. We only care about participation. Let's look at the coaches - what results have they had? Then you understand. Do we want to be just participants or champions? What can you tell the kids? 'Fight, it's good, keep going?' Well... what have you done as a coach? You were a participant too, right?

AGERPRES: Should the state be more involved financially?
Leonard Doroftei: If they don't know how to manage the money they already have... They complain about money issues. I don't know what budget they had. But as long as you have national teams in training, of course you need money.

AGERPRES: Should professional boxing be developed more in Romania?
Leonard Doroftei: It has to be. Amateur boxers must understand that professional boxing is the future - that's where you can earn money. In amateur boxing you win medals and make a name, then you can perform and earn in the pros. A sponsor or manager can invest in you, take you to big fights, help you perform and earn.

AGERPRES: You mean that even though it's the same sport, professional boxing is completely different from amateur boxing?
Leonard Doroftei: Absolutely. From preparation to lifestyle. It's more relaxed because you're more focused and aware of what you're doing. Your life truly changes, you fight for money. Meanwhile amateurs are used to 'time passes, the salary comes, we work with dedication'.

AGERPRES: You succeeded in both amateur and professional boxing. Which defines you?
Leonard Doroftei: Professional boxing. People come because they want to do something. You don't have to beg them - they push you. That's the difference. With amateurs, you have to keep goading them 'come on, come on.'

AGERPRES: If you could relive one fight, which would it be?
Leonard Doroftei: The fight with Gatti. I'd be much more careful this time. I made a small mistake - but it cost me.

AGERPRES: How would you like to be remembered in Romanian boxing?
Leonard Doroftei: As a champion - both amateur and professional. I'm a fulfilled boxer. I reached the top of both worlds through work and determination. I don't consider myself the best, just someone who worked and succeeded. I fought with heart. When no one gave me a chance, I succeeded - because God helped me, and because I had heart.

AGERPRES: And now, as a coach, do you still go forward with heart?
Leonard Doroftei: Now I'm crazier than I was as an athlete. Back then I trained one hour in the morning and an hour and a half in the evening. Now I train four - five hours in the morning and four - five in the evening. I work nonstop. I want to evolve every day.

AGERPRES: Do you also need study to develop as a coach?
Leonard Doroftei: Of course. You can't do it alone. You need a physical trainer, nutrition planning, vitaminisation, seasonal training cycles. You need a team. In my time, we all trained the same - big, small, heavy, skinny - same left, same right, same one-two. Now you need to know who each method works for and when. And someone has to explain how to apply it. Boxing is beautiful, you never get bored. I've never repeated the same training two days in a row. My students are driven crazy by it.

AGERPRES: What message do you have for young boxers?
Leonard Doroftei: The title of champion is out there for everyone. You just need to know how to take it, how to look for it. And if you truly want it, you'll find it.

***
Aged 55, Leonard Doroftei took up boxing at 14 at the Prahova Ploiesti club. Nationally, he won five Romanian championship titles in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1997. Internationally, Doroftei boasts a European title, a world title, and two Olympic bronze medals, won at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996.

His amateur record includes 239 victories and 15 defeats.

In 1997, Doroftei turned professional, and on January 5, 2002 he won the WBA lightweight world title after defeating Argentine boxer Raul Balbi on points. On May 31, in Bucharest, Doroftei faced Balbi again and won once more. In the unification fight against American Paul Spadafora for the WBA and IBF lightweight titles, Doroftei landed 344 punches to Spadafora's 259, but the judges scored the bout a draw.

He lost the WBA title on October 24, 2003, after the fight scheduled in Bucharest against Panama's Miguel Callist was canceled because Doroftei exceeded the weight limit at the official weigh-in.

On July 24, 2004 Doroftei retired from boxing after losing to Canadian Arturo Gatti in a bout for the WBA title in the higher super-lightweight division.

***

Romanian boxing celebrates its centenary this year, as the Romanian Boxing Federation was founded on 26 March 1926.

Representatives of Romanian professional boxing had created the 'Professional Boxing Federation' in 1925, but it was officially recognized only on March 26, 1926 under the name 'Romanian Professional Boxing Federation', led by Nicolae Niculescu-Ianca. The first General Assembly of the federation took place on April 2, 1926, and in the same year it affiliated with the International Boxing Union (IBU).

Over time, Romanian boxing has won 25 Olympic medals: one gold - Nicolae Linca (1956); 9 silver - Vasile Tita (1952), Gheorghe Negrea and Mircea Dobrescu (1956), Ion Monea (1968), Ion Alexe (1972), Simion Cutov and Mircea Simon (1976), Daniel Dumitrescu (1988), Marian Simion (2000); 15 bronze - through Gheorghe Fiat (1952), Constantin Dumitrescu (1956), Ion Monea (1960), Calistrat Cutov (1968), Victor Zilberman, Alec Nastac and Costica Dafinoiu (1976), Valentin Silaghi and Dumitru Cipere (1980), Mircea Fulger (1984), Leonard Doroftei (1992), Marian Simion and Leonard Doroftei (1996), Dorel Simion (2000), and Ionut Gheorghe (2004). AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Adrian Tone; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)