They worked with my boxers for one month to prepare for the European Championship in Czechoslovakia. At this time, the head coach of the Turkish boxing team was Artem Lavrov, former soviet head coach and outstanding amateur coach of the world. It was an honor for me to work with him. I remember him telling me, "...not every Olympic champion can be a professional champion, because professional boxing is more about 'enduring' than about talent. Enduring hard work, enduring to take hard punches, making sacrifices..." After many years in America, I still remember this conversation.

In 1990, (Turkey, Izmir) I left Russia for the first time. I was the assistant coach with the Russian team in an international tournament.

With some of my kids and my sponsors in 1991 With some of my kids and my sponsors in 1991

1991 (Russia, Yoshcar-Ola). Sergey Grigoriev (178 lbs, 81 kg) became my first Russian National Champion.

With Russian Champion Sergey Grigoriev With Russian Champion Sergey Grigoriev