Heybat Gasimov, the Azerbaijani coach of Ukraine’s national boxing team, spoke to AZERTAC in an exclusive interview.
- Please tell us a bit about yourself.
- I was born on March 15, 1959, in the village of Khanagah, Guba region. After completing military service, I moved to Kyiv, Ukraine, in 1982 and enrolled in the Sports Academy there. After graduation, I was provided with work and housing. Before that, I had studied at the Baku State College of Communications and Transport. Most of my boxing career has been connected to Ukraine, and before becoming a coach, I was an active boxer myself.
- What achievements have you had as an athlete and coach?
- As a boxer, I competed in the Ukrainian championship. As a coach, my students have achieved strong results at international competitions. One of my top athletes, Elvin Aliyev, has been crowned Ukrainian champion seven times, including twice at the elite level. Today, he’s among the most recognized boxers in Ukraine.
- Do you have connections with the Azerbaijan Boxing Federation?
- Yes, I’m in touch with Yadigar Mammadov, head coach of the youth team, Nariman Abdullayev, senior coach of the national team, and the former federation president, Aghajan Abiyev. I last met Mr. Abiyev during a tournament in Morocco.
- Besides Elvin Aliyev, are there other Azerbaijani boxers active in Ukraine?
- Yes, in Odessa, we have renowned coaches like Azer Mustafayev and Nureddin Alibayli, both honored trainers. They currently teach at the city’s Sports Academy. We’re proud of them. Overall, boxing has a strong following among Azerbaijanis in Ukraine — in fact, at the 2024 Ukrainian national championship in Lviv, three of our fellow countrymen won gold medals.
- When was the last time you visited Azerbaijan?
- In 2012, we participated in a tournament in Baku. No matter where I am, Azerbaijan will always be my homeland. I last traveled to Baku just before the pandemic. I keep in close contact with my relatives there, and my brother lives in Khachmaz.
- How would you compare boxing in Ukraine and Azerbaijan?
- The main difference comes down to funding. For example, many Ukrainian athletes paid their own way to attend the Gymnasiade in Serbia. Despite living under wartime conditions, Ukrainians remain passionate about sports. In Azerbaijan, wrestling and judo are highly developed, and boxing also shows promising results. To be honest, when opponents hear the names of Azerbaijani boxers, they get nervous.
- Do you have a relationship with Ukraine’s famous Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir?
- Not with them personally, but I’m close friends with their coaches — they often visit my home. The Klitschko brothers laid the foundation of Ukrainian boxing and have done incredible things for the country. I also have a good relationship with Ukraine’s other big boxing star, Oleksandr Usyk.
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