Azerbaijan has had many talented athletes throughout its history who, due to the twists of fate, ended up living abroad but never lost their identity or connection to their historical homeland.
One such person is former boxer Rufat “Baku” Israfilbekov, who was considered a promising talent, became the champion of Azerbaijan, and later moved with his family to the United States, where he began a professional boxing career and even ranked in the WBC’s top 30. His older brother Emil (who sadly passed away) was ranked seventh in the IBF rankings.
These days, Rufat Israfilbekov is in Baku with his family and took part in a meeting between the Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, Farid Gayibov, and athletes of Azerbaijani origin living abroad.
In an interview with Idman.biz, he spoke about his boxing career in Azerbaijan and the U.S., life overseas, and his impressions of the transformed Baku.
Champions of Azerbaijan and an American breakthrough
— First of all, tell us about yourself.
— We lived in Baku on Vidadi Street, at the corner of Gorky Street. My father, who is also named Rufat, was a boxer and trained under Alexander Kryuchkov, a veteran of the Great Patriotic War. Our neighbor was the well-known coach Rafig Jabbarov (who, during his lifetime, headed the Azerbaijani national boxing team — Ed.), who had been friends with my father since childhood.
My brother and I took our first steps in boxing under the guidance of our father. When I was seven and my brother was eleven, we began training with Rauf Jabbarov. We progressed quickly, traveled all over the USSR, and became champions of Baku and Azerbaijan multiple times.
Emil even became the champion of the All-Union “Dynamo” Sports Society competition, and he was invited to training camps with the USSR youth national team. He won an international tournament and was awarded the title of Master of Sports, while I became a Candidate for Master of Sports. By the way, before leaving Azerbaijan in 1994, I managed to win the national championship and later participated in the Youth World Championship in Istanbul, where I won my first bout.
— How did you end up in the USA?
My grandfather was a victim of Stalin's repressions, and in 1991, my father submitted documents to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. We received a positive response only in 1994, and in January of the following year, we moved overseas. Although we hesitated for a long time before taking this step. At first, we lived on welfare in the U.S., but then we started working, taking any job available. It was very difficult, but eventually, we managed to get back on our feet.
As for boxing, to be honest, at first we didn’t plan to box there. We were learning the language and enrolled in college. But boxing was in our blood, we continued to train in the yard, shadowbox, do push-ups. One day, a local American noticed us, asked about us and about boxing. It turned out he had a friend who was a coach, and that coach invited us to the gym.
There we worked the heavy bag, and the next day we sparred a few rounds with local boxers. He liked us, started training us, and introduced us to a manager. My professional debut, if I recall correctly, was in 1997.
We fought in nearly every U.S. state, climbed the rankings, and were even invited to appear on TV. At one point, my brother was ranked seventh in the IBF, and I held the 30th spot in the WBC. By the way, my brother and I performed under the ring names of our hometown, Rufat Baku and Emil Baku. Our shorts and robes were in the colors of the Azerbaijani flag.
Over time, injuries began to catch up with us: I broke my hand, and my brother broke his, twice. We both had surgeries, which didn’t turn out so well, and our recovery took a long time. We also had issues with our manager, who was rushing us to get back in the ring.
Eventually, I decided to hang up my gloves, having fought 17 bouts in the U.S. ring, winning 14, losing two, and drawing one. Emil had 25 bouts to his name: 23 wins and two losses. I boxed for around 4–4.5 years, and my brother, a bit longer.
After finishing our careers, we took computer courses. That was the beginning of the tech boom. Then we got jobs at a hospital, where I still work today as an information manager. If before I worked with my hands in gloves, now it’s on a keyboard.
About family and a potential hockey player for the Azerbaijani national team
Some time after ending his career, my brother began experiencing severe headaches. Tests revealed a malignant brain tumor. No one knows whether it developed because of boxing or for other reasons. But I’ll give you an example: at our hospital at the time, there were dozens of patients with the same diagnosis, and my brother was the only boxer among them. Despite two surgeries, he passed away within a few years...
My parents, God bless them, are still alive. My father is 85, and my mother just turned 77. They live near Baltimore, and every Saturday and Sunday, I drive to them from the suburbs of Washington, D.C.
I’m married to a Polish woman. She came to the U.S. to study, planned to return to her homeland, but I changed her plans. Now we have two children: our daughter Sabina will turn 17 in September, and our son Maximilian is 15. Sabina is a swimmer and part of her school’s team. Max tried many sports, swimming, basketball, football, and eventually settled on ice hockey. He says he wants to play in the NHL.
— By the way, a hockey team was recently established in Azerbaijan. So the national team already has a potential candidate...
— (smiles) You’re right. When Minister Farid Gayibov found out that my son plays hockey, he also said that the Azerbaijani national team has a potential player. I replied that we would be happy to represent Azerbaijan.
I listen to Azerbaijani music and cry
— How many times have you visited Baku since moving to the U.S.?
— Six years after leaving, in November 2001, we were invited to Baku for the World Congress of Azerbaijanis. We attended the speech of the national leader Heydar Aliyev. At that time, the city hadn’t changed much yet, as Azerbaijan was still a very young country.
The next time I came was only in 2022. Of course, I didn’t recognize Baku then, we spent an amazing three weeks there. And now, three years later, I’m here again. For my wife and children, this is their first visit to Azerbaijan, and they are absolutely delighted with the city.
— Which Baku do you prefer, the one of today or the city of your youth? Many longtime residents of the capital claim that the old atmosphere of Baku is gone...
— That’s a good question. Everything changes over time, people and the city. The street I grew up on was very international: within just one square kilometer, there was a mosque, Russian and Armenian churches, and a synagogue. People of all nationalities lived there, Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Russians, Jews, Germans, Greeks. It was a real “melting pot.” There’s less of that now, of course.
To say “I like it” or “I don’t like it” wouldn’t be right. Both then and now have their pros and cons. I love Baku and feel its warmth, I feel it walking through the old streets and talking to people.
You know, when I was young, my father would say he missed Baku, and I’d reply: “What nostalgia? Your family is here, what more do you need?” Now I understand him. Living in the U.S., I started listening to Azerbaijani music. Although I grew up on Italian pop from the '80s–'90s — Celentano, Toto Cutugno, now I enjoy Azerbaijani artists. When I listen, I get goosebumps, I might even tear up.
Sometimes I sit with my headphones on, and my wife comes over and asks if everything’s okay, wondering why I’m sniffling (laughs). You get more sentimental with age. Azerbaijan has always been in my heart, now and when I stepped into the ring in the U.S.
Ready to help Azerbaijani boxers
— Tell us about your meeting with Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov.
— Last Saturday, the anniversary of the well-known Yashar Mammadov was celebrated. He also grew up on Vidadi Street and was our neighbor. My father kept in touch with him, and even after we moved to the U.S., we would call each other. By the way, when his son Ilgar Mammadov won his second Olympic gold medal at the 1996 Games in Atlanta, we visited the Olympic Village and met with both Yashar Mammadov and his son.
During the anniversary event, one of Yashar Mammadov’s sons introduced me to Farid Gayibov, who was sitting at a nearby table. They took my contact details, and the very next day, I was invited to a meeting.
I believe the minister is truly doing great work, it’s evident in the results of Azerbaijani athletes on the international stage. Many major competitions are held in Baku, including the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. And the latest success, the spectacular UFC tournament in the capital.
By the way, the minister said another UFC event is planned for next year and invited me to attend.
— While living in the USA, were you able to follow Azerbaijani sports?
— Yes, I constantly read Azerbaijani sources and keep track of the athletes' successes. I know that the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, is currently on a visit to the USA. By the way, I was acquainted with both the great Heydar Aliyev and his son, the current president Ilham Aliyev, when they visited the USA in the early 2000s. Perhaps the head of state still remembers me (smiles).
— Have you discussed any cooperation opportunities given your experience in professional boxing?
— Yes, I have spoken with coaches, including one who currently works with Ali Ismayilov. They asked me about promoting Azerbaijani boxers in American professional boxing. I promised to get in touch with my contacts among managers and promoters and to do everything possible to help our boxers.
I think it’s a good idea. Perhaps we will even organize an amateur or professional show. Azerbaijan has potential, and I’m confident our boxers will represent themselves well in the American ring.
Teymur Tushiyev
Idman.biz
