Anton Embulaev refused to sell drugs at the age of 14 – “I already knew then that I wanted to be a world champion”

Boxing considered to be a sport that is not exactly something for those born with a golden spoon in their mouths. Especially professional boxing is a tough sport and many boxers have a rocky background. Anton Embulaev24, does not seem an exception in this sense.

Has boxing saved you from something?

“Well, my mother was a single parent and I was quite a lively young person. When I was 13-14 years old, I was in a gang like that. They told me that I could start dealing marijuana, but I skipped it. I said no, I’m quite serious about boxing. I was 14 at the time.”

A 14-year-old is really young to deal drugs, but also quite young to know what he wants. It’s a good thing that Embulaev had started boxing at the age of 12.

“I held the hand in the side of life that is not so athletic. But I never went into it. I already knew at the age of 14 that I wanted to be a professional boxer, I would become a world champion.”

Embulaev, who was born in Russia but lived in Finland all his life, moved from Lahti to Kirkkonummi in 2022 in order to Amin Asikainen for coaching. The European champion of professionals was the only option for Embulaev.

The cooperation has gone well. Embulaev believes that Asikainen’s large number of children and fast-paced family life will help the coach understand his lively boxer.

“I’m like this, I throw all kinds of crap, so Amin knows how to filter it. When I start to say something really sensible, he listens.”

For three years, Embulaev lived in an 18-square-meter room on the top floor of a boxing gym, until he recently moved in with his female friend. Went to fitness boxing at the Kirkkonummi boxing club Freya caught Embulaev’s attention.

“She was wearing a beautiful dress at one of my boxing evenings. We had a little chitchat and I left a message. That’s how our union began. On June 16, we’ll be two years old.”

There is another important date in June. 24.6. is the calculated time of the couple’s first child.

“I’m a family man in love, a basic knight.”

A professional boxer career is not the easiest possible. Big stars make big money, but the early years are usually overshadowed by an acute lack of money.

“Hey, I offered coffee too. I’m a millionaire, what do you think?” Embulaev says and there is no end to the laughter.

Then, when the boxer gets serious, he states that there have been no bigger match bonuses yet. But still enough that you can sometimes take a month off work before the match, “if you save a little”.

In addition to boxing, Embulaev works as a security guard and seasonally cleans and maintains ventilation filters.

“I don’t need much. I spend 1,100 euros a month on bills and then 700-800 on gas, food and living. 1,800 a month is enough for me. Of course, when I have more time off from boxing, I work more.”

Now Embulaev is preparing for the SM title match of the upper middle division, which will take place on Saturday at the Helsinki Sports Hall. The match is a significant trend-setter in a career.

After the upcoming match, Embulaev believes that the financial situation will also change. Little by little, he could leave work altogether and concentrate on boxing.

“Next year I will be a full-blooded professional boxer. I train three times a day and go on podcasts to show my face.”

Ura there was a break for a while when Embulaev’s shoulder hurt. Now it has been cut, and the pain has decreased. However, it has made me think about the future. He wants to leave the sport “young and handsome”.

Embulaev has calculated that it could theoretically be possible to get to the World Cup title match even after eight matches, if the stars are aligned. After the world championship, he could leave the sport spectacularly.

“My ideal plan would be a farewell match, a World Championship title defense at the Olympic Stadium. Cheek would make a comeback just for me, pull out an entrance song,” the boxer plans.

Embulaev has done rap himself. Music is just a fun hobby, but there are plenty of plans in that field as well. You can find it on Spotify under the name Kaarle Kustaa Finland’s Houdini -song. The other two songs are already ready.

“Seven more, and there’s an album. It would be cool to get to the blocks (Block Fest) to perform already this year. I make music as a hobby, but I don’t want to be crap in anything I do. If I can’t get to the blocks this summer, maybe next year. Or sometime.”

But let’s get back to this moment. Embulaev (match record 10–0) will meet soon By Nikita Nystedt (4–0). It is a significant match in Finnish professional boxing, when two boxers who are undefeated and who want to shine brighter in their careers, measure each other.

According to Embulaev, the match is a welcome breath of fresh air in domestic professional boxing.

“Finnish boxing has been overshadowed when it’s just about building a record. Until 15-0, we beat some bums, taxi drivers and suitcase men. Then we go abroad to grab 10,000-15,000 euros for some IBF intercontinental title, lose it and that’s it.”

“No one is interested in that kind of thing. You don’t have time to build an audience for yourself when you’re just banging bombs. Who cares if I go to fight against some Latvian Igor?”

Now the domestic audience can really get excited about who will win. Embulaev has beaten Nystedt twice as an amateur and lost once by unanimous decision. However, it’s been years since those matches. Nystedt has started his professional career with a bang. He has won all four of his fights by knockout.

Embulaev does not deny that Nystedt’s spectacular knockouts have influenced his thoughts. But the thoughts that started to run away were brought under control when I thought about the matches I had experienced and my current sparring partners. For example, bigger than your own hall Keni called.

“Boxing is a psychological sport. When the gang says that Nikita hits hard, you god Anton, there really is a hard hitter. I also started to think that it’s okay, he probably hits really wickedly.”

“Then I was like, stop Anton, feet on the ground. Remember our matches, there was nothing in it. Yes, he’s gotten more physical since then, but he doesn’t hit harder than a hundred-kilogram Keni. If I just keep my hands up, there’s no problem. I trust myself.”

Before match is finishing week. For many athletes who lead an active life, calming down can be difficult, but Embulaev knows how to take it easy.

In normal everyday life, the days get long, and he doesn’t have time to watch series, for example. Finishing week is.

“I’m at home a lot, I watch the series, I sleep and even though there’s weight training, I try to eat so that I get vitamins and trace elements. I pay attention to everything that can affect the match.”

“Quite a lot of people skip rest and go hang out if a friend calls. I try to avoid it, I don’t want to get sick. I’m at home, I know how to enjoy myself when I’m freer. I like to enjoy myself and rest.”

Even the little things are highlighted when the boxer is looking for the best possible state of alertness for the match. Embulaev has read “from some Chinese study” that testosterone levels are at their highest when a man has not ejaculated for seven days.

This is also taken into account in the finishing, so that there is as much punch as possible in the ring.

Have you noticed a difference in how you feel?

“Now in basic life, I don’t notice anything, whether it’s three or seven days, but before the match it’s important. Every boxer has their own things. Some pray, Amin used to go around the trees with his running runs from the left side because he hit the left hook well. I believe in maximum conditioning.”