WHO WERE YOUR Idols when you were young?
Boxers often tell us it was a parent or a former fighter. The answers you can expect, respectful answers.
You won't need a lot of digits to count how many historical appointees or especially the King of an ancient kingdom in the past 2000 years.
So, why was Alexander the Great the idol of Aloys Youmbi when the cruiserweight prospect was 19 years old?
“I think he's still a young man, he always wants to look at someone,” he said Debate News on Zoom.
“You want to understand people and you want to be great. I feel like every serious person wants to be great. They want to be the best. So when I look at people in history, someone I get along with, as a winner – like in this game, I'm a winner – what more can you ask for someone like Alexander the Great?
“He had Persia at his feet, and Persia at his feet.” [at] 22 years. Oh my goodness.”
There were four important battles for Alexander and the Macedonians to win before he took the Persian crown. This began with the Battle of the Granicus in 334 BC, where Alexander nearly lost his life.
Youmbi would not describe himself as a historian but he does BN he has been “scrutinizing” Charlemagne, Napoleon, Winston Churchill, Leonardo Da Vinci and Mozart. You want to learn from those who changed history or had an impact that is still felt in today's world.
“If you are good, I can learn something from you,” said Youmbi.
After 21 fights (17 wins) as a novice Aloys Youmbi's quest to become the cruiserweight world champion began with an unusual debut. In November 2021 Michal Soczynski was at York Hall and in the opposite corner waiting to face Youmbi. The Polish cruiserweight had won 108 of his 136 fights and won a bronze medal at the European Junior Championships. Soczynski defeated Youmbi but only by one point – 39-38 – on the scorecard of referee Mark Bates. Youmbi won the respect and love of many that night.
“I would say that in higher positions, the higher you go, the smarter everyone is,” Youmbi answered when asked about what he has learned as a professional so far.
“Obviously, that's a big thing too. I can say [it’s] it is very similar to Chess. The higher the level, the more intelligent they are, the more adaptable they are. That really changed my mind.
“And not to go in there and be a big brute and just turn around,” he adds.
“I've never been very cruel, but be very careful about that. That is more clear.”
On Saturday night the 21-year-old returned to York Hall for the seventh time in nine fights when he faced Oronzo Birardi for the junior IBO belt. It won't be a strange place for Germany, however, who will be fighting his third fight in a row at the famous old venue.
“All my winnings are stopping, the next one will be stopped,” he said as he finished a bowl of rice, chicken and vegetables.
Youmbi was wearing a sleeveless shirt that highlighted his biceps that looked like they could crush watermelons when placed between them. He is a fearsome role model and his nickname 'The Beast' suits him well. But as he says he is not a “great genius”. There is brain to match brawn. He could grace the cover of Men's Health but there is a genius to him that brings him into the ring.
The prospect believes he is “something special” and in 12 months he is backing himself not to be “even more special” but to be British or European champion. But what is it in his opinion that warrants such a high opinion of him.
“My IQ, my explosiveness,” he replied.
“My explosiveness, my speed, my adaptability. I think that is my greatest strength. And I can calm down. Most fighters can't stay calm in the ring. I believe I have a lot of composure in the ring. I can assess what is in front of me. I don't get into my feelings.”
His strength is something that runs in his family. Aloys' father competed in weightlifting while his uncles were wrestlers.
“Dad practices for dinner every day, until today. And he is almost fifty years old,” he revealed.
Weightlifting and wrestling didn't hook Youmbi but seeing relatives in the ring created a desire to fight. The desire turned into an almost inexplicable love of fighting but sometimes you need something else to push you forward and Youmbi's power is the X-factor.
“And the thing about me is, these guys need to be perfect for 12 rounds, I need to be perfect once.”
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