Grigory Drozd is a professional fighter of classic and Thai boxing, public figure, sports commentator, functionary, holder of the title of Champion of Siberia, Russia, Europe and the world.
Russia can rightfully be proud of its boxers. One of them is Grigory Drozd, a graduate of the Siberian State Academy of Physical Culture, winner of many significant awards in classical and Thai boxing. Who is he and where is he from? What does he do after the end of his sports career? Who walks next to him in life?
Biography
Grigory Drozd was born in the largest coal-mining region of Russia - in Kuzbass, at the end of August 1979, more precisely in the city of Prokopyevsk. The guy's parents worked at a local mine. From childhood, the boy was taught to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, instilled in him a love of sports. Grigory's mom was fond of skiing, and dad played in the working hockey team. He himself tried himself in many disciplines - in addition to boxing, he was engaged in athletics, got up with his mother on skis. He was also interested in art - for some time the boy learned to play on spoons, even several times performed together with the school team at city-scale events.
Grisha grew up active. In addition to studying at school and training, he managed to spend a lot of time on the streets of the private sector, where he lived with his family. Of course, fights often broke out among the guys, and Gregory always became the winner. Wanting to direct this energy in the right direction, his parents found a karate club for him. It was not entirely legal, the coach worked with the boys "on a voluntary basis."
By the age of 15, Drozd already had a good base for further development in the form of training in karate and kickboxing, and decided to try himself in a new direction - Thai boxing. By the end of secondary school, the guy already had the third place in the world thai boxing championship, first place in the junior kickboxing championship of the Russian level. It is not surprising that he also chose the appropriate university - he entered the Kemerovo branch of the Siberian State Academy of Physical Culture.
Sports career
In the professional sports environment, Grigory Drozd received the nickname "Pretty Boy". Initially, he was engaged in wrestling and boxing as an amateur; he received his first prizes and awards of this particular plan. The guy understood that it was necessary to go to a higher, professional level, and diligently prepared for this.
While still a student at the sports academy, Grigory performed at Russian and international competitions, championships, mainly in Thai boxing. Among the victories of this level, it is worth highlighting:
- victory in the CIS tournament (1995),
- third place in the world championship (1997),
- gold medal in Bangkok (2001).
All this time, Sergei Nikolaevich Vasiliev, an international master of sports, a Soviet boxer with an impressive list of significant awards, was engaged in his preparation for fights.
Drozd first entered the professional ring in the spring of 2001. A year later, he became the owner of the title of champion of Siberia, and a year later - the champion of Russia. Among the high-profile victories of Grigory in the professional ring, sports analysts point out a knockout to Mexican Saul Montano (2004) in the 9th round of the fight, a victory in a fight with Pavel Menkomyan, who had never lost before. But there were other bright fights, ups and downs, injuries in the career of the Prokopyevsky fighter.
In 2006, Grigory Alekseevich claimed the world-class champion title, but lost the fight to the Turkish fighter Firat Arslan. After 2 years, Drozd "rehabilitated" by knocking out two opponents at once - the Americans Rob Calloway and Darnell Wilson. In a fight with the latter, the Russian athlete was injured, and left the ring for a year and a half.
Then only victories followed - over the Pole Mateusz Masternak (2013), the French Jeremy Hunnu (2014), the Poles Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (2014), Lukasz Janik (2015). Drozd held the champion title for several years. In the spring of 2016, he was declared “champion on vacation” because he was unable to fight the intended fight with Ilungi Makabu due to injury. A few months later, the Russian fighter had to announce the end of his sports career in the professional field, as the consequences of the injury made themselves felt and did not allow effective fights.
Social activity
Even during his professional boxing career, Drozd was elected a member of the Public Chamber, an organization that interacts between citizens and the authorities, including those of local importance. Public figures and ordinary citizens of the Kemerovo region petitioned for his appointment.
In addition, Grigory Alekseevich heads two Federations - Thai boxing in the capital and classic boxing in Kuzbass, he is the vice-president of the All-Russian Tayboxing Federation. He is closely involved in the popularization of sports in his native region, supports boxing clubs and sports schools in the Kemerovo region.
Personal life
Grigory Drozd is married, his son is growing up. The athlete's wife's name is Julia, nothing is known about her occupation. The son of a former athlete and social activist, according to him in an interview, shows interest in several sports areas at once, and his father willingly supports his endeavors.
Grigory Alekseevich is reluctant to speak about his personal life, and it is his right to protect loved ones from the attention of fans and media representatives. Much more willingly, in conversations, he develops topics about sports.
