Oleg Georgievich Korotaev is a legendary Soviet boxer. A person who went against the system and was able to achieve great success. He lived a short and very unusual life: he started out as a talented athlete and ended up as a crime boss.
Biography
Oleg Korotaev was born in the difficult post-war period on September 4, 1949 in the city of Yekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk). The parents had two sons. Father left the family when Oleg was still in school. To somehow help his mother, he had to go to night school. Early in the morning he went to boxing training. He worked during the day and studied in the evening. The young man trained a lot. He stood out for his boxing talent. Success and fame did not come to him immediately. Secretly from his coaches, he went to the "rocking chair", which was then prohibited. Oleg himself decided to focus on strength in training, violating prohibitions.
Professional boxer career
Korotaev was 17 years old when, thanks to his strength and good technical training, he won the first serious victory. It was the regional tournament "Burevestnik". He was immediately invited to Moscow by the honored coach of the country - Georgy Dzheroyan. In the capital, Oleg enters the Moscow University of Physical Culture and Tourism. Continues to train hard and hard. Becomes the USSR champion in light heavyweight (1970). He is taken to the national team. As part of the national team, he goes to Las Vegas for a match between the two countries. At this tournament, Korotaev easily defeats famous boxers, world champions - Marvin Johnson, William Ratliff. The whole world will recognize him.
Victories and defeats
The first trip to America greatly changed the views and consciousness of the young boxer. He saw all the inequality and injustice that existed in the country. In 1971, at the international tournament in Cuba, Oleg again triumphantly won. The attention of foreign media to the Soviet athlete has sharply increased. He often gives interviews, allows himself unlawful statements. Many people in Goskomsport did not like it. The head coach was also dissatisfied with him, who demanded unconditional obedience from the athlete. The love of truth and the sharp language of Korotaev led to the fact that he was first deprived of all benefits. Then he was completely disqualified, suspended from a trip to the Olympics in Munich (1972).
In 1973, Korotaev, thanks to his coach Georgy Dzheroyan, returned to the big sport. With his victories, he once again proves that he is a high-class professional. He wins major championships in his country and abroad.
Completion of a career
The boxer spoke excellent English. He was constantly accused of being overly interested in American culture. They continued to set up various obstacles, forbidding them to enter the ring. They were deprived of the opportunity to travel to international championships. After another ban from going to the European Championship (1975), he leaves the sport for business.
Business and crime
At that time, it was impossible to freely do business in the USSR. Working illegally, Korotayev got involved with criminals. He got a lot of money. He was imprisoned several times, where he strengthened his ties with the underworld. Became known as a crime boss.
Personal life
Oleg Karataev had a family. His wife's name was Tatiana. In the past - an athlete, went in for swimming. The couple had a son, Oleg, in 1973.
After the collapse of the country, Korotaev began to cooperate with American partners. Received the citizenship of this country. I often flew there. On January 12, 1994, he was shot to death in New York. Oleg Georgievich Korotaev was buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery.
