Released undefeated and with an intercontinental belt for the year 2021, the French super-welter wants to continue his progress in 2022. Hoping that the health crisis does not prevent it.
At the Étoiles du Sport, in Tignes
Souleymane, after the cancellation of last year due to the health situation, the Sports Stars are back, and you with…
Souleymane Cissokho: (Smile) Yes, and it’s always a great pleasure to be here. For me, the Sports Stars, it’s a unique moment of sharing. Every time I’m there, I really love meeting all these great champions and being able to talk to them.
What is your assessment of your year in the ring?
I am very happy with my year, with this first international belt that I defended victoriously. I have boxed in front of 70,000 people in the United States, so this has been a strong year for me. Now, I don’t stop there. I want to go ahead and get a world belt now.
This intercontinental belt of the WBA, what does it represent in your eyes?
It represents a lot of things. Already, to evolve in front of so many people, before the fight of Canelo Alvarez, it was incredible. After that, having this belt allows me to check off one of the first goals I set for myself when I became a professional. And by defending her, I confirmed that all the work done paid off. I was coming out in addition to a very complicated 2020 with five cancellations of the fight due to the health context, so being able to be there makes me very happy.
Not being able to fight was tough, but I knew everything I put in place in training was going to stick and serve me.
Souleymane Cissokho
Have you ever doubted? Have you thought about stopping everything after all these cancellations?
I have always remained focused because I am a very patient and very hardworking person. For me, despite these five cancellations, I was focusing on the half-full glass – that a workout never goes to waste. Not being able to fight was tough, but I knew everything I put in place in training was going to stick and serve me. Moreover, during my recovery fight (March 13, 2021 after a year and a half of forced stoppage), it had not really felt that I had known such a stoppage. I had very good feedback and it showed me that I had to be patient. Now, I’m not going to hide from you that there were still some awkward moments because as a pro boxer, I get paid when I fight. It must be said. Fortunately for me, I am well off with partners and sponsors who have been loyal to me, and I thank them very much. If they had let go, my situation might be very different today.
Where are you with your studies at the Sorbonne (Masters in sports law)?
I continue, but what is complicated is in terms of time. I have completed my thesis but I still have two teaching units (teaching units) to validate, and I did not have the time to do so. But this double course remains very important for me. I want a world belt, and I want my Masters. I will put the same investment in my studies as in my sport. There, as my boxing career is taking off well, I favor it but afterwards, I will dive back into it to finish what I started.
You say your career is taking off, which it is, but you always stay in the shadow of a much more talked about Tony Yoka. Do you prefer more light or do you appreciate being able to build yourself up more discreetly?
I have always built myself slowly, little by little. I climb the stairs one after the other, at my own pace. I am not looking for that light you are talking about, although I hope it will come to me through my results. For example, when I boxed at Roland Garros last September, the hall was full and chanted my name. It means a lot of things, especially that I have people who support me, who believe in me. A lot of media are also talking about me. So I’m fine the way I am, and if I manage to keep producing good boxing and having results, it should keep going up.
For me, boxing happens in the ring. The pre-fight intimidation phase doesn’t bother me.
Souleymane Cissokho
You have a very calm character, which often contrasts with what we see in boxing, especially during very agitated pre-fight conferences, with the protagonists already ready to kick each other. You, would you be ready to play this game of the show and what do you think?
Yes and no. Yes, because in a way, we are not going to lie to each other, it sells. The public needs this to see that there is tension between the boxers, that they repel each other, sometimes that they insult each other. Now that doesn’t suit me. It’s not part of my upbringing, I’ve never been like this and I don’t see why I will change overnight. It has already been offered to me, you know. I was told: “Souleymane, go ahead, push him!” But honestly, that’s not my thing. Maybe I would gain notoriety by doing it, but it’s very contrived and I can’t see myself coming out of profanity like that. For me, boxing happens in the ring. The pre-fight intimidation phase doesn’t bother me. My opponent can scream, howl from the rooftops, everything will happen in the ring. This does not prevent me from recognizing that some boxers manage, like that, to take a psychological advantage over their opponents. Some manage to get their opponents out of the fight by bringing out very intimate things about their wives, their families. You have to be aware of it in order not to be fooled.
Today, you mentioned the health context, isn’t your biggest opponent called Omicron?
(Smile) Yes, it is possible, because we are not sure of anything. It is impossible to anticipate. We have fight dates but will they be maintained or not? We do not know anything. I walk forward with my eyes closed.
Read alsoSouleymane Cissokho after the controversies in Tokyo: “It hurts for boxing”
The future of amateur boxing as an Olympic sport is increasingly threatened, with a possible elimination in 2028. Are you worried?
I have been worried for a very long time, because I have lived it, like other generations. There have been too many contentious decisions for years that no one understands. The referees let themselves be swayed and unfortunately this has a direct impact on the careers of many boxers, with some who ended their careers when they were very talented. I find that such a shame. Today, that boxing is in the hot seat for 2028, it’s no surprise. To leave the Olympic program would be terrible because it is a sport which needs to be publicized, of visibility. Behind it, it will be very complicated to make a living from it and we can fear that it will disappear.
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