Fedor Emelianenko recently addressed questions about his highly anticipated boxing match with Mirko Cro Cop. During a post-election interview in Russia, the mixed martial arts legend confirmed his commitment to the proposed matchup while addressing various concerns surrounding the event.
When asked about news regarding his possible matchup with Cro Cop under boxing rules, Emelianenko stated, “We hope so. We are preparing for it.” He elaborated on the tentative timeline, mentioning that Croatia wanted to host the event during one of their holidays.
“In June, in my opinion, they want to hold this match. There is some kind of tournament where they would like our match to be headlined,” Emelianenko explained. However, he cautioned, “But these are rumors, as far as I understand. I believe the official announcement will come directly from the organizers.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding official confirmation, Emelianenko made clear his dedication to training: “We are preparing. Yes, I’m getting ready.”
Addressing concerns from fans about Cro Cop’s previous health issues, specifically regarding reports of a stroke, Emelianenko responded directly. “I read in the interview that Mirko Cro Cop… Well, it’s not true. He didn’t really experience anything like that.”
He continued, “We made sure to ask about his health first. Everything is positive. Everything is good. He’s training and preparing to win our big match.”
The Russian champion also discussed the organizational challenges of hosting such an event. When questioned why the matchup wasn’t being arranged in Russia, he offered candid reasoning: “I wouldn’t really want to compete in Russia,” he admitted. “It’s not that people would blame me personally, but there would be a lot of pressure. The media and fans would be very tough on me: constant calls, messages, criticism.”
Interestingly, Emelianenko noted that he is already feeling some of that pressure even if the match is held in Serbia. “Even now, people are already being hard on me. I try to explain that I’m not responsible for ticket sales or event promotion. I’m only responsible for stepping into the ring and competing.”
[Editor’s Note: Quotes have been translated and edited for clarity and readability.]
