While the world legend of mixed martial arts Fedor Emelianenko is considering the opportunity to try himself in boxing, the younger brother of the Last Emperor Alexander also does not let himself be forgotten. Phoenix is ​​planning a big comeback at the end of March or beginning of April and wants to take revenge on the very dangerous Vyacheslav Datsik.

There are doubts about the Russian heavyweight’s chances of repaying his debt to Red Tarzan, but Emelianenko himself has no doubts – now he is in better shape than in his youth.

“We don’t want to put it off for too long”

After defeating blogger Evgeny Ershov in May last year, Alexander Emelianenko disappeared from view for some time. It was obvious to many that the career of the once promising heavyweight had gone somewhere wrong. But what to do next: finish or try to come back again? Only Phoenix himself could find the answer. He went to Ingushetia for rehabilitation and hinted that he was going to continue, although without specifics.

However, the lack of clear plans did not prevent all sorts of rumors from arising. In January, information appeared that Emelianenko would fight with Vyacheslav Datsik at the Ural FC tournament. Alexander’s brother signed a contract with the same organization, although not the elder Fedor, but the younger Ivan. According to the original plan, the fighters were supposed to perform together at the same tournament in late February or early March. Emelianenko Jr. will actually fight Iranian Ali Heibati on March 1, but Phoenix’s return has been postponed.

— About the fight of Alexander Emelianenko in Ural FC… We are talking about the end of March or the beginning of April. We are negotiating with the channels, choosing a date that will be convenient for everyone. We don’t want to postpone this fight for long. While we are looking at Datsik. Sasha may not have been in the best shape in their first fight,” Ural FC General Director Radmir Gabdullin told Match TV.

Alexander Emelianenko and Vyacheslav Datsik / Photo: © RIA Novosti / Vladimir Astapkovich

“I could run for days”

In the first fight, Emelianenko was knocked out in the 13th second. How big are the chances that Alexander will succeed in a boxing fight with four-ounce gloves? After all, the danger of Datsik’s “collective farmers” has not gone away, as have Phoenix’s problems with taking the blow. You can count on intrigue if Red Tarzan does not prepare at all, and the opponent turns out to be in incredible shape. By the way, the brother of the Last Emperor has no doubt at all about his readiness.

— Now I’m in better shape than in Pride. Then I had no experience, knowledge, endurance, or combat practice. Everyone says it’s old. I can teach a lesson to any young person,” Emelianenko said on the YouTube channel “On Sports with Monto.”

Alexander certainly has more experience and knowledge. It is theoretically possible to allow progress in endurance, although there are doubts. But it’s difficult to believe that a fighter at 42 is in better shape than he was at 22-24. It is curious that Datsik was more self-critical a year before his first victory over Emelianenko.

Bob Sapp and Alexander Emelianenko / Photo: © Dmitry Golubovich / Russian Look / Global Look Press

“I spent so many years in prison, of course, I had the moral training I needed, but in my youth I was in good health, I just breathed kerosene. Now it takes longer to recover. In his youth, he could run for days, train, go without sleep for a week and go into battle with a temperature of 39, and fight eight in a month,” Datsik said in an interview with Match TV.

Regardless of whether the fight with Datsik takes place and how it ends, Emelianenko’s career will not end there. Alexander signed a contract with Ural FC for three fights, with the possibility of extending the contract if the parties are satisfied with everything.

True, if the duel with Red Tarzan ends in failure for Phoenix, then it will hardly be possible to talk about any serious-level rivals. This means only one thing: if the Russian heavyweight really wants to make some noise at the end of his career, he needs not only in words, but also in deeds to be the best version of himself.