Zagitova announced that she would hold a boxing match with Batyrgaziev

The 2018 Olympic champion in figure skating Alina Zagitova told RIA Novosti Sport that she would hold a boxing match against Tokyo Olympic champion in the weight category up to 57 kg Albert Batyrgaziev to show the fighting nature of the figure skaters.

The fight will take place on June 25 at Luzhniki as part of the Moscow Sports Day, organized by the Moscow City Sports Department.

— I am interested in exploring the limits of my abilities and trying something new! Boxing is exactly the kind of sport that gives the feeling of jumping into an ice hole, and I am very glad that the Department of Sports has created the right conditions for this. In addition, this is a great opportunity to show that girls in figure skating are real fighters! I hope that the sparring show will not end with my victory in the first round, – said Zagitova.

Batyrgaziev said that he would not give the skater a break.

– It’s great that athletes from other disciplines try their hand at boxing, this experience will be very useful for them. I support Alina’s decision to test herself in a demonstration fight and I am glad that one way or another I will act as her coach. I wonder how figure skating skills will help her. As for the fight itself, we will work beautifully and for the benefit of both of us – after all, this is not a battle for the championship. But I will not give respite, – said Batyrgaziev.

20-year-old Zagitova is the first Russian figure skater to win the champion title in all significant tournaments: at the Olympics, the World Championships, the European Championships and in the Grand Prix series final.