Eimantas Stanionis, who has experienced hell in America: I thought I would end my career

Eimantas Stanionis, who has not been the biggest victory in Lithuanian boxing history in Atlantic City (USA) is not sure whether another chance will be made to fight for the title of professional boxing champion. However, not to stop on his sporty path – he is guaranteed.

E. Stanionis appeared last Sunday at the Boardwalk Hall Arena in New Jersey and had won all 15 of his professional battles until then. In the confrontation, even the American Jaron Boots Ennis, the American Jaron « Boots », beat Kaunas (WBA, IBF and The Ring).

After the 30-year-old Lithuanian coach, Marvin Somodio, after the sixth round, stopped fighting for the obvious advantage of the opponent and protecting his student’s health. It was the 34th victory of the talented J. Ennis from the same possible possible.

After returning from the US, E. Stanionis appeared at the press conference « Žalgiris » Arena was accompanied by his main coach Vidas Bruz. The latter started a conversation with journalists.

« We went to America to win the fight.

-Coach, or the decision to stop the fight in Round 6 was made by your colleague’s American, or after a general consultation with you? We asked Bruzo.

– The solution was common and very fast, though extremely difficult. After the fight, I stayed in a completely depressed state for more than an hour. However, thinking about Eimant’s health had to be taken on that unpleasant responsibility. Such is the duty of the coach. I felt it every particle of my body. So I predicted the course of events forward.

– You have been training Eimantas for years. And how do you share roles with a US colleague during the fight?

– We quickly consult about events in the ring. We make a few words and everything is clear. As a result, the decisive decision coincided with our opinions. We knew that Eimantas himself would not give up, turn the roads, absorb the strokes, but would not make the decision to get the fight. I knew he would be dissatisfied – it was. But, in my opinion, it was the best solution.

– The judges counted J. Ennis’s advantage in all rounds. Do you agree with such a result?

– It really didn’t seem to me that all rounds were lost, but my opinion could be subjective. Maybe Eimantas made too few strokes, but they were quite accurate. The opponent hit more often, but not as accurately. In the sixth round, Eimantas’ counterattacks decreased and became more passive. He began to feel the insecurity of his actions, which was not the case before. Missed a few strokes and found himself in the knockout …

Its own land heals.

– How do you see the future of the student?

– He will come back with even better preparation and show what he is really worth. It will certainly be motivated to rise to an even higher level. The time will show whether the revanche and J. Ennis will take place. It is not known whether the American will remain in the same weight category.

– Was it the hardest fight in your career? – We asked E. Stanionis.

– Was not the hardest, there were more serious, there were more injuries. But emotionally it was very difficult. As I prepared in America, I was looking forward to coach Vido. When he flew, tears just floated to me. I don’t know what was going on inside … I was very longing for the house. It is good that I was accompanied by a buddy Robert. I felt psychologically broken. If not for my friend, I would have flew to Lithuania well before the fight. Then I would probably have returned straight into the fight.

Now that I landed in Lithuania, everything came to light at once. Its own land heals. I only fought for the second time in three years. It is very difficult. As I waited a long time, whether I would be able to fight Mr Ennis, the memories of the former battles were still coming back. I thought, as if I was an athlete, but it was no longer.

During those years, I suffered two operations, but I didn’t tell anyone about it. Seriously, I thought maybe it’s time to finish everything.

– What is your physical and emotional health now?

– Physical – good, emotional thousand times better than before fighting. When I came back to Lithuania, I thought, Thank goodness everything was over! The race day seemed seriously to me that I didn’t have to be in the ring at all. I felt weird. Even after that, if it had happened in other circumstances, I would have been able to continue the fight. Of course, the opponent lined my nose, ran blood, but nothing terrible happened. I was able to fight. But somehow I was embarrassed as if I wanted to fight, but I was in some space. I was in the ring, but I saw myself as if from the side, from the top …

– How much influence on your condition had the fact that your wife could have been in the birth ward on the day of the fight?

– It is known that that tension and experiences had an impact. In recent weeks, my wife and I had agreed that I was just about the fight, we both lived as if we were wearing masks, but can’t pretend you didn’t care. We were both excited about each other, but we didn’t show it. By the way, according to medical forecasts, I only had 1 percent of the chances that I would be guessed. Today, that percentage has increased dramatically (smiles); Looking forward to the girl.

– Returning to the fight. What did the first defeat of your professional career taught?

– The coach Vido had to be listened to and less sports. He saw that I could overdo it and stopped me. It is very bad to overdo it because the body is unable to recover, and the worst thing is that you get psychologically even before the fight. By the way, I visualized a possible defeat scenario. I realized that I would have to lose once. There are only two fighters in the world who have never lost – Floyd Meweather (one of the most titled boxing professionals) and Chabib Nurmagomedov (UFC Legend of MMA Professional Organization).

– After the battle, J. Ennis visited you in the wardrobe and returned the belt warmly after communicating. Did you leave the American who won it to the unrealty WBA champion trophies?

– In fact, the belt itself was returned to me according to the rules. The American received the title of champion. And I put the belt somewhere in the basement. By the way, there were rumors that I did not appear at the press conference. This is not true: I was not even offered to talk to journalists, though I wanted it myself. He also wrote that he did not come to the interview because due to the broken jaw. As you can see, this is not true either.

– After emotions: Did you actually have a chance to put tactics differently and overcome J. Ennisia?

– I think I had a chance. Of course, J. Ennis is a talent that is born once every 20 years. A brutally good fighter. Its speed, versatility. Was surprised by the force of his strokes. Maybe even more, the accuracy of those strokes. It is much higher, but the length of the hands is just impressive. When he hit the so -called Jaba, I retreated to a safe distance in my opinion. But no devil – he still achieved. It makes an impression.

– There were many speculation about your royalties. I have received more money than J. Ennis, who has defeated you?

– I really didn’t get any more than him. This is complete nonsense. If I had demanded such conditions, the fight would simply not happen. I immediately told my managers that he would not negotiate and agree with the initial conditions of Mr Ennis (it was stated that Mr Ennis earned $ 2.5 million and a Lithuanian – $ 1.8 million before tax).

– What are your closest plans?

– to have a child’s birth. And after that … You know when I saw so many Lithuanians in the Boardwalk arena – maybe two three hundred, screaming, screaming my name, flags … The feeling was unspeakable. After the fight, I thought I owed them and Lithuania as a whole.

I want to prove to the younger generation that everything is possible. Despite those two nightmarish years of waiting and finally a fight. After that, another year is unknown and the possibilities to get into the ring again. Now my dream is to fight here in Lithuania.

– Perhaps it is possible for your struggle in the Žalgiris Arena with another professional Egidijus Kavaliauskas?

– I’m not against. I think Egis – too. But there are our managers, business interests.

– How to avoid another long pause in career?

– It should be easier without having to have the title as we can make our schedules more freely. When you belong to a particular organization, you need to look at their interests alone. A large policy begins with a year or two without work.

Vidas Bružas: It seems to me completely absurd – to go into a difficult fight for three championship titles for two years.

Eimantas Stanionis: I really know – because of the emotional state, we will not go to America anymore. That time difference is that you can communicate with your loved ones a maximum of an hour a day. Other times either you sleep or they are already asleep …

Someone maybe better training abroad because it is easier to distance themselves from outside factors and various temptations. For me – the opposite. I am very disciplined and I don’t need any escapes. In Lithuania, it would be best for me to prepare. Already in America. We can bring a good partner Lithuania. Others need to go abroad to have their own discipline, I don’t need it. Maybe no longer in Europe.

– Is there a lack of infrastructure in Lithuania for top -level professionals?

– Camps in America are expensive. In Lithuania, amounts would be similar. The biggest amount is to fly the training partners. To pay them salary, to accommodate them. The trouble is that you cannot be accommodated in the hotel because there are no freely accessible washing machines. And her boxers are necessary. I do not have the requirements that meet my training hall, but these things may move.

– What about the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics? Maybe you will go back to amateur boxing by then and get ready for another Olympics?

– Definitely not.