History enthusiast Aloys Youmbi plans to conquer the cruiserweight division

WHO were your idols when you were younger?

Boxers frequently tell us it was a parent or a fighter from the past. Answers to expect, answers to respect.

You wouldn’t need many digits to count how many picked historical figures or more specifically the King of an ancient kingdom over 2000 years ago.

So, why was Alexander the Great an idol of Aloys Youmbi when the cruiserweight prospect was 19 years old?

“I think as a young man, you always want to look up to somebody,” he tells Boxing News over Zoom.

“You want to understand people and you want to be great. I feel like every person deep down wants to be great. They want to be the best. So when I look at people in history, someone that I resonate with, like a conqueror – like in this sport, I’m a conqueror –  what more can you ask for from an individual like Alexander the Great?

“He had Persia at his feet, Persia at his feet [at] 22 years old. Oh my goodness.”

There were four key battles for Alexander and the Macedonians to conquer before he could take the Persian crown. This began with The Battle of the Granicus in 334 BC, one where Alexander nearly lost his life.

Youmbi would never describe himself as a historian but he tells BN he’s been “checking out” Charlemagne, Napoleon, Winston Churchill, Leonardo Da Vinci and Mozart. He wants to learn from those who have changed history or had the type of impact which is still felt in today’s world.

“If you’re great I can learn something from you,” Youmbi says.

After 21 fights (17 wins) as an amateur Aloys Youmbi desire to become a cruiserweight world champion began with an unconventional professional debut. In November 2021 Michal Soczynski was at York Hall and in the opposite corner waiting to take on Youmbi. The Polish cruiserweight had won 108 of his 136 amateur bouts and was a European Junior Championships bronze medallist. Soczynski beat Youmbi but only by one point – 39-38 – on referee Mark Bates’ scorecard. Youmbi won the respect and admiration of many that night.

“I would say that in professional ranks, the higher you go up, the more intelligent everyone is,” Youmbi answers when asked about what he has learned as a pro so far.

“Obviously, that’s a massive thing as well. I’d say [it’s] very similar to Chess. The greater the ranking is, the more intelligent they are, the more they’re able to adapt. That’s really changed my mind.

“And not to go in there and be a massive brute and just swing,” he adds.

“I’ve never really been a massive brute anyway, but be more aware of that. Be much more aware of that.”

On Saturday night the 21-year-old is back at York Hall for the seventh time in nine fights when he faces Oronzo Birardi for a minor IBO belt. It won’t be strange surroundings for the German, however, who is having his third consecutive fight at the famous old venue.

“All my wins are stoppages, my next one’s going to be a stoppage,” he said just after finishing a bowl of rice, chicken and vegetables.

Youmbi was sporting a sleeveless shirt highlighting his biceps that look as though they could crush watermelons if they were placed in between them. He is a formidable specimen and one which his nickname ‘The Animal’ suits perfectly. But as he says he is not a “massive brute”. There is brains to match the brawn. He could easily grace the cover of Men’s Health but there is an intelligence to him which carries itself into the ring as well.

The prospect believes he is “something special” and in 12 months is backing himself to be not only “even more special” but potentially a British or European champion. But what is it in his own opinion that warrants such a high opinion of himself.

“My IQ, my explosiveness,” he answers.

“My explosive power, my speed, adaptability. I think those are my greatest strengths. And I’m able to be calm. A lot of fighters are not able to be calm in the ring. I believe I have a great sense of calmness in the ring. I’m able to assess what’s in front of me. I don’t get into my emotions.”

His power is something which runs in his family. Aloys’ father used to compete in weightlifting competitions while his uncles were wrestlers.

“My father trains over dinner every day, to this day. And he’s almost in his fifties,” he reveals.

Weightlifting and wrestling didn’t get their hooks into Youmbi but seeing relatives in the ring created a desire to fight. A desire turned to an almost unexplainable love to fight but sometimes you need something else to take you further and Youmbi’s power is an X-factor.

“And the thing is about me is, these guys need to be perfect for 12 rounds, I just need to be perfect once.”