Artem Lobov confused by referee's quick breaks in Paulie Malignaggi fight
Artem Lobov’s gameplan was pretty simple against Paulie Malignaggi at Bare Knuckle FC 6: Clinch, clinch, and more clinch. He wasn’t going to be dumb enough to stand in the pocket and trade all night with a former two-weight world boxing champion.
“The clinch is the huge part of my gameplan; I don’t want to (expletive) mess around with a pro boxer,” Lobov said at the post-fight news conference in Tampa, Fla. “That’s his game, so even if I felt I was better than him, it would be stupid of me to just exchange there with him.”
One problem: The referee kept getting in the way. BKFC’s rules allow for more latitude for clinch work than the traditional game, but every time they tied up, the official was quick to call a break.
“I was a little bit surprised with the referee when we were in the clinch,” Lobov said. “I was on top of him, and right away they were breaking up the clinch. If you look at some of the boxing fights, even in a boxing fight, the clinch is not allowed, they allow people to do a lot more in the clinch than they do here, where the clinch is allowed.”
Fortunately for Lobov, it didn’t matter in the end, as he came on in rounds four and five and earned a unanimous decision victory.
At the end of the day, it’s just another payday for the fighter whose cult fans call “the GOAT.” The adopted Irishman by way of Russia doesn’t care if it’s a ring, a cage, or a barn, so long as he gets paid.
“I’m prize fighter; my success is defined by my purses,” Lobov said. “I love this sport – this sport is good for my heart – but I would be lying if I didn’t say whoever (expletive) pays I go. If there is a boxing fight, let’s go. I’ll fight anyone, anywhere, anytime, any way.
“I’ll fight anywhere. I don’t give a (expletive) but pay. You’ve got to pay.”
To hear more from Lobov, check out the video above.
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