Arthur Biyarslanov

Biography

Born near the Chechen region of Russia, Arthur Biyarslanov was four when his family left the war-torn area for Azerbaijan before arriving in Canada six years later in 2005, hoping for a better life and education. At age 17, the southpaw represented Canada at the 2012 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships where he came just shy of advancing to the quarterfinals. Now a three-time Canadian champion, Biyarslanov competed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games where he lost a split decision in the second round to defending champion Manoj Kumar of India. In 2013 he began training with Adrian Teodorescu who coached, among other greats, Lennox Lewis to Olympic gold at Seoul 1988. Biyarslanov earned a major gold medal of his own at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, winning the welterweight title over Cuba’s Yasnier Toledo.  He secured his ticket to Rio by winning the American Continental Qualifier in March 2016. Biyarslanov was defeated in the second round of his Olympic debut.

Getting to know…

Family: Parents Xairudin (deceased) and Alla… Older brother Rustam participated in combat sports (wrestling, boxing, kick boxing) and is his role model for looking after him…Also has two sisters… Getting into the Sport: Started boxing at age 12… His brother wanted him to learn self-defence so he took him along to the gym… Outside Interests: Studying psychology at York University… Odds and Ends: Nicknames: Borz and “The Chechen Wolf”… Always says a prayer before entering the ring… Favourite quote: “I hated every minute of training but I said ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion’.” – Muhammad Ali… Had his life story published in July 2016 in the book Next Round: A Young Athlete’s Journey to Gold…