There have been many interesting and difficult competetions in my career. 2002 WAF in USA was one of them. Year before I won the WAF in Italy with both hands but I had a terrible elbow injury during my right hand final match. So I had to have an elbow surgery in february 2002. My left arm was fine but my right was far from my best shape. Toughest opponent in my class was Sergei Pisarkov from Russia. He did not know that my right elbow had a surgery and as far as I realised he was targeting on beating me with left arm.

On the left hand competetion day I beat him both on 1 round and final to win the gold. And next day he did not show up our first match and I won that way. Once we reached to the final he had to beat me twice. He beated me easily in the strap to bring the match to 1-1. Then there was a final of heavier class where the Russian trainer jumped up to the stage and received penalty from WAF. The Russian President Fliminov rejected to pay the money and WAF declared that all the finalists who were gonna meet the Russians will be automatically the winner. It meant that I won another gold with right hand as well.

But I told Fred Roy that I will not accept the Gold medal in such way and I will pull Pisarkov at the side table and give him the gold if he beats me. They told me that it is my problem and officially I will be the winner of the class. Then I talked with Flimonov by his translator and told him to pay the Money but he rejected. After near half an hour I made an agreement between WAF and Flimonov and Russia paid half of the punishment money.

So I once again was against Pisarkov and we slipped. In the strap he beated me easily at first match but this time toprolled his wrist. I had the control but because of my elbow injury I was not able to apply pressure. He intentionally got an elbow foul to re-start. At the re-start he hit faster and I stopped him at near the pad but was not able to hold him there long time and he won the Gold that he deserved.

Today I have 10 World Titles but I am more proud of this silver medal than my gold medals because I had chance to receive the gold medal but I rejected it. That was one of the unforgetable memories of my career.