Valeri Popenchenko
Encyclopedia
Valeri Vladimirovich Popenchenko (August 26, 1937, Kuntsevo — February 15, 1975, Moscow
) was an amateur boxer
from the Soviet Union
, who competed in the Middleweight
division (– 75 kg) during his career, winning 200 of his 213 fights.
Popenchenko trained at Dynamo in Leningrad
. He was the USSR Champion in 1959 and from 1961 to 1965. He became the Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR in 1964 and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
in the following year.
Popenchenko represented the Soviet Union at the Summer Olympics of 1964
beating Emil Schulz
of the United Team of Germany
in the final, after the referee stoped the contest (RSC). He was also named the Outstanding Boxer of the 1964 Olympics and given the Val Barker Trophy
.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
) was an amateur boxer
Amateur boxing
Amateur boxing is practised at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes point-scoring rather...
from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, who competed in the Middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
division (– 75 kg) during his career, winning 200 of his 213 fights.
Popenchenko trained at Dynamo in Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
. He was the USSR Champion in 1959 and from 1961 to 1965. He became the Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR in 1964 and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
in the following year.
Popenchenko represented the Soviet Union at the Summer Olympics of 1964
Boxing at the 1964 Summer Olympics
Final results for the Boxing competition at the 1964 Summer Olympics:It was held October 11 to 23.-Medal table:-Medal summary:Final results for the Boxing competition at the 1964 Summer Olympics:It was held October 11 to 23....
beating Emil Schulz
Emil Schulz
Emil Schulz was a German boxer and five-time amateur champion, who lost only 21 of his 223 fights....
of the United Team of Germany
United Team of Germany
The Unified Team of Germany , competed in the 1956, 1960, and 1964 Winter and Summer Olympic Games as a united team of athletes from the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic...
in the final, after the referee stoped the contest (RSC). He was also named the Outstanding Boxer of the 1964 Olympics and given the Val Barker Trophy
Val Barker Trophy
The Val Barker Trophy, named for boxer Val Barker, is presented every four years to an Olympic boxing athlete who exemplifies style during competition.-Recipients:...
.
Death
In the mid 1970s Bauman Moscow State Technical University commenced construction of some new buildings and sporting facilities. As the head of culture department, Popenchenko would often visit the construction site to check the work. On February 15 1975, Popenchenko was visiting the site and while running down the stairs, where handrails were not yet installed, lost his balance, fell three floors and was killed, he was just 38 years old. He was berried at Vvedenskoye Cemetery.Olympic results
- 1st round bye
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(Ghana) 5-0 - Defeated Tadeusz WalasekTadeusz WalasekTadeusz Walasek was a Polish boxer.He won a silver medal for Poland at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games in the men's middleweight division . Walasek lost a 3-2 decision in the final to Eddie Crook of the United States...
(Poland) KO - Defeated Emil SchulzEmil SchulzEmil Schulz was a German boxer and five-time amateur champion, who lost only 21 of his 223 fights....
(United Team of Germany) RSC