How did Korotaev come to boxing?
Oleg Korotaev was born on September 4, 1949 in Sverdlovsk. He grew up in a difficult family: his father left, and Oleg matured early. At age 14, he took up boxing and transferred to night school to train and work.
Korotaev turned out to be capable and won youth competitions. The talented guy with a knockout blow was noticed by the famous coach Georgy Dzheroyan. Oleg moved to Moscow, where he continued to perform successfully.
Success in the USA and a million dollar contract
In 1971, Korotaev took part in a boxing match between the US and USSR national teams. The Soviet delegation came to Las Vegas, and the 22-year-old boxer was delighted with the local life. The team was met by the legendary boxer Joe Louis and accommodated in the luxurious Caesars Palace hotel. Korotaev performed successfully: in the first fight he knocked out Nathaniel Jackson, and in the second, Muhammad Ali’s sparring partner, US champion William Ratliff.
The Americans were so amazed by the talent of the Russian Tank (as Korotaev was nicknamed by one of the foreign commentators) that they offered him a lot of money to turn professional. According to rumors, Muhammad Ali’s manager and trainer Angelo Dundee offered Oleg a professional contract worth $1 million.
Boxing decline and defeats
But the proposal did not reach the boxer: the promoters turned to the Soviet delegation, which categorically refused. Subsequently, Korotaev was forced to publicly renounce his desire to fight in the USA. The boxer did this, but after the trip the intelligence services still looked after him.
After a missed chance in the USA, Korotaev suffered greatly, and his career went downhill. He quarreled with the new coach of the USSR boxing team, Anatoly Stepanov, missed the Olympics, suffered a severe injury to his leg ligaments and performed worse and worse.
The last outbreak was in 1974, when Korotaev defeated Leon Spinks himself at the World Championships, who even beat Mohammed Ali as professionals. But in the final, Korotaev suffered a cut, and he received bronze.
Alcohol problems and criminal time
Against the backdrop of failures, Korotaev increasingly violated the regime. I hung out in restaurants until late at night and fought a lot. Once he severely beat the son of the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Nikolai Shchelokov. Oleg was forgiven, but a couple of years later he beat up a foreigner in a hotel and, according to rumors, took his wallet. And this time the boxer went to prison for 5 years (drugs and a machete given by Fidel Castro were found at his home).
In prison, Korotaev became close with thieves and began a life of crime. He served another sentence for fighting in 1985, but was released and quickly became rich. Oleg became a crime boss and went into business. No one knows what exactly Korotaev was doing, but it is believed that the boxer was involved in several organized crime groups.
Emigration to the USA and death
But at some point, Korotaev feared for his life — after a wave of murders of criminal authorities. One of his former sports comrades, who worked in the special services, told Korotaev that they also wanted to remove him. Oleg noticed the surveillance and emigrated to the USA in 1992.
There he married a second time, got legalized and worked as vice president of a travel company. At the same time, he maintained close ties with his family. But the threat did not pass — on January 12, 1994, Korotaev, who left the Arbat restaurant on Brighton Beach in New York, was shot in the back of the head.
Neither performers nor customers were found. Korotaev was buried in Moscow, at the Vagankovskoye cemetery. Hundreds of people came to the farewell ceremony.