Photo: Virginie Assaly / EOTTM – Arthur Biyarslanov (17-0, 14 KOs), a.k.a. ‘The Wolf’.
“You can be naturally really good at sports, but in boxing, you’ll never be good right away. I was bad when I started, and I like being good, so I kept going…”
These are the words of Arthur Biyarslanov, who continues to persevere, 17 years later.
At 12 years old, Arthur stepped into a boxing gym for the first time. His older brother, Rustam, wanted them to learn how to defend themselves. An excellent soccer and basketball player, Arthur thought boxing would come easily, or at least naturally.
But no, boxing is no game.
“My toughest fight in my career was my first amateur bout. I’d been boxing for a few months and thought I’d step into the ring, throw a few punches, and come out victorious. But I ended up facing an older, more experienced opponent. During the first round, I even started to think boxing wasn’t for me…”
Yet, he won the next two rounds. And the fight.
Photo: Virginie Assaly / EOTTM
Chapter I: For Honor
Before becoming an elite boxer, Arthur was, above all, a very proud individual.
So before aiming for the top, he wanted to settle some scores.
“I had almost a list of guys in the gym who were better than me when I started boxing, and I wanted to go back and spar with them once I got good,” he recalls with a smile.
Once that “Revenge Tour” was done, “The Wolf” got to work.
“I remember in 2012, I had just won the Canadian Junior Championship for the second time. I was watching the London Olympics on TV, and my brother said, ‘That could be you in four years.’ In my mind, at that moment, it felt so close…”
But remember, when challenged, “The Wolf” gets moving.
Photo: Virginie Assaly / EOTTM
Chapter II: The Olympic Dream
As soon as he entered the senior ranks, he qualified for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Things moved quickly after that. In 2015, he became Canadian champion, won gold at the Pan American Games, and took bronze at the Continental Championships. He also competed in his first Senior World Championship.
In 2016, he once again won the Canadian title and took gold at the Olympic Continental Qualifiers. Four years after his brother’s prediction, Arthur was on his way to Rio.
There, he lost in the second round to the eventual world title contender, Artem Harutyunyan.
“It wasn’t a great Olympic year for Canada, unfortunately. I dreamed of the gold medal. But I couldn’t see myself waiting another four years to go back. Besides, I always felt my style was better suited for professional boxing.”
Final tally: 85 wins and 13 losses, including two junior and three senior Canadian championships.
Not bad for a guy who wanted to quit in the first round of his first fight.
Photo: Virginie Assaly / EOTTM
Chapter III: Obstacles and Loyalty
It wasn’t until 2018 that Biyarslanov turned pro.
Although at first, “pro” didn’t pay much.
“My first three fights were as an independent boxer. I was getting offers, but I knew my worth, and the numbers didn’t add up,” he recalls.
“But it was tough. I’d come train in Montreal. I stayed ready to fight… but the fights didn’t come. It starts to mess with your head… and your wallet too. Honestly, if my brother hadn’t supported me, I don’t know if I could have kept going.”
It becomes even clearer when you look at the story chapter by chapter: Rustam Biyarslanov is the common denominator in Arthur’s success.
Wolves don’t travel in packs for nothing.
Photo: Virginie Assaly / EOTTM
Chapter IV: The Rise
Arthur’s patience was eventually rewarded, for a time.
Eddie Hearn and Matchroom came with a good offer—for a few fights.
Then came Probellum, which became Disrupt Promotions, which then became nothing.
Finally, in 2023, Eye of the Tiger entered the picture.
“I always told Arthur to sign with EOTTM, but at the time, Matchroom and Probellum came with almost absurd contracts you couldn’t refuse,” his trainer, Samuel Décarie-Drolet, once told me.
Since then, “The Wolf” has been making up for lost time. On February 6th, against Mohamed Mimoune, he’ll have his fifth fight in less than 11 months. The upcoming fight, like the last three, will be for the NABF super lightweight title. Already ranked 16th in the WBC’s 140 lb division, there’s no doubt that a win over the former French world champion will push him into the top 15.
And that’s just the tip of “The Wolf’s” ultimate quest.
“I know how it works. You have to wait your turn and climb the ranks one fight at a time. BUT, if you ask me, I think I’m ready. If the call came this morning, I’d fight for a world championship tonight.”
Back then, he boxed to be good. Now, he boxes for glory. What a story.
Times change, but not entirely. Rustam is still in his corner.
Photo: Virginie Assaly / EOTTM
V Facts About “The Wolf”
- Born in Dagestan, Russia, “The Wolf” moved to Azerbaijan at the age of 4 to escape war. Six years later, the Biyarslanov family settled permanently in Toronto.
- Initially trained by Marc Ramsay, Samuel Décarie-Drolet quickly took over in “The Wolf’s” corner when Ramsay signed an exclusive contract with EOTTM.
- Still based in Toronto, with his wife and their two kids he also has a full-time apartment in Montreal, where he (frequently) trains.
- Fun fact from Boxrec: in 2011, “The Wolf” won his first Canadian Junior Championship in Saint-Hyacinthe… against Steven Butler.
- In 2018, Mohamed Mimoune, “The Wolf’s” next opponent, came to Montreal for a camp to prepare for his eventual IBO world title win. They didn’t spar but trained together and know each other well.
