Artem Valeryevich Levin (born December 8, 1986), also known as Artem “The Lion” Levin, is a Russian light heavyweight Muay Thai kickboxer fighting out of Prokopyevsk. He is the current World Muay Thai Council (WMC) Intercontinental and EMF European Muay Thai champion. As of 11 May 2015, Levin is ranked the #1 middleweight in the world by LiverKick.com. He is also the current Glory Middleweight Champion.
Artem is also captain of the Russian National Muaythai Team and holds an incredible record of 88 wins out of 97 total fights, 43 of which with a KO.
Artem joined our network and talked to us about career topics, what it takes to be a champion and what is the mindset of a winner.

When did u start with kick boxing and what was your relation with sports in general at a young age?” Why you chose this sport?

Firstly, I started and I am doing muaythai. I came to muaythai gym at age of 10. When I’ve been young my brothers told me, that I should go in for boxing and I should become a champion. The idea had been so in deep my mind, that I couldn’t imagine another way for myself. When I was 10 my cousin told me that there is a muaythai gym in this town, and Prokopyevsk fighters have significant results in it the sport, World and European medalists. Boxing gyms in my hometown had no that high results. So I’ve joined muaythai gym in the last day and by now I’ve got no regret I did it.

Which one is the most important element for a figher, beyond the physical and body attributes, that makes him stand out and have good chances to make it to the pros?”

To believe in yourself. To be maximalist. To set the highest aim. To believe in your goal. To keep the faith even when it’s hard and no one believes in you.

At what age did you start looking for an agent and how much he helped you with your career so far? How important is for an athlete?

I began working with manager since 18, when I’ve started professional career. Manager’s role means a lot especially at the early period. It’s easy to ruin fighter’s career. Manager has a task to take a fighter on the needed level , to make a sober estimate of his assets and to let a fighter earn.

You have managed to be in the elite group of the best kick boxers globally all those years. How does this feel? How much hard work it hides behind this in order to stand out from the thousands of kids trying to compete on your level?

I don’t consider that I achieved my aims. I set goals, I succeed, but my main target is ahead. And I will reach it. Spectators and fighting fans mostly don’t know what is behind those 20 minutes in the ring. hours of training, liters of sweat, sometimes tears. But fans should not see that. Everything champion makes is nice and flawless. The real fighter leaves the gym last.

Which one you believe that is the most demanding/ tougher training part for a kick boxing athlete? Working on form, Conditioning, drills, technique, any other?

I can speak only for myself. It’s the conditioning peak. The middle of the sparring period, when your physical resources are about to end, you have to take volitional powers. And if someone is cutting weight than the last days are the hardest.

Off season! How you spend it normally? How much time you put on personal work?

Everybody understands personal work In his own manner. Physical maintenance, skills improvement or personal perfection – I try to work 24/7, I use every minute, every moment to be better. You never stop learning.

What was the experience you had joining our network: www.championsid.com? How you find this effort?

I received an invitation to join it. And found it interesting to create a profile to help my sport and make it even more popular and to engage more people to a healthy lifestyle. Definitely, I like it.

As a last question we want to ask you, now that you made your profile on our network, what will be the 1st video of you that you will post, which best describes you as a fighter for wihci you are mostly proud of!?

It won’t be any specific fight video. My friends made several highlight videos. Few minutes rich with moments that fans like the most. I’m sure it will fit best.