How Russian orphan Andrei Mikhailovich overcame drug and alcohol abuse as a child to fight for a world title on Australian soil

Russian Kiwi Andrei Mikhailovich could easily be dead – abandoned at 18 months old, and an addict barely a decade later. Instead, he has defied incredible odds to fight for a world title.

He has the Russian DNA of Tim Tszyu, steeled by a stone-cold Soviet Union story that would even bring a tear to the eye of the great Kostya.

On Friday night in Sydney, Russian Kiwi Andrei Mikhailovich will have Tszyu’s Aussie stable in his corner when he takes on Kazakhstan king Janibek Alimkhanuly for the IBF middleweight world title at The Star.

It’s the biggest test of his career. How on earth Mikhailovich made it this far is beyond belief.

A Russian orphan at 18 months old and drug addict at 12, the St Petersburg slugger’s life story makes Kostya Tszyu’s upbringing in flint-hard Serov look like a Soviet fairytale.

“I don’t know my biological parents. I have come from the bottom of mankind,” says Mikhailovich, the Auckland-based pugilist who has been signed by Tim Tszyu’s Australian promoters No Limit.

Russian orphan Andrei Mikhailovich has joined Tim Tszyu’s Australian promotional stable. Picture: Matthew Poon.

“Me and my twin brother (Nikolai) were adopted from an orphanage in St Petersburg when we were babies and brought to New Zealand.

“I know nothing about my real parents.

“My adopted parents, Paula and Marcel, are just fantastic people, we’re very close, but I came into this world alone and in the ring, I’m ready to go to the summit alone.”

With his blond hair and blue eyes, Mikhailovich, now 26, could easily pass for an Aussie surfer.

And he has trans-Tasman support in his corner, with former Australian Olympian Paulo Aokuso serving as a sparring partner in Mikhailovich’s quest to shock the unbeaten Alimkhanuly.

It shapes as world boxing’s Mission Impossible. While Mikhailovich (21-0, 13KO) also possesses a perfect record, juggernaut Janibek (15-0, 10KO) is regarded as one of the most lethal pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

But nothing in the ring can intimidate Mikhailovich given what he has seen outside of it.

He was scarred by bullying and when a bigger kid once put out a cigarette by stubbing it in Mikhailovich’s chest, he took up boxing for protection.

Andrei Mikhailovich drops rival Les Sherrington (black trunks) in his most recent fight in April. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Schoolyard fights spiralled. Before he reached his teens, Mikhailovich was having counselling for drug and alcohol abuse.

“Rock bottom was when my mum found me f***ing huffing a fuel can and I ended up unconscious over it,” he recalls.

“That’s not the type of stuff you should be doing at 13.

“I was getting in fights at school and there’s so many battle stories and scars that I’ve got.

“I have videos of the first time me and my twin met mum and dad and when we watch it, it’s always emotional.

“I’ve always felt different to my peers.”

Mikhailovich’s streetfighting instinct has been softened by the joys of fatherhood. He has two young sons, Tarrintino and Arturo, to Vanuatu-born wife Ursh, whom he met in 2018 and married in 2021.

“I’ve got two kids to raise and I’m trying to teach them to be good, moral respectful young men,” he said.

“When I’m at home, I’m a loving dad. When I’m in the ring, I’m like a ruthless killer. You can’t mix and merge the two worlds. I keep them as separate as possible.

Mikhailovich (left) says he has come from the “bottom of mankind” to make his world-title debut. Picture: Toby Zerna

“The adoption and pain has brought me so much fire and fury. It comes from a point of hate in my heart. Being an orphan is the deepest, darkest fuel I could have and it works for me when I hop in the ring.”

Aussie bookmakers have written off Mikhailovich. He is a $7.50 outsider, but it’s just the way he likes it. The Russian is used to being outside in the cold, seemingly bereft of hope.

“Janibek has been made out to be Godzilla but I’ve been through a lot worse,” he said.

“I’d like to think my story — fighting for a world title — gives some hope to foster children and adoptees around the world.

“In my heart, I’m already a world champion. I’m ready to die for this moment and I’ll kill if I have to.

“Victory over Janibek will be a case of me filling my prophecy.”

Originally published as How Russian orphan Andrei Mikhailovich overcame drug and alcohol abuse as a child to fight for a world title on Australian soil