1. Early Life and Education
Petar Lesov was born on 12 September 1960 in Rakovski, a town in the Plovdiv region of Bulgaria. He received his basic education at the Hristo Botev School and the Plovdiv Vehicle Transport School, both located in Plovdiv. At the age of 14, Lesov began his boxing journey. He joined the youth team of Lokomotiv Plovdiv, a sports club affiliated with the Bulgarian State Railways, where he trained under the guidance of coach Lyuben Gazev. By 1974, he had progressed to actively participate with Lokomotiv Plovdiv's senior team.
2. Amateur Career
Lesov's amateur boxing career was extensive and highly successful, marked by numerous national and international achievements, including an Olympic gold medal and multiple European championships.
2.1. Club Activities and National Team Career
After starting his career with Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Petar Lesov was first selected to represent Bulgaria as a national team member in 1978. In 1979, he made a significant move to CSKA Sofia, which is considered Bulgaria's most prestigious sports club, further solidifying his position in the national boxing scene.
2.2. Major Tournament Achievements
Lesov achieved significant success in various international and domestic boxing tournaments throughout his amateur career, culminating in Olympic and European titles.
2.2.1. Olympic Games
Petar Lesov participated in the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow, Soviet Union, competing in the flyweight division. His path to the gold medal involved a series of dominant performances:
- In the Round of 32, he defeated Onofre Ramírez of Nicaragua by a unanimous 5-0 decision.
- He advanced to the Round of 16, where he again secured a 5-0 decision victory over Hassen Sherif of Ethiopia.
- In the Quarterfinal, Lesov faced Gilberto Roman of Mexico, winning by a 4-1 decision.
- His Semifinal bout against Hugh Russell of Ireland also resulted in a decisive 5-0 victory.
- In the Final, Lesov competed against Viktor Miroshnichenko of the host nation, the Soviet Union. He won the gold medal after defeating Miroshnichenko by a second-round TKO (technical knockout).
2.2.2. European Championships
Lesov demonstrated his dominance in the flyweight category at the European level, securing two gold medals:
- In May 1981, he competed at the 1981 European Amateur Boxing Championships in Tampere, Finland. He won the gold medal by defeating Constantin Titoiu of Romania in the final.
- In May 1983, he participated in the 1983 European Amateur Boxing Championships held in his home country, Varna, Bulgaria. Lesov once again claimed the gold medal, this time by defeating János Váradi of Hungary.
2.2.3. Other International Tournaments
Beyond the Olympics and European Championships, Lesov had a strong record in other significant competitions:
- In March 1978, he won the Stranja Cup, a regular international boxing tournament held in Bulgaria, by defeating Václav Horňák of Czechoslovakia.
- In April 1978, he secured a gold medal at the Balkan Junior Championships in Slavonski Brod, Yugoslavia, overcoming Dumitru Schiopu of Romania.
- In July 1979, he took home a silver medal at the Balkan Championships in Tulcea, Romania, finishing behind Daniel Radu of Romania.
- In December 1979, Lesov achieved a gold medal at the 1979 World Junior Boxing Championships in Yokohama, Japan, where he defeated Nathan Mattos of the United States.
- In November 1981, he earned a silver medal at the Boxing World Cup held in Montreal, Canada, placing second to Omar Santiesteban of Cuba.
- In March 1983, he won a silver medal at the Stranja Cup, finishing behind his national teammate Nedelcho Dichev.
- In October 1983, he received a bronze medal at the Boxing World Cup in Rome, Italy, placing behind Pedro Orlando Reyes of Cuba and Heo Yeong-mo of South Korea.
- In March 1984, he won the Stranja Cup, defeating Julio González of Cuba.
3. Professional Career
After his highly successful amateur career, Lesov briefly transitioned to professional boxing in 1991. However, his professional stint was short-lived and without significant success. He retired in 1992 with a professional record of 0 wins, 5 losses, and 0 draws, with all five defeats coming by way of knockout or technical knockout. His professional losses included a bout against journeyman Wilson Rodriguez.
4. Coaching Career
Following his retirement from professional boxing, Petar Lesov dedicated himself to a successful coaching career. From 1985 to 1989, he served as a coach for the boxing department of CSKA Sofia, the club where he had previously competed as an amateur. He is credited with developing several prominent Bulgarian boxers, notably including Detelin Dalakliev. In 2005, Lesov took on the role of head coach for CSKA Sofia's boxing team. His contributions to Bulgarian boxing extended to the national level when he was appointed to coach the Bulgarian national boxing team, a position he held from 2007 to 2011. In recognition of his significant impact and achievements as a coach, Petar Lesov was honored as the "Bulgarian Sports Coach of the Year" in 2009.
5. Assessment
Petar Lesov is widely regarded as one of Bulgaria's most accomplished amateur boxers, highlighted by his Olympic gold medal and two European championships in the flyweight division. His disciplined approach and consistent performance at major international tournaments solidified his status as a national sporting hero. Beyond his competitive career, Lesov has made substantial contributions to Bulgarian boxing through his extensive coaching career. By nurturing new talent and leading both club and national teams, he has played a vital role in the development and continued success of the sport in Bulgaria.