Kaliningrad boxer Sergey Gorokhov (16-11-2) knocked out local fighter Emirhan Kalkan (7-0) in the second round at a boxing event in Trabzon, Turkey. After celebrating his victory, Gorokhov was confronted by a civilian who appeared connected to Kalkan, leading to a physical altercation. The situation escalated when Gorokhov's cornerman Ismail pushed the man, triggering a mob attack on Gorokhov and his team in the ring. Two of Gorokhov's cornermen were hospitalized, and after treatment, the team immediately drove from Trabzon to Georgia, removing their Russian license plates for safety. Gorokhov stated approximately 50 people attacked him in the ring.
A violent post-fight incident marred a boxing event in Trabzon, Turkey on April 26, when Russian boxer Sergey Gorokhov was set upon by a large crowd inside the ring moments after scoring a knockout victory.
Gorokhov, a Kaliningrad-based fighter carrying a professional record of 16 wins, 11 losses, and 2 draws, had just stopped undefeated local prospect Emirhan Kalkan in the second round. Kalkan entered the bout with a perfect 7-0 record, and the stoppage loss came in front of what was clearly a partisan home crowd.
The trouble began during Gorokhov's post-fight celebration, when a civilian with an apparent connection to Kalkan approached and confronted him. Gorokhov's cornerman Ismail intervened and shoved the individual, and that single act set off a mass attack. Gorokhov later stated that roughly 50 people stormed the ring and assaulted him and his team.
Why it matters
- Two members of Gorokhov's corner required hospital treatment following the attack
- The team felt unsafe enough to remove their Russian license plates before making the drive from Trabzon to Georgia immediately after leaving the hospital
- The incident raises serious questions about fighter security at the event and the obligations of the local sanctioning body
The sequence of events paints a disturbing picture of a security failure at the venue. Gorokhov and his team were targeted inside the ring itself, the space that most directly falls under event organizer responsibility. The decision to strip the Russian plates from their vehicle before departing underscores how threatened the group felt even after leaving the building.
No official statement from the event promoter or Turkish boxing authorities had been reported at the time of publication.
