Russian boxer Sergey Gorokhov was attacked by a mob inside the ring in Turkey after knocking out local fighter Emirhan Kalkan in the second round. Gorokhov, who improved to 17-11-2, had scored a knockdown in the first round before finishing the fight in the second. After celebrating his victory, a man in civilian clothes approached and shouted at Gorokhov, leading to pushing and shoving. When Gorokhov's cornerman Ismail pushed the man, approximately 50 people stormed the ring and attacked Gorokhov and his team. Ismail and another cornerman were taken to the hospital, and the team immediately drove from Trabzon to Georgia, removing their Russian license plates for safety. All are reported to be okay.
A Russian boxer was mobbed inside the ring in Trabzon, Turkey, after recording a second-round knockout victory over a local opponent in a scene that quickly turned violent and forced his team to flee the country.
Sergey Gorokhov, who carries a professional record of 17 wins, 11 losses, and 2 draws, defeated Turkish fighter Emirhan Kalkan by stoppage in the second round. Gorokhov had established his dominance early, scoring a knockdown in the first round before finishing the fight in the second.
The trouble began immediately after Gorokhov celebrated the win. A man in civilian clothes entered the ring, approached Gorokhov, and began shouting at him. Pushing and shoving broke out, and when one of Gorokhov's cornermen, identified as Ismail, intervened and shoved the man back, the situation collapsed rapidly. Approximately 50 people stormed the ring and attacked Gorokhov and members of his corner team.
Two cornermen, including Ismail, were transported to the hospital following the assault. Gorokhov and his team did not wait for further developments. The group departed Trabzon immediately, driving overland to Georgia, and removed their Russian license plates from their vehicle during the journey as a precautionary safety measure.
Why it matters
- The incident highlights the serious security risks professional fighters and their teams can face when competing in hostile environments abroad.
- Both cornermen who were hospitalized are reported to have escaped without life-threatening injuries, and the entire team is said to be okay.
- The removal of Russian license plates during the escape underscores how quickly the situation was perceived as a threat extending beyond the arena itself.
