Kaliningrad boxer Sergey Gorokhov and his team were violently attacked by a crowd in Turkey following his second-round knockout victory over local fighter Emirhan Kalkan. The incident began when Gorokhov celebrated his win and was confronted by a man in civilian clothes, believed to be connected to Kalkan. After Gorokhov's cornerman Ismail pushed the man, a mob rushed into the ring and assaulted Gorokhov and his entire team. Two of Gorokhov's cornermen, including Ismail, required hospitalization. Following medical treatment, the team immediately drove from Trabzon to Georgia, removing their Russian license plates for safety. They successfully reached Georgia without further incident.
Russian boxer Sergey Gorokhov and his corner team were violently attacked by a mob inside the ring in Turkey following his second-round knockout victory over local fighter Emirhan Kalkan on April 26, 2026.
The trouble started moments after Gorokhov, who represents Kaliningrad, celebrated his win. A man in civilian clothes, believed to have ties to Kalkan, confronted Gorokhov in the ring. When one of Gorokhov's cornermen, Ismail, stepped in and pushed the man back, a large crowd stormed the ring and assaulted Gorokhov and every member of his team.
The attack left two of Gorokhov's cornermen requiring hospital treatment, including Ismail. The severity of the violence forced the team to seek immediate medical attention before they could leave the city of Trabzon.
Why it matters
- The incident raises serious concerns about fighter and team safety at combat sports events in the region.
- Two members of Gorokhov's corner required hospitalization, pointing to the scale and severity of the mob assault.
- The team's decision to remove their Russian license plates before the drive to Georgia underscores the security fears they faced even after leaving the venue.
Following medical treatment, Gorokhov and his team departed Trabzon by road for Georgia, removing their Russian license plates along the way as a precautionary measure. According to reports, the group crossed into Georgia without encountering any further trouble.
No information was immediately available regarding arrests or any official response from Turkish athletic or law enforcement authorities in connection with the attack.
