Sergey Gorokhov (16-11-2) knocked out Turkish boxer Emirhan Kalkan (7-0) in the second round in Trabzon, Turkey, scoring a knockdown in round one before finishing the fight. After celebrating his victory, Gorokhov was confronted by a man in civilian clothes connected to Kalkan, leading to an altercation when Gorokhov's cornerman Ismael pushed the man. A crowd then stormed the ring and attacked Gorokhov and his team. Ismael and another cornerman were taken to the hospital for treatment. After being released, the team immediately drove from Trabzon to Georgia, removing their Russian license plates for safety, and successfully reached Georgia. The incident has been widely circulated on social media with multiple videos showing the knockdown, knockout, and subsequent brawl.
A post-fight celebration turned violent in Trabzon, Turkey, on April 26 after Russian boxer Sergey Gorokhov stopped undefeated local fighter Emirhan Kalkan in the second round, prompting a crowd to storm the ring and attack Gorokhov and his corner team.
Gorokhov, who carries a professional record of 16 wins, 11 losses, and 2 draws, dropped Kalkan in the opening round before finishing the fight in the second. Kalkan had entered the bout undefeated at 7-0.
The trouble began immediately after the final stoppage. A man in civilian clothes with reported ties to Kalkan's camp approached Gorokhov during the post-fight celebration. When Gorokhov's cornerman Ismael stepped in and pushed the man back, the confrontation escalated rapidly. A large crowd then rushed into the ring and set upon Gorokhov and his team. Ismael and a second cornerman sustained injuries serious enough to require hospital treatment.
Once the two cornermen were released from the hospital, the team wasted no time leaving the city. According to accounts circulating online, they removed their Russian license plates before driving from Trabzon to the Georgian border, citing safety concerns, and successfully crossed into Georgia.
Why it matters
- The incident highlights the security risks visiting fighters can face when competing in front of a partisan home crowd.
- Multiple videos capturing the knockdown, the knockout, and the subsequent ring invasion have spread widely on social media, drawing significant international attention.
- The removal of Russian license plates before the drive to Georgia underscores the perceived level of danger the team felt even after leaving the venue.
Neither boxing's governing bodies nor Turkish sporting authorities have issued a public statement regarding the attack based on currently available information.
