Kaliningrad boxer Sergey Gorokhov (17-11-2) was attacked by a crowd immediately after knocking out local fighter Emirhan Kalkan (7-1) in the second round in Trabzon, Turkey. After celebrating his victory, Gorokhov was confronted by a man in civilian clothes who appeared connected to Kalkan. When Gorokhov's cornerman Ismail pushed the man, a mob rushed into the ring and attacked Gorokhov and his team. Two cornermen were hospitalized, and after treatment the team immediately drove from Trabzon to Georgia, removing their Russian license plates for safety. Video footage shows Gorokhov scoring a knockdown in the first round before finishing Kalkan in the second, followed by the chaotic ring invasion.
A Russian boxing team was attacked by a mob in Turkey following a professional bout on April 26, after Sergey Gorokhov of Kaliningrad scored a second-round knockout victory over local fighter Emirhan Kalkan in the city of Trabzon.
Gorokhov, who carries a professional record of 17 wins, 11 losses, and 2 draws, stopped Kalkan — who entered the fight at 7-1 — in the second round. Video footage from the event shows Gorokhov scoring a knockdown in the opening round before finishing the fight moments into the second.
The violence began almost immediately after the final blow landed. A man in civilian clothes, believed to have connections to Kalkan, approached Gorokhov during his post-fight celebration. When one of Gorokhov's cornermen, identified as Ismail, stepped in and shoved the man back, a large crowd surged into the ring and overwhelmed the visiting team. The attack was swift and chaotic, with multiple members of Gorokhov's corner targeted.
Why it matters
- Two of Gorokhov's cornermen required hospital treatment following the assault
- The team departed Trabzon for Georgia immediately after being discharged, removing their Russian license plates from their vehicle out of concern for their safety during the journey
- The incident raises serious questions about fighter and corner security at professional boxing events in the region
The circumstances underscore the vulnerability of visiting teams when events are held on an opponent's home ground without adequate security measures in place. The decision by Gorokhov's team to remove identifying markers from their vehicle before crossing into Georgia reflects the level of threat they believed they faced in the aftermath of the incident.
