World boxing champion linked to criminal organization

Boxer Avtandil Khurtsidze, 38 years old, from Georgia, holding the World Boxing Organization (WBO) middleweight championship belt, has just been arrested by New York police, USA on charges of being involved in a notorious criminal organization.

Involved in organized crime, boxer Avtandil Khurtsidze's sports career will end. Photo: AFP

In addition to Khurtsidze, 33 other people believed to be senior members of an organized Russian criminal gang were also arrested in a recent raid by New York City police.

Khurtsidze's match organizer, Lou DiBella, also confirmed the incident, adding that the boxer is currently unable to leave the United States.

In announcing the arrests, prosecutors said those arrested were members of a criminal gang being investigated for attempted murder, protection racketeering, organized theft of large quantities of goods and fraud in gambling activities…

It is still unclear what role Khurtsidze played in the criminal organization that was recently exposed. However, his sports career is about to end.

In April this year, boxer Khurtsidze had a match at Leicester Arena in Leicester City, England and won by technical knockout against boxer Tommy Langford (England) in the 5th round to retain the WBO belt and win the right to compete with another British boxer, Billy Joe Saunders, who has set a date and time for the match on July 8 in London to defend the WBO belt.

However, with his arrest and inability to leave the United States, Khurtsidze was unable to travel to London to fight Billy Joe Saunders, so the match was canceled.

During his career, boxer Khurtsidze fought 37 times, winning 33 times (22 wins by knockout), losing 2 times (1 loss by knockout) and drawing 2 times.

According to TNO