Avtandil Khurtsidze

Avtandil Khurtsidze (Georgian: ავთანდილ ხურციძე; born 2 May 1979) is a Georgian former professional boxer who competed from 2002 to 2017. He held the WBO interim middleweight title in 2017 and won the IBO middleweight tile in 2011. He also challenged for the interim WBA middleweight title in 2010.[1]

Avtandil Khurtsidze
Statistics
Nickname(s)Tazman
Weight(s)Middleweight
Height1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Reach185 cm (73 in)
NationalityGeorgian
Born (1979-05-02) 2 May 1979
Kutaisi, Georgia
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights37
Wins33
Wins by KO22
Losses2
Draws2

Professional career

Khurtsidze vs. Saunders and cancellation

In early February 2017, mandatory challenger Khurtsidze took a 'step-a-side' fee to allow Billy Joe Saunders to pursue a bigger fight.[2] On 28 February, it was announced that Khurtsidze would fight British boxer Tommy Langford for the vacant interim WBO title in April.[3]

After retaining his belts against Jacobs, Gennady Golovkin stated that he wanted to unify the middleweight division and hold all the available belts. Golovkin said, "My goal is all the belts in the middleweight division. Of course, Billy Joe is the last one. It is my dream." Rumours suggested that the fight was expected to take place in Golovkin's home country, Kazakhstan, in June, during the EXPO 2017.[4] On 20 March, Golovkin said that he would fight Saunders in Kazakhstan or the O2 Arena in London.[5]

Saunders wrote on social media that despite not having seen Golovkin's fight with Jacobs, he was ready to fight him.[6] Saunders claimed to have signed the contract and gave Golovkin a deadline to sign his.[7] On 29 March, Frank Warren also stated that Golovkin would have ten days to sign for the fight.[8] Saunders later claimed to have moved on from Golovkin, until Warren said the deal was still in place.[9] Over the next week, Saunders continued to insult Golovkin through social media.[10] On 7 April, Warren told iFL TV that Golovkin had a hand injury, which was the reason the fight had not been made. In the interview, he said, "At the moment, they’re saying that Golovkin’s injured. So we’re waiting to see where this is all going. But as far as I’m concerned, we agreed [to] terms." It was also noted that he would wait until 6 May, for any updates.[11] On 11 April, it was reported that the fight would not take place; Golovkin ultimately fought Canelo Alvarez, in September 2017.[12]

On 22 April 2017, Khurtsidze knocked Langford out in round 5 with a left hook to secure his next fight against Saunders.[13] A day later the fight between Saunders and Khurtsidze was announced as taking place at the Copper Box in London on 8 July 2017.[14] On 8 June, Khurtsidze was arrested in New York along with 32 others, linking him in a Russian and Georgian crime syndicate. Racketeer charges and conspiracy to commit fraud were the two alleged charges, promoter Lou DiBella said that, while the fight would not be completely called off, it would be postponed.[15][16] Due to the fight being a mandatory defence, Saunders's promoter, Frank Warren, said that he was unable to make a voluntary defence and would be taken off the card.[17]

RICO indictment

On June 8, 2017, prosecutors from the US District Court for the Southern District of New York indicted Khurtsidze on charges of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a Russian organised crime syndicate operating in the New York City area. According to the indictment, Khurtsidze is alleged to have paid $17,800 for three cases of purportedly stolen cigarettes.[18][19]

In 2018, Khurtsidze was convicted of racketeering and wire fraud conspiracy and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment.[20]

Professional boxing record
37 fights, 33 wins (22 knockouts), 2 losses (1 knockout), 2 draws
Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
Win 33-2-2 Tommy Langford TKO 5 (12), 0:27 2017-04-22 Leicester Arena, Leicester, Leicestershire Won interim WBO Middleweight title.
Win 32-2-2 Antoine Douglas TKO 10 (10), 0:33 2016-03-05 Sands Bethlehem Event Center, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Won WBO International Middleweight title.
Win 31-2-2 Melvin Betancourt TKO 1 (8), 2:22 2015-08-07 Bally's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win 30-2-2 Phillip Penson TKO 4 (8), 1:00 2015-02-20 Hilton Westchester, Rye Brook, New York
Win 29-2-2 Eddie Hunter TKO 5 (8), 2:13 2014-10-30 Florentine Gardens, Hollywood, California
Win 28-2-2 Allen Conyers TKO 1 (8), 1:23 2014-07-23 BB King Blues Club & Grill, New York City
Win 27-2-2 Ossie Duran MD 12 2011-12-18 Sport Palace Yunost, Zaporozhye Won vacant WBC Silver Middleweight title.
Win 26-2-2 Jason LeHoullier TKO 2 (10), 2:37 2011-10-03 Sports Complex "Freestyle", Kiev
Win 25-2-2 Dionisio Miranda KO 1 (12), 2:37 2011-06-11 Sport Palace, Kiev Retained IBO Middleweight title.
Win 24-2-2 Mariusz Cendrowski UD 12 2011-03-13 Sport Palace, Tbilisi Won vacant IBO Middleweight title.
Loss 23-2-2 Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam UD 12 2010-10-30 Palais des Sports Porte de Versailles, Paris XV, Paris For interim WBA Middleweight title.
Win 23-1-2 Sergey Khomitsky RTD 6 (10), 3:00 2010-07-31 Club Reaktor, Minsk
Win 22-1-2 Mihaly Kotai TD 8 (12) 2010-05-21 Sports Complex "Freestyle", Kiev
Win 21-1-2 Kuvanych Toygonbayev TD 8 (12) 2009-11-20 Budivelnik, Cherkasy Retained WBA Inter-Continental and EBA Middleweight title.
Win 20-1-2 Jamel Bakhi RTD 5 (12), 3:00 2009-07-18 Sportpalace, Odessa Retained WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight title.
Win 19-1-2 Attila Kovacs MD 12 2009-03-28 Budivelnik, Cherkasy Retained WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight title.
Win 18-1-2 Antonio Valentin Ochoa UD 12 2008-09-27 Sport Palace, Kiev Retained WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight title.
Win 17-1-2 Javier Alberto Mamani MD 12 2008-07-05 Sportpalace, Odessa Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental Middleweight title.
Win 16-1-2 Ferenc Olah TKO 2 (10) 2008-05-17 Sportpalace Lokomotiv, Kharkov
Win 15-1-2 Jurijs Boreiko TKO 4 (12) 2008-03-23 Sportpalace Meteor, Dnipropetrovsk Won vacant EBA (extinct) Middleweight title.
Win 14-1-2 Tagir Rzaev TKO 2 (8) 2008-02-21 Sport Palace, Kiev
Win 13-1-2 Volodymyr Borovskyy UD 8 2007-11-17 SC Voskhod, Kiev
Win 12-1-2 Ruslan Semenov TKO 5 (8) 2007-09-13 Sport Palace, Kiev
Win 11-1-2 Maksym Velychko UD 6 2007-07-14 Ukrainian House, Kiev
Win 10-1-2 Taras Boyko RTD 5 (8), 3:00 2007-06-09 Sport Palace, Kiev
Win 9-1-2 Denis Balandin TKO 6 (6) 2007-04-26 SC Voskhod, Kiev
Win 8-1-2 Serhiy Petryk TKO 3 (4) 2007-02-27 Sport Palace, Kiev
Loss 7-1-2 Tony Marshall TKO 7 (8), 1:33 2005-05-13 Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, Saratoga Springs, New York
Win 7-0-2 Calvin Shakir TKO 3 (6), 2:45 2005-03-18 New Alhambra, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 6-0-2 Chris Hall UD 6 2005-01-28 Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Draw 5-0-2 Carlos Antonio Escobar PTS 6 2004-11-12 New Alhambra, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 5-0-1 Leo Edwards TKO 6 (6), 2:17 2004-10-15 New Alhambra, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 4-0-1 Fred Drayton TKO 1 (4) 2004-07-16 Hampton Beach Casino, Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
Win 3-0-1 Jon Gaddis UD 4 2004-06-18 New Alhambra, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Draw 2-0-1 Orazio Robinson PTS 4 2004-04-08 Wyndham Inner Harbor Hotel, Glen Burnie, Maryland
Win 2-0 Kenny Kingsley TKO 1 (4), 0:54 2004-02-20 Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win 1-0 George Kanchaveli TKO 3 (4) 2002-10-11 Sport Hall, Variani
gollark: I should add dice support to <@509849474647064576>.
gollark: VOOOOOOOTE!
gollark: But it shouldn't cause sane people to leave …
gollark: I think it's unjustified.
gollark: Neither?

References
  1. "Avtandil Khurtsidze". boxrec.com. December 25, 2015.
  2. "Khurtsidze expected to take step-aside money for Saunders - The Ring". The Ring. 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
  3. "Khurtsidze vs. Langford set for interim title". Bad Left Hook. 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
  4. "Golovkin: Billy Joe Saunders is The Last One, It is My Dream! - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  5. "Billy Joe Saunders could fight Gennady Golovkin in London". Evening Standard. 2017-03-20. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  6. ""I'm ready!" – Saunders wants Golovkin unification". www.boxnation.com. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  7. Ltd, Vitalnetwork. "Vital Boxing | Saunders Gives Golovkin a Deadline". www.vitalboxing.com. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  8. "Frank Warren Hits Golovkin With Deadline To Ink Saunders Deal - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  9. "Saunders' Promoter: We Have NOT Moved On From Golovkin - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  10. BoxingNewsAndViews (2017-04-03). "Billy Joe Saunders T-Shirt Message For Gennady Golovkin - Boxing News". Boxing News and Views. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  11. "Warren: Golovkin Injury Holding Up Getting GGG-Saunders Done - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  12. "Report: Gennady Golovkin to skip June return and focus on Canelo Alvarez". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  13. "Tommy Langford beaten as Avtandil Khurtsidze sets up Billy Joe Saunders bout". BBC Sport. 2017-04-22. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
  14. "Billy Joe Saunders vs. Avtandil Khurtsidze on July 8, Copper Box - Boxing News". www.boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
  15. "Avtandil Khurtsidze indicted on racketeering charges - The Ring". The Ring. 2017-06-08. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
  16. "Billy Joe Saunders bout cancelled after Avtandil Khurtsidze arrest". BBC Sport. 2017-06-08. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
  17. "SAUNDERS V KHURTSIDZE UPDATE". Frank Warren. 2017-06-09. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
  18. "Members And Associates Of Russian Crime Syndicate Arrested For Racketeering, Extortion, Robbery, Murder-For-Hire Conspiracy, Fraud, Narcotics, And Firearms Offenses". www.justice.gov. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
  19. "Boxer Avtandil Khurtsidze indicted on federal racketeering, fraud charges". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
  20. "Avtandil Khurtsidze: Former boxing champion jailed for 10 years". BBC. 2018-09-07. Retrieved 2019-05-05.
International championships
Vacant
Title last held by
Sebastian Sylvester		 WBA Middleweight Champion
Inter-Continental title
July 5, 2008 – October 30, 2010
Lost bid for interim world title 		Vacant
Title next held by
Martin Murray
Preceded by
Antione Douglas		 WBO International Middleweight Champion
March 5, 2016 – April 22, 2017
Won interim world title		 Vacant
Title next held by
Artur Akavov
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam		 WBO Middleweight Interim Champion
April 22, 2017 – June 14, 2017
Stripped		 Vacant
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