The investigation does not exclude personal motives in the murder of boxer Khetag Kozaev
Among the put forward versions of the murder of WBC world boxing champion Khetag Kozaev, which was committed at about two o'clock in the morning on June 13 in Vladikavkaz, there is also one that a quarrel could accidentally arise between the deceased athlete and a citizen suspected of murder directly in the premises of a karaoke club "Mirage" on Costa Avenue.
As a source close to the investigative and operational group told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, its employees do not rule out interpersonal motivation. “For each of the put forward versions, a colossal amount of work needs to be done, based on the fact that the number of visitors to the club was at least one hundred people. Any assumptions based on the information collected will certainly disappear, we will have to concentrate on the most promising version, and while a preliminary picture of what happened is being restored, and we are talking about what happened in the hall, and according to what scenario events developed on the street,” the interlocutor said.
The death of the young professional athlete occurred as a result of the use of a traumatic weapon - at least five shots were fired at Kozaev at close range, including in the head. After the crime, the criminal disappeared - his identity was established, he was put on the wanted list as part of a criminal case.
Law enforcement agencies do not specify his biography, however, it turned out that he is a native of North Ossetia, and has been living and working outside of it for the last few years (three to four years). Before the incident, he probably did not personally know the professional boxer - their first acquaintance and verbal contacts ended in tragic results.
During a conversation between a Caucasian Knot correspondent and residents of houses located near the scene of the murder, those interviewed expressed their concern about what happened. According to Alexander Kulaev, the activities of such nightclubs located in a “dormitory” area require increased attention from law enforcement officers.
“Four years ago, not far from the Mirage, there was a stationary traffic police post, but it was removed. Perhaps such a post is not needed, but this does not mean that everything should be left without control. There is a square nearby, a very busy road, but I personally don’t understand Why are there so few police if this is such a tense place,” the man said.
Another interviewee, Aslanbek Dzgoev, also drew attention to the scene of the murder, and named the low professional level of security in the night establishment as one of the reasons for what happened. “It’s completely incomprehensible how a man with a weapon walked past security, got into an argument with someone, then went outside and started shooting, even though he knows perfectly well that the club is surrounded by residential buildings.” The correspondent's interlocutor, referring to the opinion of his friends and neighbors, also noted that the club's visitors cause concern to people who are relaxing in the midst of its work.
“Someone placed red carnations and a memorial candle on the site near the Mirage, and yesterday the club was not open all day,” said another Vladikavkaz resident, Igor Polyakov. He believes that the patrons of the club, in his opinion, are the kind of people who are able to get out of any situation, and the tragedy that occurred near the “karaoke club” will not at all affect its further functioning.
“There used to be a casino here, and there were prize cars nearby, and someone tied a working grenade under one of the cars. Many policemen arrived, blocked everything, and neutralized the grenade. After all the casinos were closed, Mirage quickly got its bearings - first here there was a disco, a nightclub, and then something like karaoke,” he explained.
Khetag Kozaev last year became the world champion in super middleweight in professional boxing according to the WBC World Youth, and in April of this year he defended his title. His brother Aslan Kozaev also performs in the professional ring.
The entire domestic boxing industry still cannot recover from the shock caused by the tragic death of the rising star of the ring, the WBC junior super middleweight world champion, 19-year-old Khetag Kozaev.
Let me remind you that the young champion was shot dead on the night of June 13 in Vladikavkaz. According to investigators, the murder occurred near the Mirage club after a conflict in a karaoke bar. Presumably, Kozaev was shot from a traumatic weapon and a firearm.
The seriously wounded boxer was taken to hospital, but died in the emergency room. Based on this fact, criminal cases have been initiated under articles 105 (“Murder”) and 222 (“Illegal trafficking in firearms”). A 29-year-old resident of Vladikavkaz, who is wanted, is suspected of committing the crime.
Thus, perhaps one of the most striking biographies of Russian boxing in recent years ended unexpectedly and unfairly. Kozaev made his debut in the professional ring in 2008, then had 10 fights, winning all of them, 9 times by knockout. By the age of 19, Khetag had already managed to obtain two prestigious belts according to the World Boxing Council - junior and Baltic region.
The last time Khetag boxed was on April 24, when in Krasnoyarsk he successfully defended his WBC World Youth title in the weight of 76.2 kg. The representative of South Ossetia and the Vladikavkaz club Ariana knocked out the very strong Argentinean Victor Mujica in the second round.
Personally, I had the opportunity to work twice as a presenter at matches in Noginsk, where Khetag boxed. And every time it was a real spectacle. Fans were already going specifically to see Kozaev, and in 2009, the President of South Ossetia, Eduard Kokoity, even came to the fight. The rare talent of the middleweight surprised even seasoned specialists.
At the weigh-in after the fights, I talked a lot with Khetag personally and interviewed him. By the way, he was always with his brother, also a champion, Aslanbek Kozaev. So, what struck the eye first was some kind of adult wisdom of this young man, mature reasoning beyond his years. He paid a lot of attention to the training process and was disciplined. Here is a good example that reveals Kozaev’s character. Having defeated the very strong Belarusian Konstantin Makhankov “only” on points in Noginsk, Khetag was almost upset to tears that for the first time he could not win by knockout.
And all the young man’s friends and coaches unanimously noted his heightened sense of justice and exceptional decency. He could, without hesitation, tell the scoundrels to their faces that they were scoundrels, and stand up for the honor of an elderly man or girl.
It is possible that something similar happened at the Mirage club on that tragic night. But Khetag paid a very high price for his maximalism.
He was a real fighter...
|Direct speech
Vladimir Kushnir, Honored Coach of Ukraine: “I immediately saw a rare talent in this boy”
I met Khetag two years ago in Chelyabinsk, where we held an orientation meeting. And even earlier, my friend, Honored Trainer of Russia Gennady Savin, told me about him very enthusiastically.
In amateur boxing, Kozaev performed brilliantly, becoming the champion of Russia, Europe and the world among youth. Can you imagine?! But he didn’t make it into the senior team, so he decided to go straight to the pros. In the ring, Khetag represented South Ossetia, trained at the Ariana club (Vladikavkaz), and was under contract with the Ural Box Promotion company.
The boy arrived at the first pro training camp in Chelyabinsk with a bit of a cold and did not train at full strength, but I immediately recognized a rare talent in him. Tall (180 cm - “Sport”), agile, sharp, sensitive to distance. He was right-handed and therefore boxed in a left-sided stance, but, if necessary, right in the fight he could unexpectedly switch to a right-sided stance. This is a sign of class, and he was only 17 years old. Even then he fought selectively and improvised a lot. And then with a clear, accentuated blow he knocked out his opponent. It is no coincidence that he won nine of his ten fights ahead of schedule.
In three or four years, Kozaev would undoubtedly be world champion, and here is such a tragedy...
Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my condolences to the boxer’s family and friends and, of course, to his mentors, my good comrades - Gennady Savin, Igor Dzagoev, Vitaly Slanov.
But you know, I still don’t believe that Khetag is no longer with us. It seems to me that he went somewhere far, far away for a training camp and is preparing for a title fight.
|Rating " Sports"
A bullet knocks you out
The most notorious murders of great boxers
The most mysterious and still unsolved crime in the world of boxing. On New Year's Eve 1971, the legendary heavyweight, multiple world champion Sonny Liston was found dead in his home. There were traces of blood on his face and chest, and a .38-caliber revolver lay on the bedside table. At the same time, the official cause of Liston’s death was... a drug overdose. According to another version, it was the mafia who settled accounts with Sonny, who did not want to participate in fixed fights.
A native of Kostroma, Sergei Kobozev had a brilliant career in the pros (22 wins, 18 knockouts, only one loss). In New York, Russian Bear was preparing for a fight for the WBC cruiserweight world title, while working as a security guard in a Brooklyn restaurant. During another noisy drinking session, Kobozev stood up for the musician, whom a local brother came to investigate. A few days later, the bandits decided to take revenge on Sergei. Only four years later, the FBI discovered the remains of a boxer buried in the garden of a country house.
Vernon Forrest tragically passed away as WBC super middleweight world champion. A decorated boxer was shot dead by robbers at a gas station. Vernon was pumping up the tires of his car when two villains jumped out of an approaching car and tried to steal the champion's Jaguar. Forrest had a gun on him and began chasing the robbers. In the ensuing shootout, seven or eight bullets were fired at him, one of which hit the middleweight in the head. One and a half thousand people attended Forrest's funeral, among whom were Evander Holyfield, Antonio Tarver and many other famous boxers.
The great Argentine boxer Oscar Natalio Bonavena was shot in the chest from a powerful hunting rifle. Tragedy occurred at the notorious Mustang Ranch brothel. The trigger was pulled by a bar security guard who suspected the champion of having an affair with the owner of the establishment. The "drama in Nevada" interrupted the brilliant career of Bonavena, who made history with his epic fight against Muhammad Ali in 1970. The tragic events formed the basis of the acclaimed film “Love Ranch.”
On the emigrant street of Brighton Beach at four o'clock in the morning at the entrance to the Arbat restaurant, three-time USSR light heavyweight champion, European champion, World Championship finalist Oleg Korotaev was shot in the back of the head. During the investigation, a representative of the New York police officially stated that the act was a hired killer who did not arouse suspicion among Korotaev. Perhaps they even sat at the same table. Therefore, finding himself on a deserted avenue at night, the killer calmly took out a pistol and pulled the trigger. Korotaev was buried in Moscow at the Vagankovskoye cemetery.
29.01.2010 12:15 180 (11313)
To understand at least something in the rapid whirlwind of blows and movements that takes place in a small professional ring, you have to love boxing. To appreciate the full drama of a fleeting professional fight, you need to be able to climb into the tanned, bloody skin of a boxer and feel yourself under a hail of heavy blows in the spotlight in a public that craves blood and spectacle.
The next evening of professional boxing, held on January 27 at the Chelyabinsk restaurant “Markstadt”, was truly spectacular, but, unfortunately, also fleeting. Professional boxers once again confirmed the simple truth that in professional boxing only a knockout is valued.
In the first round, participant of the first pair of the tournament Damir Timirbaev, winner of the Chelyabinsk region championship from Magnitogorsk, literally crushed Viktor Ivanishev, champion of the Kurgan region. With a strong left blow to the side of the liver, he sent his opponent into a heavy knockdown in the first minute of the fight.
Viktor Ivanishev, who had not recovered from severe pain in the hypochondrium, continued the fight with a distorted face. But the more experienced Damir Timirbaev, having “groped the liver,” concentrated exclusively on it, unleashing a flurry of crushing side blows with his left hand on the weak spot of the already clearly doomed boxer. After the third or fourth loud blow to the body, Ivanishev fell. The fight was stopped early by technical knockout.
In the second fight, young Ossetian Aslan Tlatov, master of sports, champion of the Southern Federal District from Vladikavkaz, in the first seconds delivered several strong and accurate blows to the head of the Chelyabinsk championship winner Vadim Murzin, after which the Chelyabinsk resident literally “floated”, losing his orientation.
21-year-old resident of Tskhinvali Aslan Tlatov, who in his life, in addition to boxing fights with a machine gun in his hands, managed to defend his city from Georgian aggression in 2008, finished off his opponent with a hard and accurate right side blow to the head, sending him to “rest” in a deep knockout.
Third fight of the evening between Alexey Martynov And Kirill Artemyev turned out to be quite even and lasted all the allotted four rounds. A debutant in professional boxing, Martynov from the Southern Federal District of Russia has a serious past in amateur boxing.
Only five losses out of 60 fights. Prize-winner of the European Championship, champion of Russia.
His athletic opponent is Artemyev, the champion of Udmurtia, who has 12 professional boxing fights on his record. By unanimous decision of the judges, the victory in this fight was given to the more technical Alexey Martynov, although I personally really liked the persistent and tough Kirill Artemyev.
From the fourth fight of the tournament - between the winner of the Kazakhstan championship Viktor Izhak from the Chelyabinsk professional boxing club “Champion” and the medalist of the Kazakhstan championship Rustam Starikov, the winner of the Russian championship in Thai boxing - experts were waiting for blood, and it was shed.
Izhak, nicknamed the “hammer” for his heavy knockout blows, stubbornly hunted his opponent for all four rounds. But the debutant skillfully resisted, showing his teeth.
Knockout Izhak himself, at the end of the first round, ran into two good side left blows to the head and “floated.” But still, the champion from the “Champion” club had an undoubted advantage.
A counter straight right literally stunned Starikov, and when Victor then stopped him with a straight left, it became clear that the Thai boxer’s main task was simply to hold on and not fall. Which, however, he succeeded in doing.
Izhak’s coach Yuri Kabulov was very dissatisfied with his pupil’s fight: “If Victor had freely worked the entire fight, the result could have been better. You can't chase a knockout like that. And Starikov turned out to be a strong guy.”
In the main fight of the tournament - between the world youth champion and the Baltic champion from Tskhinvali Khetag Kozaev and the winner of the Khanty-Mansiysk District Championship Denis Balandin, - as expected from the very beginning, the “star boy” had a clear advantage. Kozaev moved well and attacked a lot.
And Balandin, it seems, “burnt out” even before the fight. At the end of the first round, Khetag Kozaev threw three accurate blows from below to the liver, spleen and jaw.
After which the Chelyabinsk resident clearly “swimmed.” It was clear from Denis’s clouded eyes that he did not see his opponent, and in order to protect his boxer from possible injuries, Yuri Kabulov wisely removed him from the fight, much to the regret of the audience who wanted to watch all six rounds of the beautiful fight.
According to the strict rules of professional boxing, Balandin can be fined for withdrawing at the very beginning of the fight. After the fight, Khetag Kozaev went into Denis Balandin’s locker room and apologized for “punching” him.
Khetag Kozaev is truly a rising star in world boxing, he has a great boxing future ahead of him. But it is no less important that the nineteen-year-old resident of Tskhinvali is simply a very good and well-educated young man who is sincerely loved and respected in the world of professional boxing.
Vladimir Filichkin.
Photo by Vyacheslav Nikulin.
A high-profile murder was committed in Vladikavkaz. World boxing champion Khetag Kozaev was killed on the night of June 12-13 near one of the city’s nightclubs. Presumably he was shot from a traumatic weapon and a firearm.
Now a criminal case has been opened into the murder of Khetag Kozaev, the investigative team is working hard, different versions are being pursued. As officially reported by the investigative department of the Investigative Committee under the Russian Prosecutor's Office for North Ossetia, a criminal case was initiated under Article 105 (murder) and Article 222 (illegal trafficking in firearms) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
The athlete was taken to the hospital, where he died in the emergency room. The causes of the crime are currently being established. All necessary examinations are being carried out to establish the circumstances of the murder.
As the SP correspondent learned, two main versions of the crime are being worked out. According to the first version, the murder was ordered. The second version is that Kozaev had an argument with someone in a nightclub, went outside to deal with the offenders and was killed.
Khetag Kozaev last year became the world champion in super middleweight in professional boxing according to the WBC World Youth. In April of this year he successfully defended his title. By the way, his brother Aslan Kozaev also performs in the professional ring.
Our regular expert commented on the murder of the world champion to the SP correspondent, Honored Boxing Trainer of Russia Andrey Fedotov.
“SP”: — What can you say about this tragic incident?
“Unfortunately, recently, more and more athletes are getting into some unpleasant or tragic stories. Let's take Roman Romanchuk, who was tried for murder. Or the world champion in Thai boxing Muslim Abdullaev, who was killed last December...
“SP”: — Perhaps there are problems with contracts for fights?
— In the rather narrow world of professional boxing, people don’t kill because of problems, no matter what they are. There are other ways of influence. Moreover, no one had heard about any problems Kozaev had with concluding a contract for this or that fight.
“SP”: — Do you think the version about some kind of criminal showdown has a right to life?
- Don't think. Usually, athletes who have already completed their careers end up in criminal groups. And Kozaev was an active boxer. He had a lot of fights, a lot of training. I think he had no time for the criminal world.
“SP”: — What is your opinion about Khetag Kozaev as a boxer?
“He was a very gifted athlete. I would even say that he would be talented. In the ring he was distinguished by his speed, predicted his opponent’s actions well, and understood boxing.
“SP”: — Have you seen him live in the ring?
- Yes, and he left a very pleasant impression of himself. Yes, and talked to him a little. He was a good guy, cheerful...
“SP”: — You rejected the versions of criminal showdowns. What then could have happened?
“The investigation will answer this question.” As for me, I think there was just some kind of quarrel. Look. The guy went to a nightclub. Maybe someone pestered him there, maybe he wasn’t very polite to someone... In any case, there was a serious quarrel. Because no one will just start shooting. And it’s terrible that our population has so many weapons in their hands! Traumatic pistols should be banned altogether. How many murders have been committed with their help...
“SP”: Will this murder be solved?
- Let's hope so. Because if this crime remains unsolved, then it’s terrible.
In recent years, world champions in various combat sports, such as boxing and wrestling, have found themselves in unpleasant and tragic stories.
So, late in the evening of December 24, 2009, near Timiryazevsky Park in the north of Moscow, he was shot dead world champion Muslim Abdullaev. The murder, as the investigation established, was of a contract nature.
Unidentified persons shot Abdullaev 12 times in the head. Despite the fact that Timiryazevsky Park is a deserted place at this time, passers-by heard shots and called “02”.
The police promptly arrived when called. Shell casings, a black cloth holster and two backpacks with sportswear were found at the murder scene. Muslim Abdullaev was returning from training at the Nauka stadium.
And a very extravagant incident happened a year ago. During a special operation in Nalchik he was killed world champion in combat sambo Murat Ristov. His body was found along with the remains of other eliminated militants.
“Among the militants killed during the special operation in Nalchik, according to preliminary data, was 25-year-old native of Karachay-Cherkessia Murat Ristov, who was the world champion in combat sambo,” said an official statement from the law enforcement agencies of Kabardino-Balkaria.
That operation against militants began at night. Armed attackers were hiding in one of the apartments of a four-story residential building on Mechnikov Street in Nalchik. Law enforcement officers evacuated people from the building in advance, and only after that they launched an assault. During the shootout, several militants were killed, and two special forces soldiers were injured. It only became clear later that the champion, who had been competing in competitions a few months before the shootout, was a fighter...