Sergey Viktorovich Kobozev | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | Sergey Viktorovich Kobozev July 20, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | November 8, 1995 (aged 31) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Russian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other names | Russian Bear | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stance | Orthodox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boxing record | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draws | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sergey Kobozev (Kostroma, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union; 20 July 1964 – 8 November 1995) was a Russian boxer, who challenged for the WBC Cruiserweight title in 1995. He is also known as a first boxer to defeat John Ruiz. He proved to be a tough slugger, but his career ended early after he was killed by the Russian mafia.[1]
Kobozev was the Cruiserweight Champion of the Soviet Union. After moving to the United States, he continued his undefeated career and became the International Boxing Federation Cruiserweight Champion in July 1994. He was scheduled to fight Orlin Norris on March 12, 1995, for the WBA World Cruiserweight title, but the fight didn't happen. In a bout for the WBC Cruiserweight title on October 24, 1995, he lost his title shot via a split decision. Shortly thereafter he was given another title shot opportunity at a rematch scheduled for December 13 for which he was training,[2] he also had three big matches coming up,[3] but on November 8, 1995, Kobozev was reported missing by his girlfriend Lina Cherskikh.[4][5][6] Later surfaced that Kobozev was murdered by Russian mafia after a bar scuffle at Brooklyn's Paradise Club the weekend of November 3, 1995.[1]
- ^ a b No trace of boxer. But cops eye link to scuffle by Molly Cordy, Daily News from New York, November 26, 1995, p. 26.
- ^ Missing boxer's car found by Jose Lambiet, Daily News from New York, November 14, 1995.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
McQuillanwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Soviet boxer missing, Elyria Chronicle Telegram Newspaper, November 13, 1995, p. 13.
- ^ Missing fighter's car found, Syracuse Herald Journal, November 14, 1995, p. 30.
- ^ Immigrant boxer's tale rewritten as a mystery by Ira Berkow, Detroit Free Press, November 27, 1995, Page 7D.