Just a few days ago, 29-year-old Shamil Khataev announced the biggest fight of his career.
Today (November 20), the middleweight from Chechnya has announced that he must hang up his gloves due to the worsening of a severe eye condition.
“I had the passion, the strength, and the will to become a great champion,” he said, “but the doctor told me I risked losing my sight if I continued. Today, I must give up my dream. But I want to thank my team, Eye of the Tiger, the people I believed would help me reach the top, and those who believed in me. I’m not discouraged by what’s happening to me, but rather grateful for the chance I had to get this far. You’ll see me again, as I’ll do everything I can to help my brother Imam reach the top. I will forever be part of the team, though now, for me, it will be outside the ring.”
Known as “The Warrior”, Khataev amassed almost 300 wins as an amateur and finishes his professional career undefeated in 14 fights (13-0-1, 4 KOs). Along the way, he captured the WBC Asia and South Asia titles and ended his career on a high note with a dominant performance in October, when he stopped Cristian Coria in round three.
“My thoughts are with Shamil, as I know what being a boxer meant to him,” said EOTTM President Camille Estephan. “It’s often said, but you don’t play boxing, so above all, I am relieved that he chose to prioritize his health over the sport.”
