Russian Tyson has died. What was known about the Russian boxer

Russian heavyweight boxer Denis Boytsov, who was considered one of the promising contenders for the world title in the early 2010s, died on October 17. He was 40 years old.

He earned the nickname “Russian Tyson” due to his aggressive fighting style and a large number of knockout victories. Boytsov's sports career was interrupted after a serious injury in Berlin in 2015.

Career and major achievements

Denis Boytsov was born on February 14, 1986 in Orel. He started boxing as a child and achieved significant success in the amateur ring. In 2001 and 2002, the athlete won the youth world championships, and in 2004 he became the winner of the world championship among juniors in heavyweight.

In the same year, Fighters moved to professional boxing and continued his career in Germany. Thanks to a powerful strike and a series of early victories, he quickly attracted the attention of specialists. In 2006, the Russian won the youth title of world champion according to the World Boxing Council (WBC).

In 2009, he won the intercontinental title of the World Boxing Association (WBA) and became the European champion according to the World Boxing Organization (WBO). Early in the next decade, he was seen as a potential contender for the most prestigious heavyweight titles.

The boxer was nicknamed the Russian Tyson for his spectacular fighting style and regular knockout victories. German coach Fritz Zdunek directly compared Boytsov to Mike Tyson, noting the strength of his punch and explosive manner of attacking.

During his professional career, Fighters held 37 fights, scored 36 victories and suffered one defeat. In 27 fights, he won by knockout. These results cemented his reputation as one of the most dangerous young heavyweights of his generation.

What happened to the boxer in Berlin

On May 3, 2015, he was found unconscious on the tracks of the Berlin subway with severe head injuries and injuries to his hands. The athlete was hospitalized and put into an artificial coma due to swelling of the brain. After several operations, he required long-term rehabilitation.

The circumstances of the incident caused a wide public outcry. In June 2015, the Berlin prosecutor’s office announced the termination of the proceedings. The prosecutor’s office said that the fighters suffered injuries in the accident, and evidence of the attack was not established.

The consequences of the damage were extremely serious. The soldiers lost the ability to walk and talk on their own. He could not return to professional boxing.

The fighters died on October 17 at the age of 40. The father of the boxer Nikolai Boytsov told TASS that the cause of death was a detached clot.