World Boxing News can reveal that Avtandil Khurtsidze — once one of boxing’s most feared middleweights — resurfaced for the second time, years after a violent prison stabbing that nearly ended both his life and career.
The Georgian veteran, a former world-ranked contender, fought to a six-round draw on the Danny Garcia farewell card in Brooklyn, marking another chapter in one of boxing’s strangest and most cautionary comeback stories.
Prison Stabbing and Criminal Links
In 2017, just days before a planned WBO world title clash with Billy Joe Saunders, Khurtsidze’s career imploded. He was arrested alongside 26 others in a federal crackdown on the so-called Shulaya Enterprise — an alleged organized crime network operating across the United States.
The fighter later became a victim himself. Reports described a “stabbing rampage” inside Brooklyn’s Detention Center, where Khurtsidze and Razhden Shulaya were hospitalized after a confrontation with a Latin American gang. Court documents confirmed Khurtsidze “suffered multiple stab wounds to the face,” leaving the former “Mini Mike Tyson” scarred and sidelined for years.
The FBI Takedown
The U.S. Department of Justice described Shulaya as a “vor v zakone” — Russian for “thief-in-law,” a high-ranking underworld figure. Prosecutors accused the group of crimes ranging from extortion and identity theft to illegal gambling, narcotics trafficking, and casino fraud.
For Khurtsidze, it meant the collapse of a promising career and a reputation buried under headlines of organized crime and prison violence. Instead of fighting for a WBO title, he spent years behind bars, watching the world move on without him.
The Comeback
Remarkably, Khurtsidze returned in May 2024 for his first fight since prison, scoring a stunning first-round knockout that suggested his legendary power and timing had survived the lost years. Heading into Saturday’s bout, his record stood at 34-2-2 (23 KOs) — a stark reminder of what might have been.
Facing Guinean novice Andres Martinez in Brooklyn, the 46-year-old fighter battled to a spirited draw. While the result earned polite applause, the bigger story was his presence at all — a convicted felon turned comeback contender sharing the spotlight on one of boxing’s most high-profile nights.
From Contender to Cautionary Tale
Khurtsidze’s fall remains one of the sport’s most dramatic collapses. Once a ferocious contender known for punishing hooks and relentless pressure, he now fights under the shadow of his past — a man whose life veered from world title contention to courtroom hearings and prison violence.
Years behind bars may have slowed him, but his return — scarred, defiant, and still swinging — underlines the unforgiving nature of boxing. While he may never again reach the world level once deemed inevitable, Avtandil Khurtsidze’s story is no longer about titles. It’s about survival, resilience, and stepping back into the ring against all odds.
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights.
[View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.