Olympic champion and former interim WBA super featherweight champion Albert Batyrgaziev decided to take a break from his professional career.

At the beginning of July in Istanbul at the “IBA.PRO 8” tournament, Batyrgaziev lost early to the British James Dickens and lost the IBA.PRO champion and interim WBA champion titles in the second featherweight division. For the 27-year-old Russian, this was the first defeat in his professional career.

— I want to tell you honestly about my plans. Many people ask about their future career. Now I have decided to take a conscious break from my professional career. For me, boxing has been and remains a huge part of my life. Therefore, this choice is now very difficult. My whole sports life has been a race to the top: four Russian championships, an Olympic medal in Tokyo and then turning professional, where I went undefeated.

The last fight on July 2 was a turning point for me. The first defeat made me look at many things differently. I thank Allah for the trials and mercies that helped me become a better person. Since I have always felt a responsibility not only in the ring, but also before society, now is the time to become more active in projects that I have long planned, for example, supporting the development of sports infrastructure in my native regions. This doesn’t mean I’m saying goodbye to the ring. I remain an active boxer. But now all my work is outside of it. I thank everyone for their incredible support along this path: both in moments of triumph and in moments of challenge. She gives strength. I promise this new chapter will be just as honest and purposeful. I’m not saying goodbye, I’m just saying “goodbye,” Batyrgaziev wrote in the Telegram channel.

Batyrgaziev won gold in the weight category up to 57 kg at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. In the professional ring he has 12 wins and one loss.

Russian UFC fighter Arman Tsarukyan said that he will give his compatriot Sharabutdin Magomedov, nicknamed Shara Bullet, an apartment in Yerevan if he defeats him in a grappling fight.

The fight is scheduled for December 30 and should take place in Yerevan.

“If Shara wins against me, then I will personally give him an apartment in Yerevan,” Tsarukyan said in a video published on the Red Corner MMA page on the X social network.

Tsarukyan defeated New Zealander Dan Hooker by submission in the second round at UFC Fight Night 265 in November 2025. He has 23 wins and three losses in MMA.

Middleweight Magomedov fought his last fight in July 2025 at the UFC on ABC 9 tournament, defeating Canadian Marc-Andre Barrio by unanimous decision. The Russian has 16 wins and one loss.

Watch mixed martial arts tournaments live on the Match TV and Match! Fighter”, as well as on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.

The injuries received by British boxer Anthony Joshua in a road accident in Nigeria turned out to be more serious than expected, and the British boxer’s future career is in question, reports the Daily Mail.

On Monday, on a section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Lexus SUV Joshua was in collided with a stationary truck. It was reported that the 36-year-old boxer, who was sitting behind the driver, received minor injuries and was hospitalized.

Accident scene / Photo: © Temiloluwa Johnson / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment / Gettyimages.ru

Promotion company Matchroom Boxing later said two of Joshua’s friends and team members, Sina Gami and Latifah Ayodele, died as a result of the accident.

“Joshua’s condition is stable and he will remain in the hospital under observation,” the organization said in a statement.

However, the media, citing sources close to the fighter, note that Joshua’s injuries were more serious than previously reported. It is assumed that the athlete injured his ribs and knee, and also suffered psychological trauma.

Olympic champion Joshua defeated American blogger Jake Paul in a fight in Miami on December 19. In total, he has 29 victories and four defeats in the professional ring.