Shamil Khataev hangs up his gloves
Just a few days ago, Shamil Khataev announced the biggest fight of his career. Today, at 29, he announced he must hang up his gloves following the worsening of a severe eye condition.
“I had the passion, the strength, and the will to become a great champion, 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,” wrote Shamil ‘The Warrior’ Khataev.
Throughout his career, the pride of Chechnya amassed nearly 300 wins as an amateur and ends his professional career undefeated in 14 fights (13-0-1, 4 KOs).
Along the way, he captured the WBC Asia and South Asia titles. In 2024, under Eye of the Tiger, he fought his last two battles.
His career ended on a high note with a dominant performance where he stopped veteran Cristian Coria in the 3rd round, just last October at the Casino du Lac-Leamy.
“My thoughts are with Shamil, as I know what being a boxer meant to him. 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,” said EOTTM President Camille Estephan, who plans to stay in contact with his protégé through the career of his older brother, Imam Khataev, who is scheduled to fight Yunior Menedez on December 7.