Just thinking about this. I know he will never box again but I hope he has at least recovered some of his abilities to get around in the world.
I can't find it anymore, but I saw a brutal video a couple years ago showing Boytsov in a hospital or rehab facility missing part of his cranium. There was a large crater on the side of his head and he didn't appear to be very responsive. I don't think he can speak or ambulate anymore.
Even with that depressing news, thanks. I feel terrible for the guy. Not sure what made me think of him tonight.
On 3 May 2015 Boytsov was found unconscious in a Berlin subway tunnel. Due to a severe head injury he was placed in a medically induced coma for seven weeks...
The injury didn’t happen in a boxing ring. Someone beat him up and left him for dead at a train station.
I remember being pretty excited about him around 2005/2006 when he was knocking out really low-level fighters. He punching technique looked proficient, he was quick on his feet, and had really fast hands for a heavyweight. I thought maybe he could be on a collision course with a young Povetkin at some point in a big Russian showdown. Unfortunate he never progressed the way some thought he might. He seemed to gain a lot of unnecessary weight and stagnate/regress into a straight up and down plodder with decently quick hands. Sad to see what happened to him. All that life ahead of him gone in one night. I think he has children, too.
I see rumors that it was mob related. Crazy that this can happen in a major city in modern day and not be solved.
I think he's quite impaired, but this was a nice excerpt from an article about five years ago: Now Abdusalamov pays attention and responds, stringing together thoughts and sentences. "He's a good listener, he picks up on things," said his oldest daughter, 13-year-old Shakhrizat. Abdusalamov chimes in on family discussions, articulates concerns about the girls leaving the house without sufficiently warm clothing, and he playfully bellows his wife's nickname, "Baka," hanging several seconds on the second syllable. To show off his affection, he kissed Abdusalamova's hand and put his left arm around her waist. He seems to be in better shape than Boytsov.
