Former Billy Joe Saunders world title challenger Avtandil Khurtsidze stabbed in New York jail

The Georgian fighter has been hospitalised after he was reportedly attacked by a rival gang at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center.

According to Georgia Today, Khurtsidze suffered multiple stab wounds from the incident.

The 39-year-old was scheduled to take on Saunders for the WBO world title in July 2017.

But he was arrested before the bout due to alleged links with organised crime, known as the Shulaya Enterprise.

In June 2018, he was found guilty of racketeering and wire fraud and was remanded in custody.

And Khurtsidze and Shulaya were attacked while they were waiting to be sentenced.

The source has revealed that the confrontation started with a verbal dispute between Shulaya and a leader of a Colombian prison gang.

It is understood that the former WBO champ got involved to defend his associate.

He was accused of being 'the muscle' behind the Shulaya Enterprise.

Khurtsidze's crimes have lost him his WBO belt and he is not expected to return to the ring.

The 39-year-old, who will be sentenced later this year, has also lost his Georgian citizenship.

 

 

 

 

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