Everyone knows that sport promotes self-discipline, restraint and healthy image life. However, there are cases in history when great athletes went to jail for various crimes, including drug trafficking. We decided to remember 5 stories when sports career ended in prison.
Mike Tyson
1991 cannot be called successful for Mike Tyson, because he was sentenced to 6 years in prison.
One evening, he invited a cute 18-year-old girl, Desiree, for a ride in a car, who, in turn, readily agreed. Afterwards, Mike invited her to spend the night with him at a hotel and made it clear what they would do there. The naive girl didn’t understand the hints and decided that they would just watch TV at 2 a.m. and go their separate ways as if nothing had happened. Of course, it was not possible to watch TV, because Iron Mike began to loosen his hands, and when everything was finished, he refused to accompany the girl home and literally kicked her out of the room. Desiree reported the rape the day after that night.
The story is full of contradictions and inconsistencies, for example, Desiree did not deny that she undressed in front of Mike and went into the bedroom with him voluntarily. She also didn’t argue with the fact that she decided to say “no” only at the very last moment.
As a result, Iron Mike was sentenced to 6 years, but was released after 3 years due to exemplary behavior.
Billy Moore
Briton Billy Moore was born in Liverpool into a poor family and spent his entire childhood watching his father drink. From adolescence, he began boxing and made great strides in this sport, he even worked as a stunt double for Sylvester Stallone in Rambo 4.
The bright future of boxing was ruined by drugs. He became addicted to them back in his homeland, in England, deciding that he needed to stop and start new life, and left for Thailand. At first, everything went great for him in another country; he worked as a teacher. English language and was actively involved in sports. It didn't last long and he soon began to take part in underground battles, got hooked on methamphetamine and became a drug dealer.
Billy was sent to the Thai maximum security prison Klong Prem for 3 years for drug distribution and buying stolen goods.
What he experienced in prison can only be described as hell on earth: on the first night he had to sleep between a corpse and a transvestite.
Nevertheless, Billy not only survived in one of the most brutal prisons in the world, but also overcame his drug addiction there, began to practice Muay Thai and compete.
Billy recounted his story in his memoirs, which were used to make the film “Fighting Without Rules.” The film turned out to be as realistic as possible, because Billy personally told the film crew everything that happened to him, and the roles of the prisoners were played by real prisoners who served time in a Thai prison for brutal crimes. The film took part in the Cannes Film Festival and was also highly praised by film critics around the world.
You can feel the horror of a Thai prison and find out how Billy was able to get out of there alive starting September 20 in Russian cinemas.
Edwin Valero
The famous Venezuelan boxer of the first lightweight category, world champion according to the WBA (WBA), has always been a bad guy and had problems with the police. As a teenager, he became interested in boxing, and this activity distracted him from the criminal world, but, unfortunately, not for long.
Due to his furious jealousy, he began to beat his wife and keep her under lock and key. In 2009, he shot her in the leg with a pistol, but the police could not prove anything, because his wife defended her loved one and referred to an unknown criminal on a motorcycle.
In 2010, Valero's wife, Jennifer, was hospitalized with bite marks, bruises and a broken rib that punctured her lung. According to her, all these injuries were the result of a fall from the stairs.
It wasn't enough for Valero to simply beat his wife, and in 2010 he killed her with three stab wounds to the stomach. He did not deny his guilt and was sent to prison. True, he spent only a few hours there - the boxer hanged himself with his own clothes.
Mikhail Tatarinov
The player of Sokol Kyiv and Dynamo Moscow, the 1990 world champion, was considered the hockey player with the strongest shot in the world: the pucks he sent repeatedly broke the bones of his opponents. He played at the World Championships, the Canada Cup, and finally in the NHL. A brilliant career awaited him, but at the age of 28 he had to say goodbye to all his dreams.
Success went to his head, he began to drink alcohol excessively and became addicted to gambling. The last such game provided Mikhail with 7 years in prison. After losing to his opponent at cards, he became so angry that he stabbed him to death. Mikhail faced 14 years in prison, but his lawyer managed to prove that the murder was in a state of passion and the term was reduced to 7 years in prison. “There are only two ways out of the cards - either the grave or prison,” Mikhail said in one of his interviews after his release.
Orenthal James Simpson
The famous football player of the National Football League is familiar to the public not only sporting achievements. In 1995, he was suspected of murdering his wife and her lover. He was facing the death penalty, but miraculously he was acquitted and released. You cannot escape fate and prison, and in 2008 O. James again sat in the dock.
In 2007, he and his accomplices attacked a reseller of valuables and took away sports awards that were previously sold. Simpson's accomplices testified, and the football player was accused of armed assault and running a criminal community. In 2008, the court sentenced him to 33 years in prison, which O. Jay is currently serving.
One wonderful evening in 1958, the legendary Torpedo football player and his teammates were preparing for the World Cup in Sweden. More precisely, they were having fun in the company of girls. After this, one of them wrote a statement against Streltsov, allegedly raping him. If he knew all the details of the case, it was only Khrushchev. After all, there is a myth that it was he who dictated this statement, trying to remove Edward from big football. The result - the athlete was sentenced to 12 years in prison. But already in 1963 he was released from prison for good behavior. But, of course, he was not allowed into football.
Source: wikipedia.org
Mike Tyson, boxing
Even at the very beginning of his career they said: “The bars are crying for Tyson.” And yet they were not mistaken. After a series of antics, Iron Mike was accused of raping 18-year-old Desiree Washington, “Miss Black America.” For this, the boxer paid with three years in prison.
Source: thesundaytimes.co.uk
Although today Mike has a bad reputation, we still remember him as a legendary boxer, one of the best in the history of mankind!
Allen Iverson, basketball
Well, what is childhood without a fight? Some people still drink and get into... Well, you guessed it. On February 14, 1993, 18-year-old Allen, the future shooting guard for the Denver Nuggets, and a group of friends had something to disagree with a bunch of white guys. And they got into a fight, for which the black people were given 5 years. But 4 months later, the governor of Virginia pardoned Iverson and released him.
Source: philiprazeminchina.com
Orenthal James Simpson, American football
All of America knows about Simpson. Firstly, because - famous player National Football League. Secondly, Simpson played a detective in the first part of “The Naked Gun”. Thirdly, in 1995 he was suspected of murdering his wife and her lover. But the athlete, thank God, was acquitted and was saved from the death penalty.
But the music didn’t play for long. In 2007, he and his accomplices attacked a gold dealer and stole sports awards. “Colleagues in the shop” kindly handed over O. James, for which in 2008 the court accused former football player in armed attack and management of a criminal community. And he was sentenced to 33 years in prison.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Dewey Bozella, boxing
18-year-old Bozella, a newly minted boxer, was accused of killing a 92-year-old woman. And in 1983 he was sent to “life sentence”. But the guy continued to practice boxing there, for which he was awarded the title “ best boxer among prisoners." And besides fighting, Dewey studied. Therefore, even in prison he received 2 higher educations. The athlete was asked to confess to his crime, for which he was promised early release. But Bozella is not at all. And in 2009, after additional evidence emerged, Dewey was acquitted. And they were released.
Source: thesun.co.uk
Michael Vick, American football
The New York Jets quarterback served 3 years for organizing dog fighting, which is prohibited in the United States. Michael was also never against smoking weed. The court took this into account too. And Vic was sentenced to 3 years in prison. In 2009, the athlete left and even returned to big-time sports.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Bill Tilden, tennis
Bill Tilden is not only a 7-time Davis Cup winner and a 10-time tournament winner Grand Slam, but also a pervert. In 1956, he molested a 14-year-old boy, for which he was imprisoned for 2 years. Almost a year later, the tennis player “leaned back” and took up his old ways. The result was another 10 months in prison, after which Tilden’s friends and sports turned their backs.
Clifford Etienne could have been a college football star. It didn't work out. But it turned out that he has excellent makings of a boxer. Did he become a world champion? No. He started professional career at the age of 28 years. Why is it so late? The fact is that, as a young man, Etienne received 40 years in prison for participating in an armed robbery. He spent 10 years behind bars, and when he was released, he began to make up for lost time. During his sporting life, he managed to fight with and, and then went to jail again. IN at the moment Clifford is serving a 105-year sentence without parole. tells a story American boxer in an experimental format - from the point of view of the hero himself and the closest people from his environment: mother, wife, coach. The dialogues in the material are fictitious, but the events and main characters described are quite real.
40 years in prison
A black man named Clifford Etienne was walking through the dark gateways in the company of thugs who sparkled with evil eyes and rattled chains, scaring away the local residents.
Hey, Frenchie, what are you thinking about there? - asked one of them, a boy from Florida, and his face was distorted by a nasty grin. He knew Cliff didn't like being called that. The times when the French ruled his native Louisiana were long gone, and Cliff did not feel any kinship with the country that existed somewhere overseas.
How many times do I have to say that this pisses me off? - Cliff was furious, but quickly cooled down. He often experienced outbursts of anger, but easily suppressed the beast within himself. Cliff knew that very soon he would have a career in the National football league(NFL) because all the coaches he worked with in high school saw him as a great linebacker. Now all that remains is to consolidate your status in student leagues.
And it infuriates us that you spend a lot of time training! - said the leader of the gang, a large stocky mulatto, whose cheek was cut diagonally with a knife in street fight. - And you forget your origins. We have one mudka, you are in the share. What do you say?
Cliff tensed. He dreamed of getting involved in the dark affairs of the gang, but each time he did not find the courage to admit to the guys that he was a different breed. And he didn’t want to quarrel with Marked at all. He already tried it once and almost ended up in the hospital. Cliff clenched his fists, then exhaled, unclenched them, and refused. The Marked One stopped abruptly, like everyone else. A tense pause hung in the air. Cliff tried to meet the leader's hard gaze, but eventually lowered his eyes. Bullseye took the chain, wrapped it around his hand, and took a step towards Cliff.
“You better not quarrel with us,” the mulatto said softly, whose fist looked like a hammer. - Listen here. It's a simple matter. We want to rob a shopping mall here in Lafayette. It's me, you, the Killer and the Pelican. Now, guys, I want you to listen to me very carefully. So…
And although in words what Marked was talking about seemed like the right thing, everything immediately went awry. There were many witnesses in the shopping center; they had to be taken hostage while the cashier deliberately slowly collected the money. He was able to press the panic button and the cops arrived just ten minutes later. There was, of course, the opportunity to use force and try to break through, but the bandits decided that this would be a death sentence for them. As the handcuffs closed around Cliff's wrists, he looked at Bullseye with such hatred that for the first time he looked away. For attempted armed robbery they could get a very serious sentence.
Before the trial, Cliff was released on bail, and he began to lean on food, in which he found comfort. He soon gained a lot of weight, and behind a layer of fat the sculpted muscles that helped him be one of the best in football were hidden. His mother Emily shed many bitter tears, accusing her son of ruining the life of not only himself, but also his family.
You were only a month away from the start of your first student season. How could you, son? - she said, wiping away her tears with a handkerchief.
“Ma, I made a mistake,” Cliff answered every time. “I hung out with the wrong guys and they made me make choices that I now really regret.”
After each mother's tantrum, Cliff trudged to the refrigerator to eat an unscheduled sandwich, or found solace in another bag of chips.
Clifford Etienne, you have been sentenced to forty years in prison. You will serve your sentence in the Louisiana penitentiary system,” upon hearing the verdict, the seventeen-year-old criminal could barely restrain his cry.
He was already having difficulty listening to the bleating of the lawyer, who assured him that for diligent behavior he could get twenty years off his sentence. Cliff stared at one point, imagining that his whole life had just been flushed down the toilet. His hands itched and he really wanted to hit someone.
Cliff turned to the lawyer and smiled at him. He paused and didn’t say another word - out of harm’s way.
Clifford Etienne was one of the up-and-coming football players that almost any college in the country would welcome. Then great prospects opened up for him - the NFL, fame and an excellent salary. In 1987, his dreams came to an end - Etienne became involved in an armed robbery and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
lucky chance
It was a very fast fight. The cliff heard in the locker room, as he was called the Black Sea Freak, and put into the blow all the aggression that had accumulated over the past year. The person who dared to disturb his peace immediately found himself on the floor. A couple of minutes later, the knocked out prisoner was provided with medical assistance. When he regained consciousness after the ammonia, Cliff was already in solitary confinement.
The guy tried to behave decently and follow all the rules in order to be released early. But when you're in prison, you can't always be a good boy. One day someone is bound to provoke you, no matter how thick-skinned you are.
When the key creaked in the keyhole, Cliff was surprised - they had come for him too quickly. Usually, after fights, prisoners were left in solitary confinement for a long time so that they could properly reflect on their behavior.
A man he had not yet seen entered the cell. Cliff stood up, peering intently into the stranger's face. He looked no better than the bandits with whom he had once been friends. And yet the visitor’s face lit up with a completely sincere smile.
My name is William Roth, but you can call me “Mr. Bill,” the man said. - I head the Baton Rouge Police Athletic League. I'm looking for nuggets in penal colonies. Well, I heard about you. Do you know what's in this hole? gym? You could start classes today. I'll arrange for you to be released from solitary confinement right now.
Do what? - the prisoner stared.
The Louisiana State Penitentiary
Because you’re good at it,” Bill smiled even wider. - The guy you so masterfully knocked out regularly goes to the gym, spars, and boxes. And you knocked him down with one blow. By the way, I see that you have lost noticeably weight. This is good. The dossier says you were obese when you entered our dungeons. Now, if you want to be a champion of the prison, you will have to follow the rules. And, Cliff, most importantly. If you cooperate with me, and I intend to make you a decent boxer, perhaps you will be released much earlier. I know that prisoners like you with long sentences are burdened by exemplary behavior. You need to follow the orders of the guards, do the dirty work, restrain yourself if someone bumps into you - and this happens every day. But thanks to boxing, you can let off steam. I'm sure it will heal people like you. So, what's the deal?
An hour later, Cliff was hitting a punching bag in the gym. Bill stood nearby, suggested something, spoke, but the guy did not listen to him. He simply beat, beat, beat, imagining that instead of hitting a punching bag, he was hitting Marked, the life he led in the gateways, engaged in petty robbery. He wanted to end this once and for all, to leave prison a renewed Cliff, a man who was worth something.
Etienne was interested in boxing since childhood, but could not practice it on a regular basis due to the lack of a gym near his home. He connected the future with American football. Once in prison, he lost interest in football and took up boxing. “I always knew I could fight and I had to work hard on myself. I believed that after my release, boxing would allow me to find my place in life again,” Clifford recalled after his release.
Prison Champion
I see you have a very good jab,” Bill said a month later, after watching several sparring sessions of his new student. “I think we’ll have an exhibition fight first, and then we’ll immediately pit you against the champion.” We'll make you a prisoner.
Why Ali? - Cliff was surprised.
He had a killer jab too,” Bill explained. - And you converted to Islam in prison. You have a lot in common.
No, coach, I’d rather be Joe Frazier,” Cliff snorted. - For me this is the most great fighter. Small, but so angry that everyone fell dead from his hooks. He boldly entered the ring to fight giants who could grind him into powder. But he fought honestly and gave his best. And sometimes he brought them down. He even beat Ali, who talked too much. No, I'm much more connected to Smokey Joe than I am to Butterfly.
Cliff soon fought several successful battles. His tactics were simple - frantic pressure, an attempt to sweep away the opponent. The lack of equipment did not affect him in any way; his clumsy blows found the target and destroyed his opponents. Very quickly, the title of prison champion went to Clifford Etienne, a guy from New Iberia (Louisiana).
Why don't you come up with a nickname? - a fellow inmate once suggested to Cliff. - All boxers have nicknames.
“I can’t think of anything,” Cliff laughed, but he liked the idea. - Maybe you have thoughts?
You know, when you fight, you look a lot like a rhinoceros. These are creepy animals, I saw on. If they attack someone, that’s it, death will be quick. They'll gut the insides and that's it.
Mmm, rhinoceros, that sounds good,” Cliff smiled. - Just you know what? Let me be the Black Rhino. Like?
“Are there no such people,” the prisoner twirled his finger at his temple, but Cliff did not give up. He went to the prison library to research the issue.
“The black rhinoceros is an endangered animal, large and powerful. Leads single image life. There are almost none of them in nature, only in national parks, where they are as if in prisons. Sometimes there are individuals with a giant horn that can pierce through an enemy,” Cliff read. The more he learned about the animal, the more he identified with it.
Mine next fight Clifford Etienne played so powerfully that his opponent was carried off the floor, bleeding.
The winner raised his hand, clenched it into a fist, and proclaimed himself the Black Rhino.
To freedom undefeated
Cliff achieved good success in the prison ring. He himself claims that during all the years of imprisonment he fought about thirteen fights and won convincing victories in all of them, and gained more experience in sparring. Bill kept his promise - his student was released just ten years after his imprisonment. New prospects opened up for the Black Rhino, although usually people found themselves broke when leaving prison after such a long sentence.
According to publicly available data, during 10 years in prison, Clifford Etienne fought 30 fights, winning each of them. He trained as part of the prison team "Gunslingers" and won the title of Louisiana state prisoner champion.
Now I will definitely become a world champion! - Cliff said to the coach, rubbing his hands. - How am I worse than Sonny Liston, who also began his career behind bars? He beat everyone in prison, then repeated it in the ring and won the title. I can make chops out of people. Liston became the world champion, his image was intimidating, his one glance from under his brows crushed his opponents ahead of schedule. I, too, will be terrifying. I want to fight in black sneakers, socks and shorts. The black rhino is eager to fight!
Victories on professional ring didn't keep us waiting. The newcomer began to demolish everyone, his bombings, a series of albeit weak, but accurate blows, knocked down at first inexperienced fighters, and soon very strong opponents. Cliff became an angry, aggressive, mannered boxer, recognizable among fans. And his prison story only fueled interest, making him a hero who managed to overcome a severe life crisis.
When HBO purchased the rights to broadcast his fights, Cliff fought in a 10-round fight against prospect Lamon Brewster. Black Rhino boxed with dedication, landed more hits, used clinches that physically exhausted his opponent, and won by unanimous decision. A few years later, Brewster became the World Boxing Association (WBA) world champion and defeated himself, but in that fight with Etienne he lost by one wicket. Cliff was also famous for his fight with former member Olympic Games Lawrence Clay Bay. In the final rounds, Black Rhino simply beat his compatriot. If his blows had been heavier, Clay Bey would have fallen unconscious, but he managed to hold out until the end. Their fight was recognized as one of the most spectacular in 2000.
“Baby, just look at how your boy, an ex-convict, deals with these amateurs,” Cliff once said to his wife Tiffany. - But they were fully engaged in boxing, in good conditions. Not like me. You had no reason to be afraid when you married me. I told you that someday I would big man, that's what happens! I promise, I will be not only a loving husband, a caring father of our children, but also a millionaire. A very cool battle is just around the corner that will make us rich.
However, behind the wave of success, Cliff stubbornly did not notice his own shortcomings. Yes, he was very similar to a rhinoceros, lunging at his opponents in a straight line, throwing out his fists as if he were setting off fireworks in the ring. But his tactics bore fruit only because he attacked quickly and a lot, so some of the blows were sure to land on his opponent’s head. The boxer's hits lacked precision, strength, and cunning. In addition, Cliff had no defense at all. A steel chin saved him many times, but once even this did not save him - in March 2001, Puerto Rican Fres Oquendo knocked down the guy from Louisiana almost a dozen times.
From the moment of his release from prison and the start of his boxing career until the meeting with Oquendo, Etienne was impeccable - he fought 19 fights, winning each of them (13 by knockout). After a triumphant fight with Clay Bey, he was predicted to have a great future. Ring magazine recognized Etienne as the most entertaining boxer of 2000. Clifford was called one of the best heavyweights of his time, they said that he was well built and possessed with a strong blow from both hands.
Tiffany noticed that Cliff had changed after that fight. The missed shots took a toll on his mental state. He became more hot-tempered, aggressive, and sometimes behaved generally inappropriately.
On the other hand, the first defeat was followed by five victories in a row. And a draw with South African Francois Botha, who had experience fighting Lennox Lewis and Vladimir Klitschko, gave Cliff a chance to soon have a championship fight.
But first he had to beat old Mike Tyson.
Iron Mike
Coach, I will do everything to beat Tyson,” Cliff said, hitting the bag. “I laid a solid foundation for this back in prison.” I didn't do drugs. I didn't drink. There were no fools who would lead me down a crooked path again. There was nothing to do there at all except training. And I trained! A lot, even too much. Yes, there were scumbag guards who always reminded us that they had power. And the prisoners, eager to strike on the sly. I had to survive. But every time I had the opportunity to go to the gym, lift iron or fight with someone in the “square”, I took this chance. At such moments, my mind was cleared of husks. After I left prison and became a pro, everyone understood that prison had made me strong boxer. And now there is a real chance to prove that I am worth something. Was Buster Douglas able to crush Iron Mike when he was at his peak? Now Tyson is pathetic, last time Lewis simply destroyed him. It was my turn to beat the crap out of this guy. I'm 32 years old, it's time to come out of the shadows.
Buddy McGirt, thoughtfully stroking his chin, listened to a student who had to pass the main exam in his life. Tyson behaved slippery, at some point many doubted that he would come to Memphis, but the former champion kept his word. There were rumors that his strange behavior was due to a bad flu. If he really was that sick, Cliff could take advantage of it. But Buddy understood that underestimating his opponent could destroy his student.
If you think Tyson is pathetic, you’ll lose right away,” Buddy grumbled. - In any form, he can kill a rhinoceros with one blow... Oh, sorry, not the most appropriate metaphor. But if you follow my instructions, then there is a chance to win. Just remember that without protection, at least minimal, you have nothing to do in the ring with Tyson. And your trump card can be the left hook, you have it very good, but you don’t use it. So use it! Joe Frazier, who you love so much, knocked out a couple dozen people with just that one punch.
Cliff was silent for a moment, thinking about what he had heard. Then he stopped hitting the bag, wrapped his arms around it and looked at the coach with a sly smile.
I have one very good reason to beat Tyson. You know, I even thought about giving up the fight. And then I was almost beaten by my own wife! She said, “You idiot, if you back down, you'll be throwing away a million dollars. How can you refuse a fight that Showtime is financing?” Yes, I hesitated, I was scared. But only a fool would really refuse that kind of money. I will get them anyway, even if I lose. But I will try to win!
February 22, 2003. The Pyramid Arena, Memphis, Tennessee. The fight with Etienne was Tyson’s first after losing to Lennox Lewis in the previous fight. Then Mike lost on all counts, Lewis acted cautiously and won every round until the eighth, in which he sent former champion knocked out.
Rhino Fall
Mike Tyson, smiling widely, entered the arena dressed all in black. He didn't care about Black Rhino's style. The great champion had the right to choose the color he liked for the fight.
He looked at Cliff and saw animal fear in his eyes. Tyson's smile grew even wider. He had read that rhinoceroses were vulnerable and could even be killed by hyenas if they got too stuck in the mud. And he, Iron Mike Tyson, was far from a hyena.
From the first seconds, the favorite unleashed a hail of blows on the underdog. Despite his fear, Cliff tried to fight directly, but in a battle with open visors he was doomed to be knocked out. Iron Mike it took only 48 seconds to take down the opponent. The right cross worked - Tyson's fist walked across Etienne's left cheek, and he, falling on the floor, doomedly pulled the mouth guard out of his mouth. He never got up, although he could have easily done so. Something broke in him. It was as if for the first time he doubted that a guy who learned boxing in prison was capable of becoming a tough pro.
The crowd roared, none of the visitors to the arena were happy with such an early end to the fight, even Tyson’s ardent fans. Cliff slowly walked to the locker room to the cheers of the fans.
He had a lot to think about. And he tried to make a comeback, a few years later even getting himself a title fight in Germany. It was his last Stand, and it turned out disgusting. The black rhinoceros came out to fight Nikolai Valuev, a boxer who was 50 kilograms heavier than him. The World Boxing Association (WBA) intercontinental world title was at stake.
Cliff came to Germany without Buddy McGirt. The trainer refused to work with him after his TKO loss to Calvin Brock.
“Boy, you have neurological problems,” the coach told him before the breakup. - You fall in sparring almost after every poke on the top of the head. And you're acting strange, very strange. Your eyes are crazy, they are scary. Don't go out to fight anymore, get treatment. And then we can talk.
But Cliff desperately needed money, he went into debt. And a fight with an opponent from Russia could help him out, at least for a while.
Over the course of three rounds, Valuev missed many desperate blows from the Black Rhino, although he had to almost jump up to reach his huge head. But the Beast from the East seemed to feel no pain. He simply extended his arm to keep his opponent at a distance and periodically threw out his hammers. Cliff fell many times before receiving a nasty blow to the back of his head that knocked the last of his consciousness out of him.
May 14, 2005. Etienne entered the ring against Nikolai Valuev. Russian who had big advantage in size, won by knockout in the third round and won the WBA International heavyweight championship belt weight category. At the same time, Valuev’s decisive blow hit the back of Etienne’s head, which is contrary to the rules of boxing. However, there was no appeal from the American’s corner, and the results of the fight were not reviewed.
Crime and Punishment
The next working day at the check cashing point began as usual. But when a man with a stocking on his head and a gun entered the room through the glass doors, the nightmare began.
At that moment there was no one in the exchanger, only the cashier. The robber approached him and, shaking his gun, ordered him to collect the cash as quickly as possible.
Come on, hurry up! - the robber yelled, continuing to threaten with his gun. “I can’t wait here for you forever!”
“Okay, I’ll do everything now,” the cashier mumbled, trying to open the cash register with shaking hands. I managed to do this only on the second try. The robber threw him a bag and put the muzzle of a gun to his head.
Just try to call the cops, I'll blow your brains out right away, do you hear? - he gnashed his teeth, watching the cashier fill the bag with money. But his hands continued to shake, and, having collected another portion of money, he dropped them on the floor. The raider immediately fired - the cashier managed to dodge.
The howl of sirens was heard - the cops finally arrived. The robber, grabbing the bag, rushed to the exit, fired several shots at the police officer and ran to the nearest car. The woman sitting behind the wheel moved over.
I beg you, let the children out, they are not guilty of anything! - she shouted. The criminal looked back and saw two kids, but without saying anything he hit the woman on the lips and ordered her to shut up. Already on the road, he forced her to count the cash.
“This is $1,978,” she said hesitantly. The siren screamed again from behind. Clifford Etienne, a man with a stocking on his head and a gun on his knees, was being chased by several police cars at once.
That was the end.
On June 22, 2006, Clifford Etienne was sentenced to 150 years in prison without the right to parole for a combination of crimes. Seven years later, the case was reviewed, but the sentence was reduced by only 45 years.
The black rhinoceros will never be released again.
Source: Sport Express
Former WBO interim middleweight champion Avtandil Khurtsidze will spend the next ten years in an American prison. Prosecutors proved his guilt in committing crimes as part of an organized crime group made up of immigrants from the former USSR. The parents of the Georgian boxer intend to organize a protest; he himself does not admit guilt.
Mini Mike Tyson
Avtandil Khurtsidze was just one step away from a full championship title. And he could well negotiate a fight with Kazakh Gennady Golovkin, who is considered one of best boxers world regardless of weight category.
To do this, Khurtsidze needed to take the title from WBO champion British Billy Joe Saunders. Negotiations for this fight were successfully completed on the second attempt, and the fight was scheduled for July 2017 in the UK. Why the second one? Because the first side did not agree, and instead of Saunders, the Georgian boxer fought with his compatriot Tommy Langford for the interim title.
Khurtsidze knocked out Langford, and then his team reached an agreement with Saunders.
In the boxing world, the Georgian was nicknamed Mini Mike Tyson. Only forward, only attack. True, Tyson, at the time of his heyday, moved and defended himself in an amazing way, which was practically absent in Khurtsidze’s fights.
15 years since his debut in the professional ring, Avtandil Khurtsidze walked towards the champion title. And almost there. During his journey, he fought 37 fights, in which he scored 33 victories (22 by knockout). He lost twice: the first time in 2005 to the Guyanese fighter Tony Marshall by knockout, and in 2010 he lost to the Frenchman Hassam N’Jikam in the fight for the interim WBA belt.
From the ring to the bunk
But the fight with Saunders did not take place. A month earlier, in June 2017, Avtandil Khurtsidze was arrested along with three dozen other citizens different countries, who in the United States were accused of organizing a criminal group. The head of the group, according to investigators, was thief in law Razhden Shulaya (Petersky).
Khurtsidze was considered Shulay’s “silovik”, as was famous fighter mixed martial arts Levan Makashvili, who defeated Rasul Mirzaev. The FBI, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, police in New York and other states have been preparing a special operation for a long time. Almost all members of the group were detained, several were put on the wanted list.
Some of the detainees made a deal with the investigation, testifying against Shulay. Khurtsidze refused this option, saying that he did not plead guilty to anything.
But the investigation had irrefutable evidence of the boxer’s involvement in underworld. In particular, several videos show Khurtsidze and Shumaya together beating people, forcing them to pay money.
Seer, protector, innocent
In June 2018, Khurtsidze was found guilty of a number of crimes: violence, extortion, theft, trafficking in stolen goods, fraud. However, the verdict was announced only three months later. The Georgian boxer was threatened with up to 40 years in prison, but was given four times less. Plus two more years of supervision after release.
If Avtandil lives to see it. In May of this year, he and Shulay were attacked by Colombians in a Brooklyn prison. More precisely, they attacked Shulay, who had quarreled with one of them, and Khurtsidze rushed to defend the boss. Both of them, with cuts and bruises, ended up first in the prison hospital and then in the punishment cell.
Interestingly, in February 2017, Khurtsidze went on an excursion to Alcatraz. He was behind bars in the legendary prison. Then as a joke, but in posts on Instagram, his friends advised him to spit over his shoulder so that it wouldn’t happen in real life. Four months later, the boxer actually found himself on the bunk and has been sitting there for more than a year.
Khurtsidze's parents intend to organize protests.
We will start protests because no one is paying attention to us, including the government. They left us no other way,” said the athlete’s mother Makvala Khurtsidze.
In her opinion, all the evidence against her son was fabricated.
But former promoter boxer Lou DiBella spoke out categorically.
He got what he deserved. Fuck him for what he did with his craft, his career and his life. It's his choice, but he chose the wrong side. Khurtsidze harmed himself,” Dibella said.
Dzerzhinsky District Court of St. Petersburg sentenced former boxer Alexander Kuznetsov, who killed the alleged rapist of his adopted son, was sentenced to two and a half years in a maximum security colony. “The court considers Kuznetsov’s guilt of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm resulting in the death of a person proven, and qualifies his actions under an article of the Criminal Code Russian Federation“Acts that negligently resulted in the death of the victim,” the judge said.
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He also clarified that the court took into account mitigating circumstances: Kuznetsov’s confession and the fact that he was inspired to commit a crime by the violence committed before his eyes against a child. Therefore, the court considered it possible to impose a punishment twice as low as the lower limit. Let us note that a crime classified under this article of the Criminal Code is punishable by a term of imprisonment from five to 15 years.
According to the court, Kuznetsov’s son was actually subjected to physical violence by the victim, and when committing the crime, the boy’s father was guided by a sense of revenge. As RIA Novosti notes, the court did not consider it possible to assign a suspended sentence due to aggravating circumstances- the defendant’s drug addiction, as well as an outstanding conviction for drug trafficking.
Alexander Kuznetsov, who was previously under recognizance not to leave the place, was taken into custody in the courtroom. Recall that the former boxer was accused of murdering a man who is believed to have New Year's Eve In 2008, he tried to rape his eight-year-old adopted son in the entrance. According to the accused, the child was beaten, undressed and unconscious. The boy's adoptive father in the past professional boxer, killed the offender with several blows- 20-year-old native of Uzbekistan.
