Just over five years ago Avtandil Khurtsidze (33-2-2, 22 KOs) was one of the best boxers in the middleweight category. He had real chances to challenge the WBO belt in a fight with Billy Joe Saunders (30-1, 14 KOs), but at that moment the problems of the Georgian with the law made themselves felt.
Former interim WBO middleweight champion Avtandil Khurtsidze (33-2-2, 22 KO) of Kutaisi, Georgia in June was found guilty of racketeering and fraud cases. According to the investigation, the boxer was involved in a gang of criminal authority and a thief in law Raden Shulai.
Promoter Lou DiBella commented on the recent news that former middleweight Avtandil Khurtsidze was found guilty on two counts - racketeering and wire fraud. Prior to this, DiBella was promoter of Khurtsidze for several fights.
In a move that should come as a surprise to nobody, WBO Interim Middleweight champion Avtandil Khurtsidze was formally stripped of his title on Thursday by the WBO after he was arrested and formally charged by the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York for Conspiracy under RICO (18 U.S.C. § 846), a charge that could lead to a sentence of 20-years in federal prison. Khurtsidze was forced to drop out of his July 8th showdown with WBO Middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders due to his arrest.
Interim middleweight world titleholder Avtandil Khurtsidze was arrested and indicted Wednesday in New York as part of a federal government roundup of 33 people accused of involvement in a New York-based Russian and Georgian crime syndicate allegedly involved in racketeering, robbery and murder-for-hire, among other illicit activity.