A former world No 2 heavyweight boxer once primed to fight Tyson Fury has died aged just 40, after 11 years of care following an 'attack' in which the perpetrators were never found.
Russian Denis Boytsov pulled out of a fight with Fury in December 2012 and was considered the world's second-best heavyweight behind Wladimir Klitschko. He had a 36-1 record when his career was cut short in 2015.
Boytsov suffered serious head injuries in a Berlin subway tunnel and had to be placed into a medically induced coma because of swelling on the brain.
A statement on the boxer's website suggested he was the victim of an attack linked to his boxing career. 'It is possible that this attack was linked to the boxer's sporting activity,' the statement said. 'Around two years ago, Boytsov was receiving threats constantly.'
Russian Denis Boytsov pulled out of a fight with Fury in December 2012 and was considered the world's second-best heavyweight behind Wladimir Klitschko. He had a 36-1 record when his career was cut short in 2015.
Boytsov suffered serious head injuries in a Berlin subway tunnel and had to be placed into a medically induced coma because of swelling on the brain.
A statement on the boxer's website suggested he was the victim of an attack linked to his boxing career. 'It is possible that this attack was linked to the boxer's sporting activity,' the statement said. 'Around two years ago, Boytsov was receiving threats constantly.'