Avtandil Khurtsidze stripped of title as he awaits trial

[Ruthless-RKO]

Avtandil Khurtsidze, who is incarcerated and could face up to 40 years in prison for his alleged role in a New York-based Russian and Georgian crime syndicate, has been stripped of his interim middleweight world title.

Khurtsidze was arrested on June 7, along with 33 others as part of a federal government roundup of those accused of involvement in the crime ring. They are accused of racketeering, robbery and murder for hire, among other illicit activity.

Khurtsidze, 38, is charged with conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO, as well as conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Each felony charge carries up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

On June 8, the WBO sent a letter to Khurtsidze through promoter Lou DiBella, giving the fighter five days to offer a reason that his title should not be vacated.

The WBO said the letter was not answered, so the organization wrote in its resolution that Khurtsidze's "interim middleweight championship is hereby vacated." Khurtsidze has 10 days to file an appeal.

Now Saunders is waiting for the WBO to determine the mandatory challenger, leaving him in limbo and not fighting on July 8.

"I don't know [Khurtsidze] personally, but these serious allegations have got in the way of his big chance, and I suppose if he did this stuff, he only has himself to blame. It's down to him," Saunders said. "I'll be in the gym training hard and ticking over. [Promoter] Frank [Warren] is waiting to hear from the WBO to find out who I have to fight next as I am overdue [for] a mandatory defense. Until then, I'll have to stay focused and show a bit of patience.


"Hopefully Frank will get news on that soon and then we can look at the options. I know the fans will want me to still fight, but it's not that simple. I have to get my mandatory defense out the way if I want the winner of Canelo [Alvarez] vs. [Gennady] Golovkin, and that is still my No. 1 priority. Everything happens for a reason. I'm gutted, but this is boxing and anything can happen. I feel sorry for the fans, but you can't plan for something like this to happen."

[crusader]

There is some talk of Lemieux-BJS, and they've been trading insults.

Let's see that now