Denis Boytsov Dies at 40 in Oryol, Russia

Denis Boytsov died at the age of 40 after suffering a medical emergency at his family home in Oryol, Russia. His father, Nikolai, attributed his death to a detached blood clot.

Boytsov was found unconscious on the tracks between two Berlin subway stations with catastrophic head injuries on May 3, 2015.

In June 2015, Berlin prosecutors closed the investigation, finding no evidence of third-party involvement and concluding that Boytsov had suffered his injuries in an accident while intoxicated. He spent seven weeks in a medically induced coma before beginning his recovery.

Neurological damage from the incident left Boytsov unable to walk or speak, ending his prospect of returning to boxing.

Boytsov built a professional record of 36-1 with 27 stoppages. His only professional defeat came against Alex Leapai in November 2013. He achieved a second-round stoppage of Irineu Beato Costa Junior in March 2015.

Boytsov is reportedly still young enough to be competing in today’s heavyweight division and potentially earning millions given the current Riyadh Season pay scale.

What do you remember about Denis Boytsov’s 36-1 career and the 2015 Berlin incident that ended his boxing prospects?