Oleg Korotaev Boxer Country: Russia

1. Biography of Oleg Korotaev
2. Early Life and Boxing Career
3. First World Championship
4. Life after Boxing and Tragic Death

Biography of Oleg Korotaev

Oleg Korotaev, a Soviet boxer, was known for his aggressive boxing style and powerful knockout punch. He was compared to renowned ring masters such as Boris Kuznetsov, Vyacheslav Lemeshov, and Viktor Rybakov.

Early Life and Boxing Career

Oleg Korotaev was born in 1949 and became one of the best light heavyweight boxers in the USSR in the early to mid-1970s. He trained under the guidance of coach G. Dzheroyan at the "Burevestnik" sports society in Moscow. In 1970, he won the gold medal at the USSR Championships, defeating his compatriot V. Nesterenko in the final. Throughout his career, Korotaev became a five-time USSR champion and also earned a silver medal.

In 1973, Korotaev represented the national team at the XX European Boxing Championship. The team included V. Zasypko, B. Kuznetsov, A. Klimanov, and V. Lemeshov. In the semi-final, Oleg faced the famous Yugoslavian boxer V. Parlov, who was the reigning European champion at the time. After a close fight, Parlov emerged as the winner, securing the bronze medal, while Korotaev took home the bronze.

First World Championship

On August 17, 1974, history was made as the first World Championship among amateur boxers commenced in Havana, Cuba. Oleg Korotaev was among the 263 boxers from 45 countries who gathered at the Sports Palace to determine the strongest boxers in the world. After successful preliminary matches, Korotaev faced the promising American boxer Leon Spinks in a tough bout and defeated him. Interestingly, three years later, Spinks would go on to become the undisputed world champion by defeating the legendary Muhammad Ali.

In the final, Korotaev once again met his familiar opponent from the European Championship, V. Parlov from Yugoslavia. Unfortunately, the judges favored the more renowned two-time European champion, giving Parlov the victory. Nevertheless, Korotaev became the silver medalist in the first World Championship.

Life after Boxing and Tragic Death

After retiring from the ring, Oleg Korotaev remained involved in boxing and became the Vice President of the Russian Boxing Association. However, on January 12, 1994, tragic news reached Russia about the murder of the remarkable boxer and person, Oleg Korotaev. He was shot in the back of the head at 4 am on Brighton Beach Avenue in South Brooklyn, USA. The deputy head of the organized crime combat unit in New York State, Greg Stashuk, stated that it was the work of a contract killer who must have been near Korotaev at the time of the shooting. The killer(s) did not raise any suspicion from Korotaev and may have even been sitting at the same table in a restaurant. It was only when they found themselves on a deserted street at night that the killer calmly pulled out a gun and shot Korotaev.

The Russian press immediately speculated that Korotaev's murder was connected to his alleged involvement in the Valyulins gang. Some sources claimed that Korotaev worked as a bouncer in a bar, and disgruntled patrons sought revenge on the boxer. However, these speculations and fantasies of journalists have been left for the FBI, who have unsuccessfully investigated the case for six years. To the thousands of people who came to bid farewell at the Vagankovskoye Cemetery in Moscow, Korotaev was a great and open-hearted person, a great athlete who always wished everyone well.

In 1995, a book by Nikolay Kosmin was released, revealing the tragic fate of the outstanding modern boxer Oleg Korotaev, whose death shocked the world. The author, in an engaging and captivating manner, unravels the background of the mysterious events that accompanied the protagonist in his incredible life.