Home » Sports » Boxing

Denis Boytsov dead at 40: Boxer once set to fight Tyson Fury dies 11 years after subway attack left him unable to speak

RUSSIAN boxer Denis Boytsov has died at the age of 40. Boytsov's death has come 11 years after a Berlin subway attack left him unable to speak. His father Nikolai has told Russian news agency TASS that doctors were unable…

By Henry Ollis-Brown · The Sun UK

Published: Sunday, 18 October 2026 at 1:13 PM

Key Things to Know

Russian heavyweight boxer Denis Boytsov has died at age 40 following a fatal blood clot.
Boytsov had suffered severe brain trauma and speech loss after a 2015 Berlin subway attack.
The former contender retired with a 36-1 professional record following the life-altering attack.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Former Russian heavyweight boxer Denis Boytsov has passed away at the age of 40. His father, Nikolai, confirmed to Russian news agency TASS that Boytsov died instantly at home from a blood clot. The tragedy occurred 11 years after a violent Berlin subway attack in 2015 left the fighter with severe head injuries and unable to speak.

Boytsov finished his professional boxing career with an impressive 36-1 record after the 2015 assault forced him into early retirement. At his peak, he was ranked as the world's second-best heavyweight and was previously scheduled to fight Tyson Fury in December 2012 before withdrawing. His funeral was scheduled to take place in Russia's Oryol region.

Read the full article on The Sun UK

Denis Boytsov dead at 40: Boxer once set to fight Tyson Fury dies 11 years after subway attack left him unable to speak

More Boxing News

Never Miss a Sports Update