Spectators storm the ring and attack Mourad Aliev after his Istanbul WBC Silver bout

The bout and the gesture

Mourad Aliev and Umut Camkiran fought for the WBC Silver heavyweight title on Saturday, 7 November, at the Ülker Sports Arena in Istanbul. The bout went the full twelve rounds without a knockout. As the referee was about to name the winner, Aliev made a celebratory gesture with sexual overtones toward the Turkish crowd, according to several reports. Camkiran, who had entered the fight unbeaten in 25 professional bouts, moved toward him, and the reports differ on what came next. Mediafax reports that Camkiran struck first and Aliev responded, while other reports describe the exchange escalating within seconds. The referee did not manage to announce a winner, and security staff could not stop the confrontation.

Ring invasion and attack

Dozens of spectators climbed into the ring, and reports say several dozen men then surrounded Aliev and struck him repeatedly. Some reports say part of the security staff tried to protect him while others let the attackers through, and the security team was overwhelmed. Spectators threw bottles, chairs, tables and stools, according to Digi24 and Ziare.com. HotNews, citing The Sun, reports that Aliev was hit several times, including on the back of the neck, before security staff removed him from the ring. Video shared on social media shows numerous people involved in the scuffle and objects thrown from the stands.

Exit, aftermath and open questions

As Aliev walked toward the tunnel, chairs and other objects were thrown at him, and he ran for the exit while an angry crowd followed. The broadcast of the fight in Turkey was interrupted. As of the reports, the organisers and the relevant bodies had not published an official result or a statement on the incidents. Aliev had not publicly commented on his physical or mental condition, and his only social media post showed him holding the WBC Silver belt on Instagram. Mediafax reports that the victory was awarded to Aliev on points, a claim the other reports in this cluster do not confirm.

Background on Aliev

Aliev was born in Moscow on 31 July 1995 to an amateur boxer father of Azerbaijani origin, who came to France as a political refugee and settled in Ronchin. Aliev took French citizenship after turning 18 and joined the INSEP national sports institute. He first represented France internationally at the 2019 European Games in Minsk, where he won silver in the super heavyweight category. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics he reached the quarterfinals, where he was eliminated by Britain's Frazer Clarke after a disqualification for accidental head clashes. Adevarul reports that the referee's error was later acknowledged, but the decision could not be overturned. Mediafax reports that Aliev now has 16 wins and one defeat as a professional.