The sports community in Uzbekistan is mourning the loss of Rufat Riskiyev, the 1974 world champion, Montreal Olympic silver medalist, and legendary boxer known as the 'Tashkent Tiger,' who has passed away at the age of 76. Family members, friends, and fellow athletes have shared detailed reflections on his remarkable career, his struggles, and the hardships he faced later in life.

According to his son, Kudratkhodja Riskiyev, his father fought 189 bouts during his career, securing 174 victories. However, one of his lifelong regrets was failing to secure an Olympic gold medal, which he allegedly attributed to systemic biases and unfair treatment by sports authorities during the Soviet era, making his path significantly more difficult than that of his peers.

In his later years, the former champion encountered severe health and financial challenges. Due to worsening vascular issues, Riskiyev had to undergo the amputation of both legs in 2016 and 2022 respectively. While critics point out that state backing was occasionally lacking during critical periods, he continued to receive support from devoted fans, local acquaintances, and international boxing bodies until his final days.

Source: www.gazeta.uz