Albanian Featherweight Boris Stanchov Dies Using His Cousin Isus Velichkov’s Boxing License
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In a new boxing tragedy fatality so horrific and confusing the World Boxing Council and many boxing media sites got the name of the deceased wrong due to a deliberate licensing deception which duped unsuspecting ring officials. Albanian featherweight Boris Stanchov has died from injuries received in the ring. Stanchov, 0-6, whose boxing license was suspended or revoked due to medical reasons in Albania, was illegally using his cousin Isus Velichkov’s professional boxing license September 21, 2019, against Ardit Murja, 4-1 with two knockouts, Durres, Albania, in a six-rounder at Qazim Dervishi, Shkoder, Albania.
Stanchov collapsed during the fifth round of the bout, and then fell to the canvas in his corner unconscious and died. The death occurred right then and there, despite the best efforts of medical teams on the scene to try to save him. Stanchov was immediately taken to the nearest hospital by ambulance, but could not be resuscitated. Albanian television stated a boxer identified as Isus Velichkov had died in the ring of cardiac arrest. It was only then Velichov came forward with an incredible story-his cousin had died in the ring instead.
According to Velichkov’s statement, “He (cousin Boris) has been playing (planning on fighting) with my card (my boxing license) since 2018. He said no problem, the coach knows.” Both Velichkov (for allowing his cousin to possess and use his boxing license, which is renewed annually), and Stanchov’s trainer (for being aware of the deception and allowing his fighter to fight under somebody’ else’s license) are liable for the ring tragedy.
The evil concept a suspended or banned fighter could fight under somebody else’s boxing license is one rarely seen, given that a legitimate boxing commission will always know a fighter’s true identity by photographs and other verifiable data. Fighters have fought under assumed names and identities, particularly when they seek to fight again quickly after fighting a bout, even the next day. There is a major difference, though, between using false credentials versus using someone else’s credentials. It should not take the death of a fighter like Stanchov to put more stringent boxing rules and regulations in place to ensure one fighter does not utilize or steal another fighter’s identity entering the ring. The BoxRec online has been updated correctly regarding 0-6 Boris Stanchov. His ring death occurred effectively against a more experienced fighter, when Stanchov was not supposed to be fighting. The preventable death of Boris Stanchov has sent shock waves through the boxing community. How could such a preventable tragedy be allowed to occur in the first place? Stanchov was not allowed to fight due to medical reasons. It should never have happened.
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