A World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver heavyweight championship fight in Istanbul ended in chaos after spectators stormed the ring and attacked French boxer Mourad Aliev over a gesture they viewed as obscene.
Aliev had just defeated previously undefeated Turkish fighter Umut Camkiran by unanimous decision after 12 rounds.
Following the result, Aliev made a gesture toward his groin that some spectators interpreted as obscene. Tensions escalated when Camkiran approached him, and several people rushed into the ring, throwing punches and kicks.
Reports also described Aliev being struck with a chair as security personnel struggled to protect him.
Aliev later explained that the gesture was meant to highlight illegal punches he claimed to have received below the belt and behind the head during the fight, not to insult the crowd. He also pointed out that he had entered the ring carrying a Turkish flag.
The WBC condemned the violence and called for those responsible to be investigated.
