Imam Khataev


Imam Abdulayevich Khataev is a Russian boxer. He competed in the Boxing at the [2020 Summer Olympics – Men's light heavyweight|men's light heavyweight event] at the 2020 Summer Olympics, where he was defeated by Briton Benjamin Whittaker by a score of 4–1 in the semifinals.

Biography and career

Imam Khataev was born on August 31, 1994 in Kulary village, Chechen Republic. His first professional trainer was Shamil Batsagov.
In 2015 he participated in the Russian Championship in Samara.
In 2017 he received the title of Master of Sports of international class.
He turned pro in 2021, but continued to compete in the amateur ranks alongside his pro career until 2023, when he won the bronze medal at the World Boxing Championships in Uzbekistan. Since then, he has fought exclusively as a professional.
Khataev won all of his first ten professional fights, including nine by KO. He eventually faced David Morrell on July 12, 2025, in New York City. A former WBA WBA world champions#Super middleweight|super-middleweight] and light-heavyweight Regular champion, Morrell was considered a major step-up in class for Khataev. On July 8, the International Testing Agency, under the auspicies of the IBA, revealed that Khataev had tested positive for clomifene in April of that year. While Khataev was suspended for two years by the IBA, the bout was allowed to continue, evidently due to the IBA's limited jurisdiction.
Despite knocking Morrell down in the fifth round, Khataev lost a controversial 10-round split decision, handing him his first defeat.
Khataev is currently scheduled to face former world-title challenger Adam Deines on December 11th, 2025, at the Lac Leamy Casino in Gatineau, Canada. Previously, he had been scheduled to face Richard Rivera, who dropped out due to an unspecified injury.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
11Loss10–1David Morrell Jr.1012 Jul 2025Louis Armstrong Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
10Win10–0Druval Palacios1022 Mar 2025Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
9Win9–0Yunior MenendezTKO3 1:307 Dec 2024SC Coliseum, Grozny, Russia
8Win8–0Ezequiel MadernaTKO7 0:455 Sep 2024Montreal Casino, Montreal, CanadaWon NABF Light Heavyweight title
7Win7–0Ričards BolotņiksTKO6 1:3411 May 2024RAC Arena, Perth, Australia
6Win6–0Michał LudwiczakTKO2 2:1713 Jan 2024Videotron Centre, Quebec City, CanadaWon vacant North [American Boxing Federation|NABF] Light Heavyweight title
5Win5–0Fernando GalvanTKO2 0:4414 Nov 2023Montreal Casino, Montreal, Canada
4Win4–0David BenitezTKO3 2:3011 Oct 2023Montreal Casino, Montreal, Canada
3Win3–0Gi Sung GwakTKO2 0:2812 Mar 2023Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
2Win2–0Adam Trenado1 1:5016 Jul 2022Lebane Square, Lebane, Serbia
1Win1–0Ismat Eynullayev1 2:033 Nov 2021Grozny, Russia