Imam Khataev

Imam Abdulayevich Khataev (Russian: Имам Абдулаевич Хатаев, IPA: [ɪˈmamxɐˈta(ɪ̯)ɪf]; born 31 August 1994) is a Russian boxer. He competed in the 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 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 (the first knockdown of Morrell's career), 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

External links

• at BoxRec (registration required)
• at Olympedia