Sergey Kobozev (Kostroma, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union; 20 July 1964 – 8 November 1995) was a Russian boxer, who challenged for the WBC Cruiserweight title in 1995. He is also known as a first boxer to defeat John Ruiz. He proved to be a tough slugger, but his career ended early after he was killed by the Russian mafia. Kobozev was the Cruiserweight Champion of the Soviet Union. After moving to the United States, he continued his undefeated career and became the International Boxing Federation Cruiserweight Champion in July 1994. He was scheduled to fight Orlin Norris on March 12, 1995, for the WBA World Cruiserweight title, but the fight didn't happen. In a bout for the WBC Cruiserweight title on October 24, 1995, he lost his title shot via a split decision. Shortly thereafter he was given another title shot opportunity at a rematch scheduled for December 13 for which he was training, he also had three big matches coming up, but on November 8, 1995, Kobozev was reported missing by his girlfriend Lina Cherskikh. Later surfaced that Kobozev was murdered by Russian mafia after a bar scuffle at Brooklyn's Paradise Club the weekend of November 3, 1995. Early life Kobozev had been a captain in the Soviet Army and held a degree in chemistry from the Institute of Moscow, before he made his name as a cruiserweight on the Soviet national boxing team. Amateur career As an amateur, Kobozev held wins over Ali Al-Baluchi, Garry Delaney. Highlights Army Championships of the Friendly Armies of the Socialist Countries (heavyweight), Yaroslavl, RSFSR, June 1984: (no data available) Tammer Tournament (light heavyweight), Tampere, Finland, October 1984: Finals: Defeated Milan Picka (Czechoslovakia) by decision President's Cup (heavyweight), Jakarta, Indonesia, February 1985: Finals: Defeated Ali Al-Baluchi (Kuwait) RSC 2 Summer Spartakiad of Peoples of the USSR, boxing (light heavyweight), Moscow, RSFSR, September 1986: 1/2: Defeated Petro Mischenko (Ukrainian SSR) Finals: Lost to Yuriy Vaulin (Latvian SSR) Tammer Tournament (light heavyweight), Tampere, Finland, October 1986: 1/2: Lost to Wolf Preiss (East Germany) Army Championships of the Friendly Armies of the Socialist Countries (light heavyweight), Rostov, RSFSR, June 1987: Finals: Lost to Khakim Matchanov (Uzbek SSR) by split decision, 2–3 Giraldo Córdova Cardín Tournament (light heavyweight), Las Tunas, Cuba, June–July 1988: 1/8: Defeated Benjamin Luperon (Cuba) by unanimous decision, 5–0 1/4: Defeated Julio Quintana (Cuba) by majority decision, 4–1 1/2: Lost to Pablo Romero (Cuba)