20-year-old world Muaythai champion killed in Almaty

20-year-old Serik Ali, Kazakh-born world Muaythai champion, was stabbed to death in Almaty’s Shugyla microdistrict, Kazinform News Agency reports.

The Muaythai Federation of Kazakhstan expressed its condolences to the fighter's family.

“Sad news came from Almaty. Serik Ali, world champion in Muaythai among adults, was killed by hooligans. The Federation expresses its deepest condolences to the family and relatives of our champion,” a publication on Instagram reads.

The suspect was detained shortly after the incident and placed in a temporary detention facility.

Ali Serik was a professional fighter-kickboxer. In 2022, in Malaysia, he was recognized the world’s youngest Muaythai champion among adults.

In July 2018, Denis Ten, Kazakh-born world-famous figure skater, bronze medalist of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, was stabbed  in Almaty downtown. The athlete was rushed to a hospital, where he died of massive blood loss.

In October 2024, two-time world champion in para-taekwondo, Nyshan Omirali, died in a road accident in Zhambyl region.