EDMONDS, Wash. (August 14, 2008) – Three Georgian professional boxers – Mamuka Jikurashvili, Levan and Shalva Jomardashvili – are collectively in the toughest fight of their young careers, and it’s not taking place in the four-cornered ring.
The three young fighters had an appointment to receive their visas, approved by U.S. immigration, at the U.S. Embassy in Georgia, but, unfortunately it was scheduled for the morning of the day war broke out between Russia and their native Georgia. They had applied for visas to the U.S. in order to pursue their boxing careers.
Ground transportation in Georgia was too dangerous for them to travel to the U.S. Embassy and visa services were then temporarily suspended. They are now in contact with embassies in Armenia and Buku, but they’re still unable to travel
The Jomardashvili brothers, in fact, hail from Gory, which was the epicenter of trouble on the border to the south of Ossetia at the battle front. Bombs wiped out many houses and buildings, leaving countless citizens, including the Jomardasvilis, as refugees.
Granted, 60 of their combined 61 pro fights have been in Georgia, but Shalva is a 25-0 (18 KOs) middleweight, Levan a 16-0 (13 KOs) light heavyweight, and heavyweight Mamuka sports a 20-1 (14 KOs) with his only loss to former Cuban star Odlanier Solis (8-0) in Turkey.
Shalva, only 21, was 75-3 as an amateur, 5-time Georgian National Champion, and winner of numerous International tournaments. His brother, 18-year-old Levan, was 52-2 as an amateur and 4-time Georgian National Champion. Mamukam, reigning Georgian heavyweight title-holder, was a 3-time Georgian National Champion as an amateur.
Boxing manager Egis Klimas (E Point K Consulting) has been advising the three Georgian boxers.