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Khataev, a silver medalist at the 2020 Olympics, has signaled his willingness to take on established names early on. Fighters listed as references include David Benavidez, Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. His approach is based on pressure, with an emphasis on physical exchanges and sustained offense. Comparisons to Beterbiev have focused on his willingness to close and invest in body work rather than relying on range control.
Khataev last fought on December 11, stopping Adam Deines in the third round. Deines was knocked out twice, once in the first round and again in the third. The stoppage came after a right hand to the body sent Deines to a knee, followed by a full count from the referee.
The victory followed Khataev’s first professional loss, a 10-round split decision to David Morrell on July 12, 2025. Khataev scored a fifth-round knockdown with a looping right hand, but lost on two scorecards. The decision received mixed reactions from fans and observers.
Four years into his professional career, Khataev holds an 11-1 record with 10 knockouts. He is ranked No. 6 by the WBC, No. 7 by the IBF and No. 15 by the WBO at light heavyweight.
Fighters ranked ahead of him include established contenders positioned in mandatory or provisional lanes, leaving limited movement with no knockout opportunity.
He is expected to remain active in training pending confirmation of his next fight, with the intention of remaining available for late opportunities if openings appear in the division’s contenders’ schedule.
The timing of this return will likely depend on the sanctioning of body movements and availability in the top fifteen in early 2026.
Power carries Khataev early, but he fades, gets hit too hard, and it’s already shown against Morrell. This needs to change, otherwise it’s not going anywhere.
