Name: Koba Gogoladze Career Record: click Alias: The Cobra Nationality: Georgian Birthplace: Poti, Georgia Hometown: Philadelphia, PA Born: 1973-01-07 Stance: Southpaw Height: 5' 7"

Professional Career

Described by many as a pure fighter with knockout power in both hands, Koba Gogoladze's fighting style has been compared to the legendary world champion, Roberto Duran. Nicknamed "The Cobra" for his ability to strike at any time, Gogoladze has combined hard, quick combinations with technical boxing skills to develop into a feared lightweight since turning pro in 1999.

He has come back with three wins since his only loss as a pro in March, 2005, against prospect Kid Diamond, aka Almazbek Raimykulov.

Co-manager Jim Williams said, “We don’t care who Koba fights. Just give me a film of the guy so we can see what he does wrong. Koba can adjust, and he can fight a lot of different ways.

“The only reason Koba lost that fight against Kid Diamond, he tore his hand up. Something happened to his bicep, too, he couldn’t lift his left arm. He had to take some time off to get that fixed up, it laid him up for a while.

“It was one operation that corrected both of them. We knew he tore it up. He said he couldn’t continue, he thought it was broken. In Mississippi, they x-rayed it and didn’t find any broken bones. But when we came back, we had a specialist look at it, and he had a hole in his tendon. They had to take a tendon from another part of his body and sew that together or something. It was a big deal, but he’s fine now. We got it fixed up, and now he’s ready to go. He had his hand operated on, had the tendon sewn up. Now it’s fine. It’s not bothering him.”

Koba is a native of the Republic of Georgia, formerly a part of the Soviet Union. He was based in England at the start of his professional career, but has been living and fighting in the U.S. since November, 2002.

He had a sensational amateur career, which included an impressive win against two-time world amateur champion Julio Gonzalez of Cuba, as well as a win and a loss in two fights against two-time amateur world champion Leonard Dorin, who went on to win the WBA lightweight world title as a pro.

Koba said, “It was first time I was in U. S. for Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. I came a month before to train. I beat Julio Gonzalez in Olympic Games. He was very strong, he fought a very good fight. When I beat him, he was a world legend already. I lost first fight against Dorin, but he was no problem for me second time. My hardest fight as amateur was Mario Kindelan. I lost. I fought him in Cuba.” [note: Kindelan was the Olympic gold medalist in 2000 and 2004, and a three-time amateur World Champion; recently retired, Kindelan reportedly lost only six fights in his 17-year amateur career]

As a pro, Koba took his first significant step up in class of opposition in July, 2004, and scored his career-best win against former contender Lamar Murphy (W10). Koba also has impressive wins to his credit against prospects Tyrone Harris (W10), Antonio Davis (W12), Juan Garza (TKO2), and previously undefeated Carl Johanneson (W8).
Regarding his nickname, Koba said, “When I come here to America, everybody said my name is Koba, my punch like cobra.”

A boxing prodigy, Gogoladze fights behind the jab and his technical skills make him difficult to rattle. His hand speed, poise and guts carry him through each fight.

Gogoladze has captured the World Boxing Federation (WBF) International, North American Boxing Organization (NABO) and International Boxing Association (IBA) Continental lightweight titles during his career.

Amateur Accomplishments

Member of the 1996 Georgian Olympic Team as a Lightweight. His results were:

• Defeated Ri Chol (North Korea) 17-9
• Defeated Julio Gonzalez Valladares (Cuba) 14-9
• Lost to Leonard Dorin 8-17

As an amateur fighting in his homeland, The Republic of Georgia, Gogoladze became one of the world's top amateur fighters by capturing numerous titles. "The Cobra," who was the Soviet Union National Champion in 1989, '90 and '98, captured The Republic of Georgia National Championship seven times (1991, '92 and '94-'98).