LOS ANGELES (October 26, 2023) – Rising LA-based promotional company Toro Promotions has announced the signing of 2020 Ukraine Olympic heavyweight prospect Tsotne Rogava (3-0, 3 KOs) to an exclusive promotional contract.
The 6’ 5”, 270-pound Rogava is a combat sports veteran who has successfully transitioned to boxing from his world class Muay Thai and kickboxing career, highlighted by his three-time IFMA World title-winning performances in Muay Thai as an amateur, along with his ACB kickboxing crown.
“Toro is excited to sign Tsotne because he’s a former Olympian with a lot of fighting experience,” Toro Promotions promoter Azat Torosan said. “He’s a big, tough, talented fighter.
“I am delighted to announce today that I have signed a contract with Toro Promotions,” Rogava commented. “I am grateful to Toro and the team for the opportunity to showcase my skills. I am thrilled to join the team and work together. This year has been challenging for my career and I am excited to step back in the ring, but actions speak louder than words in boxing.”
Rogava is trained by Joe Goossen, who was inducted into the prestigious International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) this past summer and Rogava works out daily with another fighter Joe trains, (Armenian heavyweight) Gurgen “Big Gug” Hovhannisyan (4-0, 4 KOs).
Goossen has trained world champions such as Diego Corrales, Riddick Bowe, Shane Mosley, Joel Casamayor, Gabriel and Rafael Ruelas, Amir Khan, and Michael Nunn.
Goossen was instrumental in discovering Rogava, who was first brought into training camp to spar Hovhannisyan, who was supposed to fight former world heavyweight champion Charles Martin. The fight didn’t happen because Martin pulled out three weeks out to take another fight.
“Of all the fighters we brought in,” Goossen explained, “he (Rogava) had that amateur pedigree. I can’t pronounce his name, so I asked him what people called him. He said, ‘T,’ but now I call him ‘Mr. T.’ He’s mean – pleasant outside the ring – in the ring. He’s aggressive, skillful, and a pressure fighter. You don’t make it on an Olympic team unless you have skills, and he definitely does. He is a great find; we scored big. He’s going to be moved really fast.
“To already have skills from his Olympic competition is invaluable. He is special. I love his work ethic. He lives (in LA) with his wife and kids. He has a very pleasing style; heavy-handed and an accurate puncher without wasting punches. And he can take a good shot, too. He has a mean streak, too. He is a bad dude.”
The 30-year-old Rogava, who was born in Georgia, was a member of Ukraine amateur boxing program that has produced prizefighting stars such as Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, Oleksandr Usyk and Vasily Lomachenko. Rogava represented Ukraine at the 2020 Olympic Games in London.
Rogava made his pro debut in boxing back on April 10, 2021, stopping Petar Mrvalj in the opening round of their fight in Kyiv, Ukraine. The following May in Cologne, Germany, he defeated Michael Bassett, who was unable to continue after two rounds in a scheduled six-round bout.
In his most recent fight, which was held in France a little more than a year ago, Rogava knocked out Demir Gulamic in round two.