Retired Boxer Steps In as Hostage, Then Takes Down Knife-Wielding Attacker [WATCH]

A retired boxing champion is being celebrated as a hero after courageously stepping in to protect a young woman held hostage by a knife-wielding attacker at Almaty Airport in Kazakhstan, as reported by The Daily Mail.

The harrowing moment unfolded as 52-year-old Musa Abdraim put himself in harm’s way, volunteering to take the place of a terrified 21-year-old female security officer who was seized by a deranged man threatening to detonate a bomb.

Security footage captured the chaos as the 67-year-old suspect, when asked to present identification at the security checkpoint, suddenly brandished a knife.

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Grabbing the young officer by her hair, he waved the blade dangerously close to her face while claiming he had the means to blow up the entire airport using his phone.

⚠️ Almaty Airport Heroics!
⁰A man attacked a woman at the domestic terminal, but 52-year-old Abdraim Musa Sayranbaiuly leapt in – offering himself as a hostage and disarming the attacker.
⁰Kazakhstan’s Pres. Tokayev honors his bravery with a state award! 🇰🇿🦸‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/LOq1XvoFeP

— ＧＲＡＹ ＴＡＣＴＩＣＳ (@GrayTactica) March 7, 2025

As panic spread and authorities hesitated, Abdraim, a father of five, boldly stepped forward. “Take me hostage instead of her,” he told the madman. Incredibly, the attacker agreed, releasing the horrified woman and turning his weapon on Abdraim instead.

Musa Abdraim, a retired boxer, offers to take the place of a woman who was being held hostage in the Almaty Airport (Kazakhstan) then disarms him 👌🏽#kazakhstan #borat #Almaty #airport #hostage #knife pic.twitter.com/ZFuq35anRU

— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) March 7, 2025

With the airport frozen in fear, Abdraim seized his moment. Without hesitation, he lunged at the attacker, wrestling the knife from his grip using only his bare hands.

A tense struggle ensued before security personnel and police officers rushed in, pinning the man to the ground and ending the standoff.

Musa Abdraim a 52-year-old retired boxing legend voluntarily took the place of a terrified 21-year-old security officer. Who was held at knifepoint at Almaty Airport. He grabbed the knife and subdued the Terrorist. #Boxing pic.twitter.com/dXB09yY5pm

— Vechtsport Info 🇳🇱 🇲🇦 🇧🇪 🇪🇺 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@vechtsport_Info) March 7, 2025

Speaking after the ordeal, Abdraim recounted how his instincts took over.

“Suddenly I heard a girl scream and immediately ran there. I saw that he was going to stab her. I was really afraid he would stab her.”

While admitting he was still in shock, Abdraim credited his past experience in boxing, martial arts, Thai boxing, and kickboxing—skills he hadn’t used in years—for his ability to act decisively in the moment. His selflessness and bravery did not go unnoticed.

Kazakh authorities confirmed that the attacker, an Almaty resident, had been arrested and now faces up to 12 years behind bars. A police statement detailed how officers, with assistance from airport security and a “hero citizen,” successfully subdued and detained the suspect.

Abdraim’s extraordinary act of courage has now reached the highest levels of recognition, with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announcing that he will be awarded a state medal for bravery.

While many call him a hero, Abdraim remains humble about his actions. “I just did what I had to do,” he said. But in a world where too many stand by in fear, his fearless intervention stands as a testament to true courage.