David Benavidez moves up to the light heavyweight pision this weekend, where he takes on former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk in an intriguing clash.
The interim WBC title at 175 pounds is on the line, a belt Gvozdyk won in 2018 before losing to Artur Beterbiev the following year.
“I feel very good,” Benavidez told The Jugo Mobile at the start of fight week. “I’ve been at 168 for the last 10 years – my entire career – and this is probably the weight class we should have been fighting in all along. I feel comfortable, I feel very fast, I feel very strong. My stamina is also lasting longer.”
LOOK: David Benavidez vs. Oleksandr Gvozdyk on Prime Video
Benavidez has his eye on the winner of Beterbiev’s clash with Dmitry Bivol, but Gvozdyk should be no pushover. The 37-year-old was one of five Ukrainian men’s boxing medalists at the London 2012 Olympics, and was part of arguably the best team the Games have ever seen.
Here, we look at what the esteemed Ukrainian class of 2012, including two of the greatest fighters of the 21st century, have accomplished in the paid ranks.
I’m looking forward to it #knoll pic.twitter.com/4wnnFaGlfu
– LOMA (@VasylLomachenko) August 27, 2019
Vasily Lomachenko
After sealing lightweight gold in London along with the featherweight title he claimed at Beijing 2008, Lomachenko wrapped up a barely credible amateur record of 396-1 by fighting his way through the AIBA World Boxing Series.
The strange feeling of not having your hand raised returned in Lomachenko’s second professional fight. Incredibly, it was a world title fight in which he was manhandled and lost a split decision against Orlando Salido, the only loss suffered by any of the 2012 Ukrainian medalists.
Not that it caused a step back. Lomachenko knocked out Gary Russell Jr. next time out to win the vacant WBO featherweight crown. That was the first of his world titles in three weight pisions.
Lomachenko dominated fellow amateur Guillermo Rigondeaux in December 2017 before moving up to lightweight and dethroning the sublime Jorge Linares to win the WBA and Ring titles. He followed a unification with WBO champion José Pedraza before consecutive British attacks on Anthony Crolla and Luke Campbell.
Teófimo López surprised Loma by ending his 13-game winning streak with a unanimous decision win in October 2020. Three rebuilding wins paved the way for a close, contested loss to Devin Haney for the undisputed 135 title. pounds, but a one-sided defeat of George Kambosos means Lomachenko, 36, has the IBF strap around his waist. Superfights with the likes of Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson would make for a bold finish.
Oleksandr Usyk
A London 2012 gold medalist at heavyweight and 335-15 as an amateur, Usyk’s professional career was another one that began in fast forward. She outpointed previously undefeated Krzysztof Glowacki in their 10th fight to win the WBO cruiserweight title and then handed Mairis Briedis her first loss to take the WBC crown. Murat Gassiev’s “0” was also taken by the masterful southpaw in a one-sided final of the World Boxing Super Series that unified the four main titles at 200 pounds.
Usyk underlined his status as cruiserweight king by completely stopping Tony Bellew in November 2018, completing a phenomenal job at 200 pounds. However, it is his historic exploits at heavyweight that have earned him the status of one of the all-time greats.
After acclimating to life among the big boys with wins over Chazz Witherspoon and Derek Chisora, Usyk dethroned Anthony Joshua with a masterful performance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September 2021 to become unified heavyweight champion.
He prevailed once again in an entertaining comeback against Joshua in Jeddah a year later, beginning a frustrating wait for an undisputed showdown with Tyson Fury. Meanwhile, he stopped Daniel Dubois, a victory that has aged well given the Briton’s impressive response to that setback.
Finally, Usyk’s date with Fury and destiny arrived on May 18, 2024. A close fight for the first two-thirds of the contest decisively turned Usyk’s way in the ninth round when he hurt Fury, nearly stopped him and scored a drop. The split decision verdict on the scorecards was the least an incredible fighting machine deserved.
Oleksandr Gvozdyk
Lomachenko and Usyk were in Quebec cheering on their friend as he became world champion at a relatively slow pace. Gvozdyk’s 16th fight brought a brutal 11th round knockout of WBC light heavyweight king Adonis Stevenson, a triumph that was soon mired in sadness as the Canadian veteran, who has since made notable progress in his recovery, In the long term, he required emergency brain surgery. .
Gvozdyk notched 14 KOs in 17 outings as he stopped Doudou Ngumbu in his first defense before Artur Beterbiev ended his reign in shocking and terrifying fashion. The champion was up on two of the three scorecards when the Russian wrecking ball knocked him down three times and stopped him in the tenth round.
That seemed to be it, as Gvozdyk spent more than three years out of the ring. He returned against journeyman Josué Obando in February 2023 and wins over Ricards Bolotniks and Isaac Rodrigues gave him a chance against Benavidez and a chance to destroy some of the best-laid plans.
Denys Berinchyk
Berinchyk defeated Manny Pacquiao’s future conqueror Jeff Horn at London 2012 before being forced to settle for silver at light welterweight against Cuban Roniel Iglesias. He turned around later than Lomachenko, Usyk and Gvozdyk, making his professional debut in 2015.
Denys Berinchyk returned last night and entered the ring as Super Mario!
Takes his record to 10-0-0 pic.twitter.com/3CBLmoJE1V
— Against the ropes (@ATRboxinguk) December 23, 2018
Based on his homeland, Berinchyk patiently compiled a record against opponents not as notable as his now-viral ring walks, with a Super Mario spin before stopping Rosekie Cristobal to retain the WBO international title as a highlight.
Berinchyk kept that little-regarded leash for more than four years, but it finally served a purpose. Hours after Usyk’s moment of triumph against Fury, he won a split decision verdict against Emanuel Navarrete to claim the vacant WBO full title and become the fourth member of the team to win world honors in the professional ring.
Taras Shelestyuk
The professional career of Shelestyuk, the eldest of the quintet, failed to take off due to injuries and management problems. Winner of bronze in London after being beaten by local favorite Fred Evans in the semi-finals, the 38-year-old was last in action when he boxed to a split decision draw against Gabriel Maestre in March 2022.
It’s the only blemish on a 19-0-1 (11 KOs) record and, despite his advanced age, Shelestyuk’s social media activity suggests he’s far from done with the sport. Time is ticking to see if she can become the fifth of the five Ukrainian medalists from London 2012 to win gold as a professional.
I am a free agent.
Undefeated 19-0. Olympic medalist. Amateur world champion.
No promoter.
No manager.
No advisor.And the most important thing is that I love boxing and I want to box and become a world champion.#tarasshelestyuk ???? #Boxingislife pic.twitter.com/C77oJkegGT
— Taras Shelestyuk???? (@TarasShelestyuk) January 21, 2024
