Berinchyk took the longest time from the “golden” Ukrainian team to reach the title fight. Two amateur world champions didn’t get their chance

January 30 World Boxing Organization (WBO) sanctioned the fight for the world lightweight title between Denis Berinchik and Emmanuel Navarrete. Boxing teams have 15 days to settle all issues and determine the organizer of the fight. If the parties fail to reach an agreement, the right to organize the fight will be put up for auction. But there is no doubt that fight Berinchik – Navarrete, or the Ukrainian’s next fight will be a championship no. Towards a full title fight Denis walked for more than eight years – the longest-serving member of the “golden” Ukrainian team of 2011-2012.

Golden Team

The Golden Team is not a figure of speech. For at least two years, the Ukrainian team was the strongest in the world, which, in fact, is confirmed by the results.

At the 2011 World Championships, held in Baku, Ukrainian boxers won five medals, four of which were gold, winning first place in the overall standings (Cuba had three medals – two gold and a silver). Vasily Lomachenko, Taras Shelestyuk, Evgeniy Khitrov and Alexander Usik became world champions. Denis Berinchik won silver.

A year later, at the 2012 Olympics in London, the Ukrainian boxing team again won five awards (two gold, silver and two bronze), losing to Great Britain only in the number of gold (3-1-1). There could have been more medals in Ukraine’s treasury, but Evgeniy Khitrov was openly “thrown away” in a fight with Briton Anthony Ogogo, who eventually reached the semi-finals (at first the referees counted an equal number of blows – 18 each, and then gave the victory to Ogogo, despite two knockdowns visited by the British).

In London, Lomachenko and Usyk became champions of the Games, Denis Berinchyk again took silver, and Taras Shelestyuk and Alexander Gvozdyk won bronze medals.

Unrealized dream

It is not surprising that the entire star team of Ukrainians was expected in the pros. Lomachenko and Gvozdyk went to Top Rank with Bob Arum, Khitrov and Shelestyuk also moved overseas, and Berinchyk and Usyk remained in Ukraine, signing a contract with K2. As a result, out of six Ukrainian amateur boxing stars, four received a chance for title fights. Khitrov and Shelestyuk did not wait for their opportunity.

So, Evgeniy tried to break into the title fight in different ways – he often held rating fights, fought for secondary titles, and participated in the Contender show. But after 22 fights (20 wins and two losses), he returned to Ukraine, focusing on the development of boxing in his native Krivoy Rog. Evgeniy fought his last fight in the USA in November 2019.

Compared to Khitrov, Taras Shelestyuk fought relatively recently – in March 2022, finishing in a draw with the Colombian Gabriel Maestre, who at the time of the fight with the Ukrainian had only four fights in the pro ring. Shelestyuk did not announce his retirement, but given Taras’ age (38 years old), it seems that he has no chance of a title fight. So far, the Ukrainian’s record in the pros is 19 wins (11 early), 1 draw.

The Lomachenko phenomenon, Berinchyk’s patience

But three Ukrainians have not only repeatedly fought for championship belts, but also owned them. The first to get this chance was Lomachenko, who, in fact, chose Arum’s company because of the opportunity to fight for the title as quickly as possible. He received it in his second fight in the professional ring. Only 140 days have passed since his professional debut. Yes, the fight against Salido ended in Vasily’s defeat, but the fact of reaching champion boxing in such a short period of time is unprecedented.

For example, it took Alexander Usik, who made his professional debut in the same year of 2013, nine fights, two years and eight months (1043 days) before reaching the championship fight. By the way, Alexander won it, winning the WBO title in a fight with Krzysztof Glowacki.

Even more – 15 fights, four years and almost nine months (1,725 ​​days) – were required for Alexander Gvozdyk to qualify for the championship match. The Ukrainian made his professional debut later than Usyk and Lomachenko – in March 2014, and entered the fight for the WBC title against Adonis Stevenson on December 1, 2018.

Denis Berinchik made his professional debut later than all his teammates – in August 2015. At the moment, the Ukrainian has 18 victories in 18 fights. As of February 1, 2024, 8 years and five months (3,078 days) have passed since Berinchyk’s professional debut. Let’s see how long it takes him to get to his first championship fight.