Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak won his first professional title by capturing the WBA Gold light heavyweight belt in Lviv, sports news outlet Suspilne Sport reported.
The 2024 Olympic champion defeated Argentine contender Durval Elias Palacio by unanimous decision following a ten-round bout. The three ringside judges scored the contest 99-91, 98-92, and 100-90 in favor of the Ukrainian.
The championship fight served as the feature attraction of a boxing event hosted in Lviv, a major city in western Ukraine. The fight card was promoted by Usyk17 Promotions, the company established by Ukrainian heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Professional Fight History
The victory maintained Khyzhniak's perfect record in professional boxing, improving his overall record to three wins and zero losses. The ten-round distance represented a new milestone for Khyzhniak, whose previous two professional appearances ended well before the final bell.
Khyzhniak made his professional debut with a first-round knockout win over Colombian opponent Wilmer Baron. He followed that victory in July by defeating French fighter Lenny Patrac in a contest that lasted two rounds.
Amateur Career and Event Details
Prior to entering the professional ranks, Khyzhniak built a prominent career in amateur boxing. He won gold at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, adding to the silver medal he earned at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He also secured a World Championship title in 2019 and a European Championship gold medal in 2017.
Palacio fell to 16 wins and 5 losses following the defeat. The Argentine fighter had accumulated 12 knockout victories prior to facing Khyzhniak. The World Boxing Association ranks among the primary governing bodies in professional boxing, with its Gold belt representing a key title in the light heavyweight division.
In related boxing news from the event promoters, Usyk has not yet started training camp for his next fight. The Ukrainian boxer admitted that he had temporarily stopped boxing training to spend time resting with his family ahead of what could be the final fight of his career.
