Olympic champion Oleksandr Khyzhniak faces Argentine fighter Durval Elias Palacio in Lviv on Saturday in a main event bout for the WBA Gold International title.
The match serves as the main event of the second Rising Stars professional boxing tournament organized by Usyk 17 Promotions. The event broadcasts exclusively in Ukraine on the Kyivstar TV streaming platform on August 22.
Khyzhniak, who won Olympic gold at the Paris 2024 Games following a successful amateur career, enters his third professional fight seeking his first career title. The Ukrainian boxer won his initial two professional bouts by early stoppage. Palacio enters the ring with a record of 16 wins and four losses.
Serhii Lapin, the manager for Khyzhniak, said Palacio is an experienced opponent of the caliber Khyzhniak needs at this stage of his career. Lapin said that competing for the WBA Gold International belt in only his third pro bout shows how quickly Khyzhniak is progressing. He added that the management team aims to guide the boxer step by step toward the largest fights and titles in professional boxing.
Independence anniversary theme and card details
The boxing evening in Lviv is the second tournament hosted in Ukraine by Usyk 17 Promotions. Dedicated to the 35th anniversary of Ukrainian independence, the event combines sports, culture, and stories of Ukrainians who established and continue to defend the independent nation.
Pavlo Illusha features in the co-main event of the evening. Nine other boxers affiliated with Usyk 17 Promotions compete on the undercard: Maksym Rudyk, Maksym Zymenko, Dmytro Lovchynskyi, Elvin Aliyev, Bohdan Tolmachov, Mykola Laktionov, Djamal Kuliyev, Ayder Abdulaimov, and Matviy Razhba.
Kyivstar TV streaming access and boxer background
The broadcast is accessible to viewers who log into the Kyivstar TV cinema and television platform with any paid subscription package. For Kyivstar mobile customers, the stream is included in the Supersyla and Supersyla Plus packages, available regardless of internet service provider or mobile operator.
Usyk 17 Promotions is a promotional company founded by undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk to showcase Ukrainian boxing talent. Khyzhniak, nicknamed the Poltava Tank for his relentless ring style, transitioned to professional boxing after dominating the amateur ranks, aiming to move step by step toward full world title fights.
