In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a major fight took place on the undercard of the main event featuring Anthony Joshua and Joe Preng. The highlight for the Ukrainian audience was the victory of Alexander Khizhnyak, known as the «Poltava Tank». The 31-year-old boxer confidently knocked out his French opponent, Lenny Patrache, solidifying his status as a promising professional.
Dominance from the first seconds
The fight began with Khizhnyak immediately taking the initiative. The Ukrainian's strategy was built on aggressive pressure and a series of short, precise punches that left the Frenchman no chance for a counterattack. Patrache tried to respond, but Khizhnyak demonstrated a high level of defense, skillfully dodging his opponent's jabs.
The climax arrived in the second round. A powerful punch from the Ukrainian sent Patrache to the canvas. The referee gave the Frenchman time to recover, but the continuation of the fight lasted only a few seconds. A new attack by Khizhnyak sent his opponent down again, after which the judge stopped the bout, awarding the knockout to the Ukrainian.
Usyk's support and Olympic past
This bout was only the second professional fight in Alexander's career. In March of this year, he defeated Colombian Wilmer Baron. Notably, Khizhnyak was personally supported in the stands in Jeddah by Oleksandr Usyk — the Olympic champion and current heavyweight world champion.
Before turning professional, Khizhnyak had a long journey in amateur boxing. In 2021, he won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the middleweight division (up to 75 kg). Then, in 2024, competing in the heavyweight category, he became an Olympic champion at the Paris Games. Now, his professional boxing career is gaining momentum, and this first victory in Saudi Arabia has become an important step on this path.
