Olympic champion Oleksandr Khizhnyak has claimed his first title in professional boxing. At the boxing evening presented by promotion company Usyk 17 Promotions, the Ukrainian delivered a striking victory over Argentine Durval Elias Palacio to become the holder of the WBA Gold International belt. The fight served as the main event of the night and marked the culmination of the 31-year-old boxer's journey to his first significant trophy after moving from the amateur division to the pros.
Main Event: Ten Rounds and a Unanimous Decision
Khizhnyak, who at the time held a record of 2-0 (2 KO), stepped into the ring against the more experienced Argentine Palacio, whose record stood at 16-4 (12 KO). Despite the difference in experience, the Ukrainian confidently fought all ten rounds and won by unanimous decision. Thus, the Olympic champion's debut title fight in his career did not end early, but by judges' verdict, which underscores the tactical nature of the bout and the competitive "back-and-forth" that observers noted.
Chronology of Khizhnyak's Professional Career
For the 31-year-old boxer, the match against Palacio was his third after turning professional. Khizhnyak's debut took place in March 2026, when he stopped Wilmer Baron before the final bell. In his next fight, the Ukrainian again did not let the matter go to the judges, knocking out the previously unbeaten Lenny Patrach. The result of two earlier stoppage wins and the subsequent title success is a record that cements his status as one of the most promising Ukrainian boxers of the new generation.
Undercard: A Streak of Stoppage Wins for the Ukrainians
In addition to the main event, the program featured undercard bouts in which Ukrainian boxers recorded a series of stoppage victories. Heavyweight Dmytro Lychynskyi (3-0, 3 KO) knocked out Colombian Deibis Berrocal (20-25, 17 KO) in the first round of a six-round fight, extending his streak of stoppage wins — all three of his professional bouts ended by knockout. Pavlo Iliusha knocked out Portugal's Allef Jordelli in the third round, claiming a fourth consecutive victory, with all four of his fights ending by knockout. Elvin Aliev (3-0, 3 KO) stopped James Londinier (4-4, 1 KO) by technical knockout in the second round at lightweight.
By judges' decision, Maksym Rudik (1-0) won, successfully debuting in the pros at light weight against Andriy Tyshkovets (0-1) — all three judges scored the fight 39:37 in his favor — as did Maksym Zimenko (3-0, 2 KO), who kept his flawless record at featherweight after a unanimous decision over Maksym Chernel (0-1).
Contradictory Data
Sources record a discrepancy regarding the venue of the evening. The primary description of the event states that Khizhnyak's title fight against Palacio took place in Lviv as part of the Usyk 17 Promotions show. At the same time, the headline of one specialized outlet describes the same bout featuring Khizhnyak and Palacio, which determined the holder of the WBA title, as having taken place in Kyiv. Thus, the fact of Khizhnyak's victory and the capture of the WBA Gold International belt is confirmed, however, the city of the event differs across publications (Lviv versus Kyiv), and this detail requires clarification from the promoter.
Significance of the Victory for Ukrainian Boxing
The capture of a first professional title by an Olympic champion on the Usyk 17 Promotions stage becomes a notable event for Ukrainian boxing: it demonstrates a steady flow of Ukrainian fighters into title bouts and strengthens the position of domestic promoters in organizing competitive evenings. The streak of stoppage wins in the undercard further confirms the depth of the country's talent pool across several weight categories.
