---
title: "Khyzhniak Breaks Into WBA Top 15 With First Professional Title: Ukrainian Boxing Strengthens Its Position in the Super Middleweight and Heavyweight Divisions"
description: "The WBA updated its rankings: Oleksandr Khyzhniak debuted in the super middleweight top 15 after winning the WBA Gold International belt in Lviv, while Viktor Vikhryst took 14th place in the heavyweight division."
date: 2026-09-01T16:38:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/khyzhniak-wba-top-15-ranking
tags: [boxing, wba, khyzhniak, ukraine, light-heavyweight, vikhryst]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Khyzhniak Breaks Into WBA Top 15 With First Professional Title: Ukrainian Boxing Strengthens Its Position in the Super Middleweight and Heavyweight Divisions

![Boxer Dmytro Khyzhniak throws a powerful punch at his opponent during a professional WBA title fight](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/01/khyzhniak-wba-top-15-reiting/khyzhniak-wba-top-15-reiting-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Oleksandr Khyzhniak has entered the WBA world ranking top 15 for the first time, taking 15th place in the super middleweight division after winning the WBA Gold International belt
- The title fight took place in August in Lviv: Khyzhniak defeated Argentine Durval Palacio by unanimous decision, recording his third win in three professional bouts
- Viktor Vikhryst also made the WBA top 15, taking 14th place in the heavyweight division

The World Boxing Association (WBA) has released its updated rankings of the top boxers according to its own version, and among the key changes is the debut of Ukrainian Olympic champion Oleksandr Khyzhniak in the elite of the super middleweight division. Winning his first title in his professional career allowed the 29-year-old fighter to enter the world top 15 of the division up to 79.4 kg for the first time in his professional career, where he closes out the list in 15th place. This was reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the organization's official website.

### Title Triumph in Lviv: Palacio Could Not Withstand the Pressure

The foundation for entering the world ranking was laid in August in Lviv, where Khyzhniak fought his third professional bout and immediately stepped into a title fight. His opponent was the experienced Argentine Durval Elias Palacio, and at stake was the WBA Gold International belt in the super middleweight division. The Ukrainian won by unanimous decision, demonstrating confident control over the course of the fight and earning the scorecards of all three judges. This triumph became not only Khyzhniak's first professional title, but also confirmation that his Olympic mastery in the up-to-81 kg category is successfully translating onto the professional ring.

### Third Win in Three Fights: A Flawless Career Start

Following the August boxing evening, Oleksandr Khyzhniak has three wins in three professional bouts, with no losses. For a boxer who transitioned from the amateur division, where he became an Olympic champion, such a result testifies to sound tactical preparation and adaptation to the rules of professional boxing. It was precisely the flawless record combined with the winning of the WBA Gold International title that became the criterion by which the association's ranking panel included the Ukrainian in the main world list, rather than in the regional or international sub-tables.

### Viktor Vikhryst: The Second Ukrainian in the Updated Top 15

The positive changes in the WBA ranking affected not only the super middleweight but also the heavyweight division (over 90.7 kg). Ukrainian boxer Viktor Vikhryst also managed to break into the top 15, taking 14th place. Thus, in the latest version of the World Boxing Association ranking, two representatives of Ukraine hold positions in the elite of their weight categories, underscoring the consistently high level of the Ukrainian boxing school on the international stage.

### The Broader Context: The Ukrainian School in World Lists

Khyzhniak's and Vikhryst's entry into the WBA top 15 comes against the backdrop of a general strengthening of Ukrainian boxers' positions in world rankings. As Sport RBC.UA previously reported, Oleksandr Usyk also holds a significant position in the updated The Ring ranking. The combination of these data indicates that Ukrainian boxing continues to be of interest to the largest international organizations and ranking agencies, while young title fighters such as Khyzhniak are becoming notable figures in their divisions right at the start of their professional careers.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Khyzhniak Breaks Into WBA Top Ranking With First Professional Title](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/boxing/hizhnyak-iz-pershim-titulom-profi-uvirvavsya-1788280437.html) - Основной источник: подтверждает попадание Хижняка в топ-15 WBA, детали боя с Паласио, рекорд 3-0, позицию Вихриста на 14-м месте в супертяжелом дивизионе.
- [Khyzhniak to Make First Belt Defense Against Argentine](https://korrespondent.net/sport/boks/4902711-khyzhniak-provedet-pervuui-zaschytu-poiasa-s-arhentyntsem) - Подтверждает наличие у Хижняка титульного пояса и планы на защиту. Не противоречит основному тексту.
- [Khyzhniak to Fight in a Title Bout for the First Time as a Professional on Usyk's Boxing Evening](https://gazeta.ua/ru/articles/sport/_hizhnyak-vpervye-v-kachestve-professionala-vystupit-v-titulnom-boyu-na-vechere-boksa-usika/1256651) - Подтверждает статус титульного боя как первого для Хижняка в профи. Контекст вечера бокса Усика согласуется с общим нарративом.
- ["It Was So Painful": Khyzhniak Recalls His 2020 Olympics Final Defeat After Winning the Title ...](https://sport.nv.ua/boxing/hizhnyak-vspomnil-porazhenie-v-finale-olimpiady-2020-aleksandr-pobedil-durvalya-palasio-50635000.html) - Подтверждает факт победы Хижняка над Дурвалем Паласио и завоевание титула. Контекст олимпийского прошлого совпадает.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What position does Oleksandr Khyzhniak hold in the WBA ranking?
**A:** Following the WBA ranking update, Oleksandr Khyzhniak holds 15th place in the super middleweight division (up to 79.4 kg), closing out the top 15. This is his first entry into the organization's world ranking.

### Q: Who did Khyzhniak beat in the title fight and where was it held?
**A:** In August in Lviv, Khyzhniak defeated Argentine Durval Elias Palacio by unanimous decision, winning the WBA Gold International belt in the super middleweight division.

### Q: What is Khyzhniak's professional record after the title fight?
**A:** After winning the title, Oleksandr Khyzhniak has three wins in three professional bouts with zero losses.

### Q: Are there other Ukrainians in the updated WBA top 15?
**A:** Yes, Viktor Vikhryst took 14th place in the heavyweight division (over 90.7 kg) in the same updated WBA ranking.