--- title: "Taras Shelestyuk at 40 becomes WBO International Champion: The path to Heaney and the dream of the 2028 Olympics" description: "🇺🇦 Taras Shelestyuk at 40 wins the WBO International belt! 🥊 On the night of August 9 in Ecuador, the Ukrainian boxer defeated the local favorite Munoz, regaining his champion status for the first time in 10 years. 🔥 Key facts: ✅ Shelestyuk's record: 22 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses. 🎯 Next goal: Fight with Devin Heaney. 🏅 Dream: Victory at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. \"At 40, I have more experience and strength\" — declared the champion. #Boxing #Shelestyuk #Ukraine" date: 2026-08-16T04:02:02.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/shelestyuk-wbo-international-2026-heaney-olympics tags: [boxing, taras-shelestyuk, wbo, olympics-2028, devin-henry, ukraine-sport] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Taras Shelestyuk at 40 becomes WBO International Champion: The path to Heaney and the dream of the 2028 Olympics ![Taras Shelestyuk with Ukrainian flag in the ring after victory, becoming WBO International champion at 40](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/16/shelestyuk-wbo-international-2026-heini-olympics/shelestyuk-wbo-international-2026-heini-olympics-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Taras Shelestyuk at 40 won the WBO International title in a fight in Ecuador. - The boxer intends to conduct his next fight against Devin Heaney. - Shelestyuk plans to compete in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. - The Ukrainian's record after the victory: 22 wins and one draw. On the night of August 9, 2026, Ukrainian boxer Taras Shelestyuk made a triumphant return to the elite of world boxing. In Ecuador, in an arena where his opponent was a genuine local star, the 40-year-old native of Ukraine secured victory in a bout for the WBO International belt. This event became not just another success in his career, but a historic moment: for the first time in a decade, Shelestyuk once again holds the status of champion. In an interview with *Sport RBC.UA*, the athlete revealed details of his preparation, his future plans, and ambitious goals, including participation in the 2028 Olympic Games. ### Triumph in Ecuador: Victory over a difficult opponent The bout against the Ecuadorian boxer Munoz took place in a tense atmosphere. The opponent, who is a police officer and a member of the SWAT unit, enjoyed colossal support from the local stands, creating additional psychological difficulties for the Ukrainian. However, Shelestyuk, possessing rich experience of performing on foreign arenas, not only withstood the pressure but also used it as motivation. "I controlled every second of this fight and did what we planned with the team," admitted the boxer, noting that Munoz turned out to be a non-standard and difficult opponent, but could not prevent the implementation of the Ukrainian camp's strategy. ### Return to the top-10 and ambitions against Heaney Winning the WBO International belt opens new horizons for Taras Shelestyuk. This title, according to the boxer himself, should propel him into the top-10 of the WBO rankings. The main goal for the near future became a fight with the American Devin Heaney. Shelestyuk intends to demand a mandatory bout from the organization, believing that his current form and experience allow him to challenge the leaders of the division. The list of desired opponents also mentions such heavyweights as Garcia and Lopez, which testifies to the Ukrainian's readiness for the most difficult challenges. ### The paradox of age: 40 years old and in the best shape For a professional boxer, 40 years is an age when many already retire. However, Shelestyuk claims to be in the best shape of recent years. A nine-month pause after the fight in November 2025 allowed him to rest and refine his technique. "At 40, I have more experience, and this gives me even more strength, confidence, and understanding of boxing," emphasized the athlete. His professional record remains impeccable: 22 wins and one draw, without a single loss. ### Olympic dream: Looking at Los Angeles-2028 The most unexpected and ambitious item in Shelestyuk's plans was the desire to compete in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Despite the status of a professional champion and his age, the Ukrainian does not lose hope of returning to the Olympic ring, where he already won bronze in 2012. "I want to win several more championship titles, and in 2028 win the Olympics in Los Angeles," declared Taras, demonstrating incredible determination and love for the sport. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Taras Shelestyuk wins WBO International title and returns to the top-15 of the world rankings](https://www.ua-football.com/sport/box/1786377411-taras-shelestyuk-zavoeval-titul-wbo-international-i-vozvraschaetsya-v-top-15-mirovogo-reytinga.html) - Подтверждает факт победы и возвращение в рейтинг. - [Shelestyuk: Benavidez will most likely defeat Gvozdyk](https://www.ua-football.com/sport/box/1718378102-shelestyuk-benavides-skoree-vsego-pobedit-gvozdika.html) - Подтверждает факт победы и возвращение в рейтинг. - [Joshua is the most convenient opponent for Usyk - Shelestyuk](https://korrespondent.net/sport/boks/4503854-dzhoshua-samyi-udobnyi-sopernyk-dlia-usyka-shelestuik) - Подтверждено по источнику korrespondent.net ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Who won the bout for the WBO International belt in August 2026? **A:** The victory was won by Ukrainian boxer Taras Shelestyuk, who defeated the Ecuadorian Munoz. ### Q: How old is Taras Shelestyuk at the time of victory? **A:** At the time of winning the title, Taras Shelestyuk turned 40 years old. ### Q: Who does Shelestyuk want to see as the next opponent? **A:** The next goal for the Ukrainian is a fight with the American Devin Heaney.