Title and foe in main event revealed.
In just over a week’s time, Usyk-17 Promotions (the promotional company owned by former cruiserweight and heavyweight undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk) will be staging its first boxing card since its relaunch earlier this year.
The event is being held to honour the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, and as a result, it will feature a number of young fighters from the country who could very well go on to have bright futures in the sport.
Of these rising talents, by far the most promising will be featuring as the headline act on the night.
That will be Oleksandr Khyzhniak (2-0, 2 KOs), the 31-year-old light-heavyweight who won a silver medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics and a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, both times in the middleweight division.
Much like his countryman Usyk, Khyzhniak is being fast-tracked through the professional ranks despite having had only two fights. As a result, in only his third outing, he will be fighting for his first title in the city of Lviv, Ukraine, the same setting as Usyk’s first pro title win.
It has been confirmed that Khyzhniak will be facing off against Durval Elias Palacio (16-4, 12 KOs), an experienced and hard-hitting Argentinian who has gone the distance with the likes of Imam Khataev and Kevin Lele Sadjo.
The WBA Gold International light-heavyweight title will be on the line when the two men meet.
Sergey Lapin (Usyk team director and manager of Khyzhniak) said of the bout, “Palacio is an experienced opponent and exactly the kind of test Oleksandr needs at this stage of his career. To be fighting for the WBA Gold International title in only his third professional bout shows how quickly he is progressing.
“Our job is to build his career the right way–step by step–and put him in position for the biggest fights and major titles in professional boxing.”
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