Ukrainian boxer Denis Berinchik defeated Mexican Emanuel Navarrete in a fight for the vacant WBO lightweight world title (up to 61.235 kg).
Berinchik won the fight on points by a split decision, which took place in San Diego (USA).
At the same time, the IBF world title in this weight category is currently held by Vasyl Lomachenko, who defeated Australian boxer George Kambosos a week ago.
In May 2023, Lomachenko lost on points to Devin Gainey in a close fight for all four key titles in professional boxing (WBC, IBF, WBA, WBO). After that fight, the American decided to move up to a higher weight category, and the titles in this weight became vacant.
Berinchyk was a member of the Ukrainian boxing team at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where he won a silver medal in the 64 kg weight class, Lomachenko won gold in the 60 kg weight class, and Oleksandr Usyk won gold in the 91 kg weight class.
The rematch between the IBF, WBA Super, WBO, IBO World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk with Briton Anthony Joshua will take place in February – March next year, Usyk’s promoter Oleksandr Krasiuk said.
“… the approximate time … February – March it really is. And within this period, a rematch should take place,” Krasiuk said at a joint press conference with Usyk in Kyiv on Tuesday.
According to the promoter, I would like the rematch to take place in Ukraine.
“In any case, we are working on … we want events of this magnitude to take place in Ukraine. There are a lot of circumstances, but we will still do what depends on us to make the most of such opportunities to popularize the sport,” noted Krasiuk, presenting aloud the future event: “NSC Olimpiysky stadium. Winter. February …”
Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk became the owner of the IBF, WBO, WBA Super, and IBO heavyweight championship belts (over 90,718 kg), having taken them away from Briton Anthony Joshua.
The Ukrainian won the fight, which took place at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, by unanimous decisions of all referees (117-112, 116-112, 115-113).
Ukrainian referee Pavlo Vasylynchuk was named the best referee of the boxing tournament at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, according to the Boxing Federation of Ukraine.
“Referee of the international category AIBA (3 stars) Pavlo Vasylynchuk from Ukraine was recognized as the best referee of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games according to the Olympic Boxing Task Force,” the federation said on its website, with reference to the Olympic Organising Committee.
According to the information, Vasylynchuk was the only representative of Ukraine out of 36 referees in the international referee corps of Tokyo 2020.
“In total, our compatriot had ten fights as a referee in the ring and 32 fights as a member of the refereeing brigade,” the Boxing Federation of Ukraine said.
