WBC RANKINGS: SEPTEMBER POSITIONS OF UKRAINIAN BOXERS
September begins with a new update to the World Boxing Council (WBC) world rankings. Following an eventful end to the summer, the positions of Ukrainian boxers have changed across several divisions, while some representatives of Ukraine have retained their places. We take a look at the September WBC rankings and where Ukrainian fighters stand as they enter the autumn part of the boxing season.
Heavyweight
In the Heavyweight division (over 101.605 kg), two Ukrainian boxers improved their positions.
WBC International champion Andrii Novytskyi (16-0, 12 KOs) moved up two spots, from No. 12 to No. 10 in the world rankings.
Vladyslav Sirenko (23-1, 20 KOs) also continued his rise. After returning to the WBC rankings in August, the Ukrainian moved from No. 27 to No. 25 this month.
Tsotne Rogava (13-1, 8 KOs) retained his No. 36 position.
Bridgerweight
In the Bridgerweight division (up to 101.605 kg), the positions of Ukrainian boxers remained unchanged in September.
WBC Francophone champion Oleksandr Hrytsiv (13-0, 9 KOs) continues to hold second place in the world rankings.
Liubomyr Pinchuk (17-4-2, 11 KOs) remains at No. 13, while Vitalii Stalchenko (14-1-1, 8 KOs) stays at No. 21.
Light Heavyweight
In the Light Heavyweight division (up to 79.379 kg), Oleksandr Gvozdyk (21-3, 17 KOs) retained his No. 18 position in the WBC world rankings.
At the same time, another Ukrainian appeared in the September rankings. Oleksandr Khyzhniak (3-0, 2 KOs) entered the WBC rankings for the first time, debuting at No. 31.
Khyzhniak is the Paris 2024 Olympic champion, a silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympic Games, and the 2017 World and European champion. After a long and successful amateur career, the Ukrainian turned professional and has so far won all three of his professional bouts.
On August 22 in Lviv, Khyzhniak competed in the first title fight of his professional career. He faced Argentina’s Durval Elias Palacio in a ten-round bout and secured a unanimous decision victory. Khyzhniak captured the WBA Gold International title at Light Heavyweight. Following that performance, the Ukrainian also made his first appearance in the WBC world rankings.
A title fight under the WBC Ukraine banner will also take place in this division in the coming days. On September 5 in Sheptytskyi, Oleksandr Ivkov and Anton Cherniakov will meet in a bout with the WBC Ukraine and Ukrainian national titles at stake.
Middleweight
In the Middleweight division (up to 72.575 kg), Fedir Cherkashyn (28-1, 18 KOs) improved his position and returned to No. 4, moving up one spot compared to the August rankings.
Serhii Bohachuk (27-4, 24 KOs), meanwhile, dropped one position and is now ranked No. 18 by the WBC.
Super Welterweight
In the Super Welterweight division (up to 69.853 kg), WBC Francophone champion Maksym Molodan (12-1, 7 KOs) dropped three positions.
The Ukrainian is ranked No. 28 in September after holding the No. 25 position in August.
Welterweight
In the Welterweight division (up to 66.678 kg), Karen Chukhadzhian (26-4, 14 KOs) moved up one spot and is now ranked No. 24.
WBC International and WBC Francophone champion Yaroslav Mykhalushko (13-0, 9 KOs) retained his No. 25 position in the world rankings.
At the end of the summer, Denys Berinchyk also made his long-awaited return to the ring. On August 29 at The O2 in London, the Ukrainian faced Britain’s Sam Noakes in a ten-round Lightweight bout.
The fight went the full distance and ended with Noakes winning by unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the contest 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92. For Berinchyk, it was his first appearance in the ring since his February bout against Keyshawn Davis and his second consecutive defeat as a professional.
The Ukrainian boxing calendar continues on September 5 in Sheptytskyi, where Oleksandr Ivkov and Anton Cherniakov will fight for the WBC Ukraine title at Light Heavyweight. The Ukrainian national title will also be at stake.
