Former World Boxing Council Light Heavyweight World Champion, Ukrainian Oleksandr Gvozdyk, aims to return to the forefront of international boxing on Saturday at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Jalisco, by fighting Ricards Bolotniks.

Gvozdyk captured the WBC interim light heavyweight title in March 2018, when he defeated Mehdi Amar by unanimous decision.
In December of the same year, he became the absolute Champion after defeating the Canadian Adonis Stevenson. Later he defended his title versus Doudou Ngumbu, in March 2019.

In October 2019 he was defeated by Russian Artur Beterbiev, in a unification bout in which he lost the crown by being knocked out in the tenth round.

Gvozdyk was out of the ring for just over three years, but last February he returned to defeat Mexican Josué Obando in six rounds. On Saturday he will clash with Bolotniks, in the 175-pound division.
In 2019, I thought it was a good time to try something other than boxing, and start my own business in Ukraine.

But the lack of experience, and then Russia’s invasion of Ukraine put a stop to my plans. Suddenly I received an invitation from Canelo to be one of his sparring partners for his bout versus Bivol.

I spent the whole camp with him, and I was happy with my performance, so the idea to come back came automatically. I still have a lot to achieve in boxing. I want to be a two-time world champion, and I would like to earn the right to fight the best in the division, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

 - Gvozdyk said.

Gvozdyk has an 18-1 record, with 14 knockouts, while Bolotniks is 19-6-1, 8 knockouts. In his last match, Bolotniks defeated Croatian Hrvoje Sep.
The bout, which is promoted by Matchroom Boxing, will be televised on DAZN PPV and on ESPN Latin America.

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