Ukrainian Boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak Wins Gold at Serbia Tournament

Oleksandr Khyzhniak Shines at the Belgrade Winner Tournament

According to Главком: Oleksandr Khyzhniak, who claimed the Olympic gold medal in Paris 2024, added another top honor to his career by winning the Belgrade Winner Tournament in Serbia. Held in the capital city, this competition marked his first appearance as a member of Ukraine’s national team since the Olympics. At 30 years old, Khyzhniak showcased exceptional skill and was awarded a special prize as the tournament’s most technically proficient boxer.

Road to the Gold Medal

Khyzhniak’s journey to the top began with a victory over Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Shilderbayev in the preliminary rounds. He then delivered a knockout win against Turkey’s Emre Parlak. In the final, he faced another Turkish opponent, Mert Aygüneş, and secured a unanimous decision after three rounds, earning Ukraine’s sole gold medal of the event.

Ukraine’s national team performed strongly overall, collecting ten medals in total. The silver medalists were:

• Danylo Zhasan (85 kg)
• Vasyl Tkachuk (+90 kg)
• Maksym Zymenko (55 kg)
• Yevheniia Bondarenko (75 kg, under 23 category)

Bronze medals went to:

• Bohdan Tolmachov (90 kg)
• Vladyslav Chyniuk (75 kg, under 23 category)
• Anastasiia Taran (70 kg, under 23 category)
• Yelyzaveta Bezverkhnia (80 kg, under 23 category)
• Solomiia Lyniv (48 kg, under 23 category)

Additionally, seven Ukrainian boxers earned spots in the new World Boxing rankings, highlighting the country’s growing competitiveness on the global stage.

Khyzhniak’s success and the team’s overall performance in Serbia signal a strong recovery for Ukraine’s boxing program following the Olympics, demonstrating readiness for upcoming challenges. The medals and ranking placements also reflect the continued development of Ukrainian boxers, who are gaining international recognition and helping to promote the sport back home.

The impressive performance of Ukrainian athletes extends beyond boxing, as evidenced by the recent achievements of the women wrestlers at Euro 2025. Their dominance, securing eight out of ten medals, showcases the strength and potential of Ukraine's sports programs. To learn more about this remarkable success and how it reflects the nation's athletic prowess, check out the full story on Ukrainian wrestlers' triumph at Euro 2025.