Khyzhniak beats Palacio 100-90 to win WBA Gold light heavyweight title

Oleksandr Khyzhniak won the WBA Gold light heavyweight title by defeating Durval Palacio on points, with the judges scoring the fight 98-92, 99-91 and 100-90. The Ukrainian improved his professional record to 3-0, including two victories by knockout, after the 10-round bout in Lviv on Saturday, August 22.

Khyzhniak controlled the contest through his boxing ability and technique. The unanimous decision reflected his clear advantage over Palacio, an Argentinian fighter whose professional record now stands at 16-5, with 12 wins inside the distance.

The result gives the 31-year-old Ukrainian his first WBA Gold championship. His unbeaten professional start now includes two stoppage wins and a points victory against an opponent with considerably more professional experience.

Khyzhniak arrived in the paid ranks with a decorated amateur career. He won Olympic silver in the 75kg division at Tokyo 2020 before taking gold at Paris 2024 in the 80kg category.

He also collected three European Games medals. Those included bronze at Baku 2015 in the 81kg class, followed by gold at Minsk 2019 at 75kg and another gold at Kraków 2023 at 80kg.

His amateur honours also feature world and European championship gold medals from 2017. The latest victory in Lviv adds the WBA Gold light heavyweight belt to a record that already includes major Olympic, European Games and amateur championship success.