Oleksandr Khizhnyak made his professional boxing debut with a knockout victory

Paris 2024 Olympic champion Oleksandr Khyzhniak made a triumphant start to his professional career at the “Rising Stars” boxing event on Saturday, March 21, 2026. 

This was reported by Suspilne.Sport.

In his first light heavyweight bout, the Ukrainian boxer defeated the experienced Colombian William Baron by knockout. The event was organized by Oleksandr Usyk’s promotional company, “Usyk-17 Promotions,” and drew significant attention from the sports community amid Khizhnyak’s ambitions to win the professional world championship title.

The six-round bout ended in the very first three-minute round. After an active exchange of blows, Khizhnyak first sent his opponent to the canvas, and with 12 seconds remaining in the round, he sealed the victory with a powerful series of jabs and body shots. The Colombian, who had 22 professional fights under his belt, was unable to get up after the second knockdown. This success confirmed Khizhnyak’s status as one of the world’s most promising boxers, combining Olympic gold with an aggressive style adapted to the professional ring.

The victory marked the first step in the Ukrainian’s ambitious plan to collect championship belts in the professional ranks. While tensions persist on the international stage due to Russian aggression and geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, Ukrainian athletes continue to demonstrate their strength on the world’s sporting stages. Khyzhnyak’s debut as part of Usyk’s team signals the emergence of a powerful Ukrainian contingent in the elite of world boxing, capable of dominating the light heavyweight division for years to come.

Former British heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua arrived in Ukraine alongside heavyweight star Oleksandr Usyk.

Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk brought his former rival Anthony Joshua to Kyiv. Together, they attended the Rising Stars boxing event and took a stroll through the capital. Usyk told the Briton about Ukrainian culture and introduced him to national dishes.