Oleksandr Khizhnyak Breaks into WBA Rankings

Oleksandr Khizhnyak’s Olympic gold now has company. The 2024 champion has broken into the World Boxing Association’s light heavyweight rankings, debuting at No. 15 after claiming the first professional belt of his career.

The Ukrainian, long a terror in the amateur ranks, made his move in August in front of a home crowd in Lviv. Under the lights and with expectation heavy in the air, Khizhnyak outclassed Argentine fighter Elias Palacio Durval, walking away with the WBA Gold International light heavyweight title and a statement victory that resonated well beyond the arena.

The scorecards told the story of control and authority: 99–91, 98–92, and a shutout 100–90. Three judges, one conclusion. Khizhnyak didn’t just win; he dominated.

That performance has now been rewarded by the WBA, who slotted him into the top 15 of a division stacked with seasoned professionals. It is an early but significant marker in a professional journey that already carries Olympic weight and national expectation.

From Lviv to the world rankings in a single step. The next question is obvious: how fast does Oleksandr Khizhnyak climb from here?