The Belarusian heavyweight boxer Aleksandr Ustinov has retained the title of EBA European champion in a difficult bout in Cherkasy. It took Ustinov, nicknamed “Great,” all the 12 rounds to beat his Russian rival Denis Bakhtov. The encounter was part of the international boxing tournament organized by the Klitschko brothers’ K2 Promotions in Cherkasy. It was the fourth show of this kind in this regional center over the past four years.
In addition to the main bout, the event featured five bouts of other members of the Klitschko brothers’ boxing organization, much to the delight of local boxing buffs. Among those fighting on the Budivelnyk Palace of Sports ring were the Ukrainians Ihor Pankevych, Oleksandr Cherviak, Vitalii Nevesely, Kostia Rovensky, and Maksym Bursak. All the K2 Promotions representatives defeated their rivals, except for the Lviv-based Kostia Rovensky who ended a bitter face-off against Igor Faniian in a draw.
“I have won a very important victory over a strong rival. Maybe, I failed to do everything all right in the ring, but this means there are things to be improved. No matter what a victory is, it remains a victory and always brings pleasure. Now I would like to take on a world champion. Should there be an opportunity to come out on the ring against one of the Klitschko brothers, I will surely seize it,” the Belarusian heavyweight Ustinov said.
According to K2 Promotions General Manager Oleksandr Krasiuk, the next boxing tournament of this magnitude will be held in Kharkiv on November 19. The last 2011 tournament under the Klitschko brothers’ aegis is going to take place either in Lviv, or in Kyiv, or in Zaporizhia – the decision is still to be made – in mid- or late December.
