Viktor Vykhryst goes pro

Vykhryst was a top amateur winning the European amateur championship at super heavyweight. He's power hitter, very good on the counter. Not super fast but accurate.

He went pro in early February 2020. He has top ten professional potential. Only draw back could be cuts.

[url]https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/856825[/url]

What his pro debut here:

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The opponent didn't show much resistance once Vykhryst opened up. VV has the size, skills, power and pedigree to be a real force. He's signing under the name Victor Faust. Only stopped once in 53+ amateur bouts, and that one happened long ago ( 2015 when he was 22 ), his chin should be viewed as solid.

No reach is listed, but based on his height and long arm's, I'd guess 81" inches.

*** Correction, he won the Amateur European championship at super heavyweight twice. 2019 and 2019 ***

 

Well not exactly cuts easily, but he's usually marked up a bit going through four opponents in an amateur tournament. I'd say cuts is a minor drawback for him. It's not like he ever lost a match on cuts.

Cuts in the pro's don't seem to matter that much these days ( 2020 ), unless they are really bad. Not only are the cut men very good at what they do, they use some form of lubricated crazy glue to stop the bleeding.

IMO, swelling easy is worse than cuts, as that's harder to mitigate.

I don't think Vykhryst is Lewis or Klitschko type of talent, but he's good enough to possibly win a world title belt. He's got good countering ability for a power hitter, which is rare at heavyweight. He has size and ability to mold. Well schooled with footwork, and defensive glove work.

 

Vykhryst had a better amateur background because he was in the Ukrainian boxing system, funded and inspired by the Klitschko's. Hrgovic often had no one to spar within Croatia, and had to figure things out on his own with trainers who were not as good. As such
Vykhryst has less upside because he's already filled it.

As amateurs both won the European Championships at super heavyweight, but Hrgovic really shined in the very pro like World series of boxing, and was robbed of the gold metal match in the Olympics.

How would I compare them? Hrgovic has something few have, innate aggression back up by superior durability. You don't fight the way he does being an aggressive attacker without mental strength and durability. He was robbed in the Olympics ( More on the Olympics later ). Hrgovic doesn't fight with his jab, reach and size, he's in there to take his man out, which is very different than how Wilder, Joshua, or say Wlad fought by keeping their distance.

Skills on offense - About even. Vykhrst better on the counter and setting this up, Hrgovic, better with the jab and body punching.

Skills on Defense. Vykhryst. Better fundamentally with the guard and covering up.

Power. Hrgovic, to me, has more raw power, but not by a huge amount.

Size. Slight edge to Hrgovic, I don't think Vykhryst who's was usually listed around 6'3" to 6'4" in the amateurs, is truly 6'5" tall. He might be. Hrgovic is listed at 6'6" with an 82" reach and photographs that way in pictures standing next to people. Not sure what Vykhryst reach is.

Footwork / Foot speed. Vykhryst is better technically, Hrgovic has quicker feet. Even.

Hand speed. Maybe Vykhryst by a small margin.

Heart - Hrgovic, based on who he handles adversity. I'm not saying Vykhryst lacks heart, rather that Hrgovic seems to want it more and is less likely to opt for a less effective plan when faced with adversity.

Chin / Durability. Hrgovic, who I think has the best chin among super heavyweight that has turned pro int he past 20 years. Vykhryst chin seems solid, but he can be stung, or back up to avoid getting hit. When Hrgovic gets hit, he seldom backs up for long or clinches, a true sign he can take a top punch.

Conditioning/stamina to go rounds at a fast pace. Hard to tell as Pofessionals usually up their stamina game, but based on what I saw in the amatuers, Vykhryst took more breaks and didn't close as strong. Edge Hrgovic

Ring IQ / Ring Generalship - Vykhryst seems to fight a bit smarter. Like I said he's very well-schooled.


Tally

Hrgovic - 5
Vykhryst - 3
Even - 3

PS: Speaking of the Olympics, it used to mean so much for young professionals, but really bad judging, a lack of TV coverage and now with professionals allows in, I say it means a lot less.

I view winning the World Amateur Champions to be a great pure boxing accomplishment as the field is better.

 

Thanks for the photo's, Sarge. Wlad is more like 6'5" 1/2, or slightly under 6'6" but these photos do show Vykhryst listed at 6'5" tall has legitimacy to it.